Sunday, November 23, 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 hate to use the word "cheap" in the same sentence as "diamond ring". Why don't we instead say affordable engagement ring ? sounds a lot better in my opinion!

When you're on a tight budget, price has to be a consideration. You need to assess your finances and decide how much you can afford to spend on this very important purchase. Remember that this is going to be a large purchase, so be realistic.

You'll either have to tap into your savings to pay for this purchase or save up for an engagement ring. Don't make the mistake of spending too little - this is one of the most important purchases you'll ever make.

Generally, people budget about two month's salary for an engagement ring. This may not be possible in your case - don't worry if you're in that boat. Like all of us, you have a lot of bills to pay. Not everyone can afford to pay two month's salary for an engagement ring.

If your budget is too limited for this, don't stress too much about it. You can find great diamond engagement rings which are affordable. The key is to try to get the most diamond for your dollar.

Typically, you should be prepared to spend at least $1,000 on an engagement ring. This is something she'll wear forever and is a symbol of your commitment to her. You might have to make some sacrifices to buy this ring. As far as diamond engagement rings go, $1,000 is a low price tag. However, you can make even one thousand dollars go a longer way than you may think if you know what to look for.

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.

You'll want to get the largest diamond you can. Diamonds are graded in several ways; my guide will give you ideas about which of these criteria are most important when looking for a diamond engagement ring on a tight budget.

I hope you find that dream ring of hers and that it doesn't break the bank! Remember, you aren't looking for a cheap engagement ring - you are looking for an affordable engagement ring;) Happy hunting! - 15615

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