My BF & I are thisclose to being officially engaged. We've been talking about it for a few months, and we just went shopping-looking for the first time. We didn't discuss a budget ahead of time, and we probably should have. I found a setting online that I love, and would like to find something similar in a brick & mortar store. With a completely reasonable (.6 carat) stone, the e-ring was about $1800 and the wedding band was $800. I know that you shouldn't compare to your friends, but this is at the lower end of average for my social group, except for a few people who got married when they were 19.
When we were shopping and he looked like he was going to throw up at some of the $3K sale prices, he mentioned that he was thinking more along the lines of $500. And my heart stopped. We have good jobs, but he has a lot more in his budget than I do - he owns his own condo, and has car payments and a bit of credit card debt that he's paying down. He's from a small town where he says that most of his coworkers got their wedding rings from walmart or costco for under $800 - for the set. And he actually asked me who I was trying to impress. All I could think of saying is "myself!" Oh, and he asked me why I thought I needed "the rock" - because I was looking at a 3/5 stone.
I love this man so much, and I'm so upset because I feel like one of these demanding girls that REQUIRES a certain size stone if she'll marry you. But I'd rather marry him with no ring at all, than marry him with a ring from the promise ring section. Please tell me that you guys have some words of advice!!