Tuesday, November 25, 2008

How Can I Find a Cheap Engagement Ring? Here's How!

By Tom W. Mason

So you are ready to propose - you have a great proposal idea in your head, you know exactly what you are going to say and you can't wait to put a ring on her finger. There's just one problem - you don't have the ring! Money's tight though, so you want to find a cheap engagement ring - is it possible?

First off, I hate to use the word "cheap" in the same sentence as "diamond ring". Why don't we instead say affordable engagement ring ? sounds a lot better in my opinion!

When you're on a tight budget, price has to be a consideration. You need to assess your finances and decide how much you can afford to spend on this very important purchase. Remember that this is going to be a large purchase, so be realistic.

You'll either have to tap into your savings to pay for this purchase or save up for an engagement ring. Don't make the mistake of spending too little - this is one of the most important purchases you'll ever make.

Generally, people budget about two month's salary for an engagement ring. This may not be possible in your case - don't worry if you're in that boat. Like all of us, you have a lot of bills to pay. Not everyone can afford to pay two month's salary for an engagement ring.

That's fine - don't worry about it. You can find gorgeous rings at affordable prices. It's all about getting the most for your money.

However, I do suggest that you spend at least $1,000 on this ring. She'll wear it forever; it's a symbol of your love and there should be some sacrifice involved in buying it. $1,000 is pretty low as far as price tags on engagement jewelry goes. However, you can make even this amount go a long way if you shop wisely.

You can get a lot of good information by going to my website and checking out my Diamond Buying Guide. There's plenty of tips here on getting the best possible ring for the lowest possible price. My guide will help you to make the most of your purchase price.

Keep the setting simple - 14 carat white or yellow gold. When you're on a budget, avoid spending too much on the setting - you can skip 18 carat gold or platinum. Your budget should go primarily towards the diamond itself.

You'll want to get the largest diamond you can. Diamonds are graded in several ways; my guide will give you ideas about which of these criteria are most important when looking for a diamond engagement ring on a tight budget.

You can find the perfect ring for that perfect girl without going broke. Remember, an affordable engagement ring is what you're looking for - never tell her it's a "cheap" engagement ring! ;) Happy hunting! - 15784

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