How Much You Should Spend on an Engagement Ring | Southern Bride
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Getting married is one of the most exciting experiences in life. Countless online articles discussing cuts, carats, and clarity demonstrate the importance of the engagement ring, a purchase that signifies the a first step towards marriage. However, it is just as important to consider a ring’s price as it is its style.

Many are familiar with the traditional expert advice: purchase a ring worth two months of your salary. This suggestion aims to spread the ring’s cost over a period of time and to avoid a tight financial situation, but there are other variables you should consider before deciding how much you should spend on an engagement ring.

How Much You Should Spend On An Engagement Ring Box In Lap
Evaluate Personal Affordability

Originally proposed by De Beers Jewelers, the recommendation to select a ring worth two months of your salary has its origins in the 1950s, a time when rings tended to be priced relatively lower than they are now.

To bring this advice into the present, review your salary, budget, and monthly spending habits in order to determine how much you are realistically capable of earning within a two-month period.

The question of affordability, like a two-months’ salary, varies from person to person and is entirely subjective. Those who earn less should save for a longer period of time than two months in order to purchase a ring that is equally stylish and budget-friendly. Once you have evaluated your personal finances, you should only spend as much as your personal affordability allows.

However, what if you have your eye on a specific ring and it costs a significant amount of money—perhaps more than your personal affordability recommends?

How Much You Should Spend On An Engagement Ring Couple Kissing With Ring
How Much You Should Spend On An Engagement Ring Couple With Flannel

Consider a Loan

Whether you should take out a loan is another tricky question, as each person’s financial situation varies and is specific to them.
If you have good credit and are confident in your capability to pay back the principle and interest, there is nothing wrong with requesting a small loan in order to secure the ring you want.

In the same respect, if you have poor credit or are already working to pay off an appreciable amount of debt, it may not be wise to request a loan for your ring if you will only dig a larger financial “hole” for yourself (even if your loan is approved). To purchase a ludicrously expensive engagement ring only to encounter fiscal difficulties soon after you tie the knot may take away from the joy this time in your life deserves.

How Much You Should Spend On An Engagement Ring Black And White

Compare and Contrast

According to figures released in 2019, an average engagement ring costs approximately $5,900 dollars. If this figure is out of your personal affordability, first keep in mind that this is only a mean figure.

Spend time researching rings and scoping out the latest deals in order to get a fuller picture of your price range. If you already have a certain ring design in mind, look at the different quality of diamonds; even the smallest differences in clarity and carat weight can dramatically impact the final cost of the engagement ring in question. In addition, those who shop for diamonds through reputable suppliers can access wholesale prices, which often significantly lowers the cost of an engagement ring.

How Much You Should Spend On An Engagement Ring Round Ring
How Much You Should Spend On An Engagement Ring Couple With Sweaters
Just like asking what kind of wedding you should have, how much you should spend on an engagement ring has an array of answers, unique to each individual couple. Although a two months’ salary is a good starting point for this important question, you should devote some time reviewing your finances as you would before making any other large purchase, understanding that a two months’ salary may or may not be the right purchasing point for you. With these tips in mind, you can alleviate the stress of unnecessary financial burden in order to fully embrace this new and exciting chapter of your life.

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