GUYS: HOW MUCH WOUND U SPEND ON A RING

MeIShouldB
MeIShouldB Posts: 578 Member
in Chit-Chat
My boyfriend mentioned saving for a ring since he just started a great new job. We talked about it and neither of us really know an appropriate amount to spend on a ring. I have heard something about 3 months salary, but that seems...a little crazy to me. How much would you spend on a ring? Any women who are buying engagement rings are welcome to respond too. No judging here.
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Replies

  • MeIShouldB
    MeIShouldB Posts: 578 Member
    pardon the typo in the title.
  • sizzle74
    sizzle74 Posts: 858 Member
    I wouldn't spend more than I could afford. lol Helpful, I know. ;)
  • MeIShouldB
    MeIShouldB Posts: 578 Member
    I wouldn't spend more than I could afford. lol Helpful, I know. ;)

    Amen hunnie LOL
  • kjoy_
    kjoy_ Posts: 316 Member
    buy what you can afford in cash comfortably. it's not a good idea to go into debt over a ring that can be upgraded in the future. weddings are expensive as it is. if you commit to be together forever then the extra fancy ring can wait until complete financial security is achieved.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    The diamond industry says you should spend three months' salary. But go with your instincts. An engagement ring isn't even actually required. If you'd rather spend the money on something useful, either forego the ring altogether or get something less expensive. If it isn't important to you to have an expensive, fancy ring, you don't have to have one!
  • iamkass
    iamkass Posts: 122 Member
    I agree. There is no "rule". Just make sure you can afford it. No sense on getting into debt for a ring.
  • sixout
    sixout Posts: 3,128 Member
    about tree fiddy.
  • michellechawner
    michellechawner Posts: 892
    there is no rule.

    I'm lucky, mine will be my grandmothers.
  • k8eekins
    k8eekins Posts: 2,264 Member
    My boyfriend mentioned saving for a ring since he just started a great new job. We talked about it and neither of us really know an appropriate amount to spend on a ring. I have heard something about 3 months salary, but that seems...a little crazy to me. How much would you spend on a ring? Any women who are buying engagement rings are welcome to respond too. No judging here.

    The 1% rule of his year's take home earnings. Anything more than that is way too pricey. He shouldn't be feeling as though he is losing a limb.
  • capnrus789
    capnrus789 Posts: 2,736 Member
    Find a ring you like, and that you're both comfortable with spending the money on.

    10 years ago I go my wife's ring for about $3500 (after haggling) and had it appraised for more than double that (for insurance purposes). I always tell her she needs to lose it.
  • Reedern
    Reedern Posts: 525 Member
    My suggestion.... I really wouldn't spend a lot for 2 reasons...

    1. You are just starting out and you will certainly need the money whether you think you will or not

    2. Should your marriage succeed (and it takes a LOT of work) then celebrate it with a more expensive ring at your 10, 20, or 25 yr anniversary.

    My ring cost around $900 and I absolutely love it! I am not materialistic though and would rather my husband take me on a vacation than spend a lot on jewelry. It's a nice gesture to buy an expensive ring, but not a big deal in my personal opinion.
  • Iron_Lotus
    Iron_Lotus Posts: 2,295 Member
    I know this sound super cheap but they make really good looking fake diamonds now days. Get a real gold setting a nice good quality fake and spend the money on something else. Do you really think anybody in their right mind would assume an engagement ring is fake?

    My ring is real but I wouldn't have loved it any less if it was fake.
  • 1PatientBear
    1PatientBear Posts: 2,089 Member
    The "wound" in the title is appropriate. It depends on the woman. Some women would be devastated if you didn't spend three months salary as the industry suggests. Others would be happy with something small and meaningful. My ex didn't want me to spend a ton, so I didn't. When and if I get married again, I will do the best I can to make her happy. Ultimately, the ring is as valuable as the two of you decide it is.
  • Commander_Keen
    Commander_Keen Posts: 1,179 Member
    go shopping with him.. You select the types of rings that you like.
    Let him decide if can pay for it in a reasonable amount of time.
    talke about together. If you guys can't get on the same page about a ring.......
  • megsi474
    megsi474 Posts: 370 Member
    I'd say whatever you can afford now without going seriously into debt. You can always upsize later. My engagement ring cost $700 and was modest and I ended up not wearing it when I started having babies anyway. In recent years (we've been married 11), I exchanged my $65 wedding band for a small five stone and my engagement ring for a vintage Art Deco diamond ring.
  • greypilgrimess
    greypilgrimess Posts: 353 Member
    My fiancé and I shopped for my ring together. It was far less than the 3 month salary rule (it helped we got it in a big sale), but it wasn't important to me to have something expensive, we both agreed we would splash out a little more on our wedding rings later, the engagement ring is a symbol. And I love my ring!
  • Trechechus
    Trechechus Posts: 2,819 Member
    I don't want something super fancy and expensive. If it sends him into debt, then it isn't worth it.
  • healthydoseofglitter
    healthydoseofglitter Posts: 532 Member
    mine was about 1500 plus we payed for the lifetime warranty... just make sure you follow the guidelines to the warranty because my SIL didnt and her diamond ended up falling out and she had to pay to replace it. I got mine from Kays I went with him to pick it out he but it on lay-away so he could suprise me with it when he was ready to ask me ... look into the bridal sets ... the band I got for the wedding was about 700
  • MeIShouldB
    MeIShouldB Posts: 578 Member
    I know this sound super cheap but they make really good looking fake diamonds now days. Get a real gold setting a nice good quality fake and spend the money on something else. Do you really think anybody in their right mind would assume an engagement ring is fake?

