The Engagement Ring . . .
I was rained out yesterday, but sawed wood today. Now I am watching football with my wife (she's the real fan) and we are seeing plenty of engagement ring ads . . .
What a flaming scam . . . spend three months salary, get a BIG rock, and do some grand gesture to pop the question.
The real question is where do you and your intended want the money? On her hand or in the bank or in the down payment on a house?
The diamond cartel (monopoly) made up the three month's salary rule. The BIG rock concept comes from the "Keepin' up with the Jones' mentality". The grand gesture? Who knows who dreamed that up . . . maybe the Bridezilla reality TV show (These "special" princess usually live in Spendthrift Manor).
The fact that most marriages end in divorce today aside, let's remember the ring is a just symbol of engagement. Unfortunately, like everything else it has been ratcheted out of proportion and control.
We need to go back to keeping it simple . . .
See my post, Spendthrift Manor and Frugal Homestead
Categories: Money Savers, Frugality, Personal Finance, Simple Living, Consumerism
Tags: Money Savers Simple Living Personal Finance Frugal Frugality Consumerism
As a recently married man (Dec 24th, 2010) The wife and I have a tremendous amount of appreciation for what our rings symbolize, but neither of us were concerned about the size of the stones or the precious metal content.
I strongly feel if one finds his- or herself in a relationship where one of the two is concentrating on the meaning behind the engagement ring, and the other is largely focused on the commercial value of it, then it may be time to re-think the future of that relationship. It sounds like, to me, that couple's value system may be at odds, which will inevitably bring unforeseen amounts of unnecessary conflict down the road.
I feel that, essentially, when a couple shares their thoughts and feelings about things like rings, proposals, wedding plans, savings, spending, debt, marriage, divorce, offspring, ect., both should be able to (at the very least) grasp the other's point of view. The couple's outlook with regard to these kinds of things should align to some degree or you better believe there's trouble coming their way in the future.
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