How Much to Spend on an Engagement Ring

One of the biggest decisions in life is deciding to get married.

The forerunner to this of course is proposing.

But before that you need to have a ring to propose with!

Now comes one of the most asked questions.

"How much do I spend on an engagement ring?"

Tradition holds that the ring should cost 3 months salary. Now that is only a guideline as most traditions are these days. This is the most common answer you are likely to get from friends, family, and of course jewelers!

As stated this is only tradition, we are going to look at the matter from a different angle in this article.

First of all, not everyone is equal in regards to finances. It is a fact of life that what one man considers a fortune another man considers a small sum. That's life as they say.

You have to take a realistic look at what you can afford to spend and be comfortable with. There is no point starting your marriage still paying off your engagement ring, that is not a great foot to start forward on.

When looking at how much to spend on an engagement ring, you must also consider what your bride to be will like. Some girls love extravagance and large diamonds, other girls love simple rings and focus on the meaning of the ring. You have to look at your ladies taste and be realistic on what will make her happy. Contrary to popular belief, not all girls expect huge diamonds. Some girls prefer a practical ring that is not going to get caught on things in day to day life and become a nuisance. But also be aware that this is not an excuse to squeeze the pennies. Make no mistake that your bride to be will know exactly what you are financially capable of and she WILL have expectations. The last thing you want is to have an amazing moment when you propose and emotions are running high, then produce a ring that makes her heart sink. Girls spend their whole lives dreaming of that moment, make her think you spent time searching for the perfect ring, do not make her think you have spent time looking for the best deal.

This is not to say that if you are more constrained on finances than others that a smaller ring is going to disappoint, this is not the case. As stated earlier, she knows what you can afford. She is looking for thought and understanding. She wants to see that you have chosen a ring that she will love and that you put effort into finding that ring.

So then, "how much to spend on an engagement ring?"

Enough to get the ring that will make her happy and still keep you financially on track.

There is no magic number, follow the advice above and you will decide the number that is best for you!