How Much Should You Spend on an Engagement Ring?

If you have to finance it, you can’t afford it

Photo by Jerry D Clement; used with permission

Get a beautiful diamond ring for only $99 a month for five years.

A local jeweler advertises regularly but drastically increases the frequency before Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day.

Show her how much you love her with diamonds!

And debt.

If you have to finance your engagement ring or any other piece of jewelry for five years, you can’t afford it.

Years ago, a clever marketer with the diamond company De Beers came up with a “rule of thumb” that the ideal amount to spend on an engagement ring is two months’ salary. I was never clear on whether that was before or after deductions.

But either way, it’s a dumb idea if you have to go into debt to do it.

Debt can stress a relationship to the breaking point.

Marriage is so much more than a ring. And getting engaged should be so much more than a social media moment of one-upmanship.

Jewelry is just stuff and it’s a lousy yardstick with which to measure love.

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