I've never been so happy with my ex.

I'd give it back. But if you wanna spend it, you could use it to reward yourself after losing a specific amount of weight like say you lose 5 pounds, go on a shopping trip.

I would use about $100 shopping for fun things for me, $100-$200 for supplies to help the people on my mission trip then put the rest in savings so that one day when I was on my own I would have a little money to work with

I'm a little worried that so many people seem to know what your contractual obligations are regarding a verbal statement of marital intent.

Should I ever have cause to give someone else an engagement ring, I'm going to call a lawyer first.

Forget the ring - focus on the prenup. The ring is chump change in comparison to the rest of it . I know

I'm not sure where you are, but the state I'm in says anything like that is a gift and the receiver is free to do anything they please with it...keep it, sell it, throw it in the bottom of the ocean...doesn't matter.

Yes, same here... I know because I did not give my engagement ring back. My mother's second marriage ended badly, and he tried to sue her for the engagement ring... The courts said that anything given prior to marriage is a GIFT and is not marriage property, therefore the man has NO claim to the ring after the marriage or in the event of no marriage...

Guess it depends on where you live then, *shrug*
Since I'm in Richmond too, I will shrug with you.

Do what's right... as serious as that ring was expected to be..

Exactly.

An engagement ring has to be given back if the marriage never happens. He can actually sue you for it.

It might depend on which state you live in?

Or which country, this site has members from all over the world.

An engagement ring has to be given back if the marriage never happens. He can actually sue you for it.

incorrect. this is not the case in all 50 states and in some circumstances... eff him and his loss. then again, i have no idea what the particulars are in OP's situation - although she never did say whether or not they ever married.

as for the large sum of money? i'd pay off debt and take a small chunk - no more than $2K - and take a private vacation. alone. All the rest would go to savings and/or to eliminate debt. boring, but practical and a much better gift to yourself than compounding any other existing issues.

yep give it back,, the problem with todays women is they all think about the money and that it is theirs when actually it is not.. it was a verbal agreement. once that agreement is over the ring goes back to the rightful owner. now if you were married that is one thing.. but not an engament ring.. but of course that will never happen most women take the money spend it on themselves and goon about their day..

What about the problematic men who don't make money?

Rings and weddings are dumb. I can't think of a more glutinous thing in our society. When my daughters want to get married, I think I'll just tell them the money I would have spent on the wedding is in a trust. They'll thank me after they are divorced and have a good junk of change later in life. And if you have a big wedding for your second marriage....well you know

Sorry, I'm still trying to get over the engaged at 18 part...

Use it for your mission work. No better way to spend it.

Buy some actual shoes some sexy new heels to make yourself feel on top of the world!