Engagement Ring Cost

Engagement ring cost can send any man’s mind spiralling out of control! On the one hand, you don’t want to spend too little and look cheap but, on the other hand, we all have bills to pay! You don’t want to have to pay off that small rock for an entire lifetime! Where do you draw the line?

First and foremost, let me be extremely clear on where I stand regarding engagement ring cost. Never, ever spend more than you can afford. That is rule number one and it’s really the only one that matters. Remember that the engagement ring is a symbol of your commitment…not a bank account statement.
Sure, all women love pretty shiny things (for the most part) but, more than anything, the woman you choose to marry MUST love you for you. Don’t overextend yourself – especially not in this economy. Buy the most beautiful diamond (or any other stone) you can AFFORD.

That being said, don’t skimp out on the ring because she “should love you for you.” I know, it sounds like I’m being contradictory, but I’m not. I will restate what I wrote above…buy the most beautiful engagement ring you can AFFORD. No more, no less. You know what the happy medium is.

If you’re still lost, here are a few guidelines to help you out.

• The average engagement ring costs around $3,000 according to a recent Modern Bride study.
• An old adage used to say that a man must spend two full months salary on an engagement ring. Hogwash. That is open to too much interpretation. Is that figure before or after taxes?
• Your personal budget is the absolute only way to determine how much your engagement ring purchase should be. Calculate all your expenses, your disposable income and the like. What number fits in there?
• Assess your future plans. Are you paying for the wedding yourselves? Are you planning on making a down payment on a house? Are kids right around the corner? Take the next five years into consideration…and not just the next five weeks of engagement bliss!

Personally, I don’t think a ring should be put on a payment plan. Save your pennies and pay for it entirely in cash. Needing to make payments on something as important as an engagement ring signifies that maybe you are biting the bullet a tad out of your price range.