If you've been following my blog, you should have known that I'm a sucker of rings! But tell me, is there any woman who doesn't like rings?? So here is another article about my favourite topic. Whether you are thinking to treat yourself this Valentine with a beautiful ring or you are looking for an engagement ring, here are a few thoughts for you to consider before buying it. Wondering how much you ought to spend on a custom-made engagement ring? Breaking out in a cold sweat just thinking about it? There’s some good news – it’s less than you probably think. So, How Much Should You Really Spend? You may have heard about spending a couple month’s salary on a diamond ring. Yes, that will get you a stunning custom-made ring. But, the last thing you want to do is start married life in unnecessary debt spending what you think is the average cost of engagement ring. The rule of thumb is to spend what you can afford, realistically. Make It Meaningful A custom-made ring is meaningful in so many ways, especially since it’s something you’ve chosen and helped to design yourself. If you’re on a tight budget, ditch the diamonds and find a more meaningful and less expensive gem and work with the jeweller to create a beautiful design. Avoid Borrowing Money for the Ring Keep in mind that once you are married, what’s yours becomes your partners, too. And that includes financial stress and debt. You want to give your beloved something special, but do you want to give him or her a massive bill? Unlikely. While we know it’s pretty unreasonable these days to think you will be completely free of debt before you get married, the less debt you bring to the marriage, the better start you and your spouse will have. So, if you do plan to borrow money to finance the engagement ring, be it through a credit card of the jewellery store’s line of credit, think twice. On the other hand, if you’re really keen to propose sooner rather than later and you just don’t have the funds, make sure you only borrow enough that you are able to pay back the amount in 12 months or less and no more. But, How Much Should the Engagement Ring Really Cost? This might sound like a cop out of an answer, but here’s the truth – an engagement ring should cost whatever you feel it should cost and what you can realistically afford. It really doesn’t make sense to begin your married life together owing exorbitant amounts of money, does it? So, if you feel that you need to spend as much as humanly possible on the ring and you can afford that six-figure bling, then go for it. But, if you feel two month’s salary is more than generous and your credit card is already crying out for help, you’ll need to face facts – you can’t afford that rock. The best thing to do is adjust your expectations until your financial situation improves. Don’t fall into debt before you get married. Start Saving for the Ring Whatever you do decide to spend, do thorough research. Buying the ring online often saves shoppers as much as 50 percent. Also, remember that the engagement ring isn’t all about size. Learn more about the 4 C’s so you know what you can push aside and what you need to focus on to get the most bang for your buck. Thank you for stopping by my blog, hope you enjoy it!   xx Ashon