Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Here's How To Find a Cheap Engagement Ring - Save Thousands!

By Tom W. Mason

You've been preparing for months. You know exactly what you're going to say and where you're going to say it - you're ready to ask her to marry you! You're all set, except for one thing - you don't have the engagement ring yet! You're also working on a small budget, so a cheap engagement ring is what you're looking for. However, is this even possible?

First off, I never like to use the word "cheap" when describing a diamond ring. So instead of saying "cheap engagement ring", I'm going to say "affordable engagement ring". Just sounds nicer doesn't it?:)

Budget is the first consideration when you're working with a tight budget. Figure out how much you can afford to spend on an engagement ring. Be realistic here; it is going to be a significant expense.

An engagement ring is going to set you back a few bucks. You will probably have to save up for a bit or tap into existing savings. It's a big purchase - and an extremely important one.

Traditionally, about two month's salary should be spent on an engagement ring. However, this may not be possible for you; you may have a lot of other expenses to handle.

If you can't afford two month's salary for an engagement ring, don't worry. It is possible to find a beautiful diamond engagement ring which does fit into your budget. The important thing is to make the most of your budget.

However, I do suggest that you spend at least $1,000 on this ring. She'll wear it forever; it's a symbol of your love and there should be some sacrifice involved in buying it. $1,000 is pretty low as far as price tags on engagement jewelry goes. However, you can make even this amount go a long way if you shop wisely.

You can go to my website to read my Diamond Buying Guide. This guide will give you a lot of great information on buying the best engagement ring while staying within your budget. My guide helps you to get the most diamond for your money.

The first thing you should do is to look for a simple setting. Go with 14 carat yellow or white gold here. If you're on a budget, you don't need to spend the extra money on platinum or 18 carat gold. The bulk of your budget should go towards the diamond, not the setting.

For the diamond, the key is getting the biggest size rock for your pricerange. Diamonds are graded in a number of different categories - the diamond guide I put together shows you exactly what combination to go for when you're on a budget. Without this information you will either waste a bunch of cash or get a low quality diamond.

You can find the perfect ring for that perfect girl without going broke. Remember, an affordable engagement ring is what you're looking for - never tell her it's a "cheap" engagement ring! ;) Happy hunting! - 15431

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