um... hi. i just recently joined because i was looking for support and advice in regards to my planned big day. my boyfriend wants to marry me but he's currently unemployed and desperately looking for a job in order to get me a ring in order to propose properly. in a sense we're still in the process of proposal but in the Latino community, i'm technically engaged if we've been dating for over a year (i'll explain further). but herein lies the problem. i went to go pick up my cousin one day from a girls night out along with my older sister since she needed a ride home. when we were talking about my engagement and my cousin asked for the ring. i explain we're still in the proposal process due to his situation. my cousin got mad and ranted about how that's not an engagement at all. pretty much, the cousin in question went on a diatribe about how a ring is a true sign of love. that he should be getting me the most over-the-top ring out there that he can buy for me and how he should be showering me with that and going over the top to plan the wedding with me. another thing she pointed out was that as a lesbian, she's very jealous of what i have and the marriage rights i would have (although seeing as i am bisexual, i honestly don't see how she can be so offended i'm with a man when that is entirely my option). other people have asked about the ring because of my mum's motor mouth plus the gossip mill and at this rate i don't know what to do anymore. honestly, i don't need a Tiffany to know that he's serious about me. aside from a three month break-up, we've been dating since high school (about 2 years). i even talked with him about having an extended engagement in order to tell if we can function together for another year (and to save up a lot!). he agreed and again mentioned he'd propose properly when he's ready. we're both 20 years old. if he were to give me a simple ring with no stone, a bracelet or even a necklace, i'd be happy. here's my question: is a ring really that important in any engagement?