We can’t all act like celebrities, buying multi-million dollar engagement rings for the women we love. And yet, you want to get the best ring you can since (hopefully) that special lady in your life will wear it for the rest of her life. But wanting something doesn’t necessarily put the money in your wallet. So what can you do to make sure that you stick to a suitable budget when buying an engagement ring, instead of letting emotion cloud your eyes? There are plenty of ways to cut costs and still get what you want. Here are a couple of tips to keep you on track.
You should start by setting a reasonable budget to begin with. The standard practice is to set aside three months’ worth of salary for this major purchase. So if you work at a burger joint, you might end up with a ring that costs a couple grand (whereas a lawyer would have substantially more money to devote to the cause). Either way, you’re probably going to have to save up for a while. This is a good thing since it gives you the time to make sure the big move is really what you want. By creating a goal amount and saving, you’re a lot more likely to stay within your budget.
The next thing you should do is avoid retail stores (and salespeople, in particular). For one thing, brick-and-mortar locations have necessary markups (they are, after all, paying for employees, a lease, utilities, and everything else needed to run their business). In addition, salespeople will always try to talk you into spending more so they can get a bigger commission. Plus, the diamonds in these stores have passed through many pairs of hands, taking on a higher price tag with each transaction. You’re a lot better off shopping online, where all of these additional fees are negated so that you can get the best possible price. Just make sure to find a store that offers both certification papers and a return policy.
While you certainly want to get the woman of your dreams the ring of HER dreams, you don’t have to break the bank to do so. With a little common sense and a firm spending limit in mind, you can easily find the best possible engagement ring within a set budget.
