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Two Months Salary?27 03 06 19  27
-------- DeBeers Got You?
Just to add to the discussion, I do not believe in the “Two Months Salary” thing. Still, when I purchased a ring for my now-wife I did used the “Two Months Salary” rule, in my own way. I used a “Two NET Months Salary” after taxes, 401k contributions, Roth IRA contributions, ESPP contributions, Car Replacement Fund contributions, and Emergency Savings Fund contributions. In other words, I made sure the ring was not purchased above my living standards. I also purchased the ring with hard earned and saved cash. Sure, I used a credit card to get a few miles and other perks they provide. But I paid it off in full when I got my statement. I did this for us, not just for myself. First of all it is irresponsible to buy an expensive ring that will bring extra debt into a marriage: You must prove you can live within your means. Secondly, if you want to show how much you have worked to please her, work and save to please her, don’t cheat by putting it on credit. (Unless you are rushing to get through the wedding thing because you knocked her and her dad is chasing you with a shotgun – and even then, you probably have worse issues than a ring). Also, consider insurance. A known person (to me) recently lost his two months salary when robbed, just after leaving the Jewelry shop with the new ring. My advice: Insure it before you leave the shop. My insurance company allowed me to insure it with a Personal Articles Floater. I just called them with the description of the ring and price while the diamond was being fitted on a ring, and picked up the ring the next day. The insurance was in effect right when I got out of the store. One last interesting piece of advice: choose the diamond, let her choose the ring. Chances are that the most expensive portion of the cost will be the diamond. However, the one that will be more noticeable by most people will be the shape of the ring itself. (Save for large differences in stone size). I selected a stone of the shape, size, color, clarity and cut that I thought was appropriate within my budget and asked it to be mounted on a white gold ring to present it to her. After presenting the ring to her I asked her to accompany me to a few jewelry stores to select a setting for the stone. The setting that she choose was completely different from what I would have chosen, yet now that she did I think it was the most appropriate. It has some resemblance to a Mobius (infinity) Band that could very well signify our infinite love. It was custom made, and made her uniquely happy. If you are going to marry, do it in a way that pleases you… not in a way that pleases society, or even DeBeers |
If you are considering proposing marriage to your girl, you should read