    My ring is real but I wouldn't have loved it any less if it was fake.

    You don't sound cheap. To be real I saw some pretty nice rings at walmart.
  • captmiddy
    captmiddy Posts: 147 Member
    The worse thing you all could do is spend too much on a ring and then be miserable because of it. My wife is definitely not a jewelry person so probably way to easy for me. Her original ring (same ring new setting and diamond now) was actually from my mother. It was a very small diamond (probably 1/8th caret) in a sort of fancy setting that made it look bigger. I replaced the diamond and setting a couple years back as a Christmas gift and had the original diamond put into a pendant which my wife was very happy about. So buy what you can afford today but try to find something from a ring standpoint that can support a future upgrade if you all decide to go that route. Good luck!

    Oh and the old 3 month thing was back when housing and other expenses weren't so high. Parting with 3 month salary for a ring is a lot, you will likely end up paying for that for years.
  • MyM0wM0w
    MyM0wM0w Posts: 2,008 Member
    I remember reading somewhere that it should be one month of paychecks worth.
  • MeIShouldB
    MeIShouldB Posts: 578 Member
    Find a ring you like, and that you're both comfortable with spending the money on.

    10 years ago I go my wife's ring for about $3500 (after haggling) and had it appraised for more than double that (for insurance purposes). I always tell her she needs to lose it.


    Nice. Thanks.
  • Jimaudit
    Jimaudit Posts: 275
    This may sound odd but my wife and I were just starting our careers when we got engaged so I bought one second hand. Paid less than half the appraised value and then put the stone in a new ring setting. We both agreed on that ring so no surprises and she loves it to this day.

    I plan to buy her a new ring for our 15th in a few years, but it will be a band or something not a new ring.

    The ring is a symbol, not the size of the ring but the ring itself. Believe me, when you buy a house and have children you will want the money back. My friend bought his wife a $15K ring and they struggled for a few yrs to pay it off....not a great way to start your new lives together.
  • amberlykay1014
    amberlykay1014 Posts: 608 Member
    My ring was also around $3500, after some haggling. We decided on that number because that is what could be paid off completely within a year. Now that we've paid the ring off, we decided to wait on getting a wedding band for me. He's just going to give me my engagement ring again at the ceremony.

    We got a really good deal (40% off) his wedding band, which will cost around $280.
  • lavieboheme1229
    lavieboheme1229 Posts: 448 Member
    according to that rule, my husband would have spent almost $15k on my ring. Instead, for both my engagement ring and band, he paid about $1,500. It's absolutely perfect. It isn't a big rock, but it's a high quality rock. Completely colorless and completely clear. You'd be amazed how big a difference that makes.

    it depends on who you are. Would you like something smaller with higher quality? would you like an antique ring? Or do you demand a 5 carat cushion cut ring? Communicate your expectations, and be patient if that's what it means.

    And by no means go into debt over the ring. That is just so damn TACKY if nothing else.
  • greentart
    greentart Posts: 411 Member
    I, personally, need a platinum ring (allergic to everything else) so I know my prices are higher than normal. I don't even care if he buys it at a thrift shop, estate sale, whatever. I REALLY don't want to spend over $2,000 (MAX) but I know that's going to be difficult with my needs.

    And good luck!
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    The concept that it should be a percentage of someone's yearly income always makes me angry. People should get what they're able to afford and willing to pay.
  • Legs_McGee
    Legs_McGee Posts: 845 Member
    I used to work in a jewelry store and it would kill me to see these young couples come in and put themselves into debt for years and years over a piece of jewelry. (I was obviously a really bad salesperson). Three months salary is a ridiculous amount of money to spend. Spend what you're comfortable with; don't start off your marriage with a huge amount of debt.
  • cjhex
    cjhex Posts: 10 Member
    For an engagement ring, he has to find the right ring. Price is secondary. Something simple but not so delicate it's going to break. The design is more important than the stones. Remember, how ever stunning the engagement ring is, the wedding ring has to complement it and can't be upstaged by it!
    Something that is suited to you and your character. He needs to think about design rather than price :-)
  • LB2812
    LB2812 Posts: 158 Member
    I think whatever you're both comfortable spending in cash. I don't think a ring is worth going into debt over! There's too many way more important things that will come up that you'll need money for. You can always get a new ring or upgrade later. I specifically told my now-husband NOT to spend more than X amount cuz that was just absurd to me to spend so much money on a piece of jewelry when we still had the wedding to pay for... a house... a car... bills... etc.

    That said, I know a couple people who've insisted their boyfriends take out loans to get them the ring they deemed "acceptable". :huh:

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