The recession has given pause to rethink the rules and guidelines in place. One of these rules, is the idea that a suitor needs to spend two months of his salary on the most beautiful engagement ring she could ever hope to wear. The good news is that you can fudge a little on the two-month salary rule, particularly if you pay attention to what she wants, and not how much it costs. There are so many options available for people on a tight budget and the best way to find out how you can best spend your resources is to make a budget and hop online.

What Is A Reasonable Amount?

Maybe two or three month’s salary is not available right now for a ring. In that case, what amount is available? You have to start somewhere. No one is going to demand that you spend two month’s salary on a ring, so it’s really up to you to decide to set a budget that you can use to buy the ring she wants. Ultimately, you have to understand that some sacrifices will most likely be made when you don’t put aside two month’s salary to buy the ring. However, if they are not important to her final happiness with the ring, then they needn’t stop you from making your purchase at a budget you can afford.

Get an Idea of Her Perfect Ring

You may have to be stealthy or include her in the buying decision. If you want it to be a surprise, you can ask her friends and relatives about her tastes. If you’d rather she be involved, you can look up a virtual diamond engagement ring designer online and take a look at a few styles. You don’t have to finalize the entire look, just have her tell you which she likes best. Then, take it from there.

Concentrate on Balancing 4 Cs

Maybe she wants a cushion cut diamond in a larger size. In that case, you might be able to balance the additional monies required for carat weight by picking a stone of lesser clarity or of a different color quality. Don’t over look some of the fancy colored stones in yellow or champagne as they can be 15 to 25% less than a white diamond.

The choice of metal used for the ring setting will also play a large part in how much you end up paying. Platinum is far more expensive than gold, and gold is far more expensive than white gold. The design and style of the setting can also increase or decrease the amount you have to pay, so make sure you know whether she wants a simple setting or something more elaborate. The idea is to get the most features she want at the price that you can handle.

If she’s not too particular about the shape, but wants a white diamond, you will still be able to change the budget by looking at the different cuts and clarity available. The virtual ring builder makes it very easy to choose different stones with different settings to help you balance your budget.

Bling and over-consumption is so ‘80s. If you’re planning to get married today, couples are much more aware of the financial consequences of such a decision. The recession has put a damper on lavish ceremonies, but there’s still one way you can impress your lady when it comes to the proposal. Show her you can find a special diamond ring that’s not going to break the future marital bank.

Everyone Wants A Deal These Days

Budget crisis in the news and forced reduction in hours or layoffs has everyone looking for a deal. People about to get married are no different. They still want the perfect proposal, wedding, and honeymoon; however, as this is an event that’s only supposed to happen once in a lifetime. It does call for a little something special. That might mean that the trip to France is still on for the honeymoon, but other deals are scouted out, like buying alternative wedding bands for the ceremony.

Couples Getting Smart with Wedding Budgets

One place that people still want quality and size is the diamond engagement ring. Prices can vary greatly at retail stores, but smart shoppers are realizing the best deals are online. Not only is it easier to shop for a diamond engagement ring online, but it’s easier to make an informed decision that fits your budget. There’s no annoying sales clerk trying to steer you towards something outside your budget just so they can make a fatter commission.

By doing some investigations online, couples have the choice of virtually designing their own diamond engagement ring, from a multitude of stones and fashion settings. They can change the type of metal in the setting or manipulate the cut, clarity, color, and carat weight to reduce the price. They can visualize the final result with a 3-D ring builder that is available online to help them decide whether it’s exactly what she wants at the price you want.

Alternative Metals for Wedding Bands

Gold has always been traditional for wedding bands, but it has become very costly during this recession. Now, you can opt for other types of metals, from tungsten and titanium to white gold to get a more modern twist, and less of an impact on your wallet. These wedding bands will last forever, just like gold, in most cases. The metal colors are easier to accessorize with today’s modern palettes also.

Imagine Her Delight

She’ll be thrilled to get just the right ring and also realize that there’s plenty of money left in the wedding budget for the wedding of her dreams. As these recession couples start out their lives together, the financial lessons of today are creating adults that want to get the most value for their money that they can. It’s not about being cheap or sacrificing quality, it’s about knowing that your money is being spent well. You should be able to afford what you want, but not have to pay too much for it. Do that and you will certainly impress her in a big way!

So, what does recycling cans have to do with engagement rings and vintage jewelry? Well, for one couple in Spokane, Washington, it means everything in the world. Bride and groom to be Andrea Parish and Peter Geyser have begged people to give them aluminum cans to donate so that they can pay for their wedding. That means from the vintage jewelry they want to the engagement rings and wedding bands, they want to be able to help the environment and pay for their wedding. It’s a great and noble cause to help everyone involved, really. But, what does that mean for the vintage jewelry that they might want, or their engagement rings?

Well, talk to Alcoa Inc. Alcoa is a gigantic manufacturing company based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and they specifically manufacture aluminum. The postage for shipping a lot of aluminum cans must be pretty high though, so instead Alcoa has decided to help pay for those engagement rings by making a $1,710 donation that matches up with the area’s recycling rates. Engagement rings suddenly don’t seem too pricy with a donation like that, and to think it’s all to help the environment while paying for their wedding. And it isn’t just to help them pay for their vintage jewelry. It’s because Alcoa is trying to reach their own goal, a recycling rate of 75 percent by the time they reach 2015. And how great is it to know that thanks to this large donation from Alcoa to help with all the vintage jewelry, Parish and her groom can safely say they’re now officially 65 percent to their actual goal for the wedding. Continue reading »

It’s a myth that men don’t care what they wear or how they look. In today’s image-conscious world, the more polished a man’s wardrobe, the more likely they project a professional and successful image. This affects how other people perceive them and lends more credibility for greater opportunities than those that don’t take their public image into account. In the past, tradition and custom might have dictated why men wear jewelry, pigeonholing them into a few choice pieces like diamond cuff links and yellow gold wedding rings. In modern times, men know that that those pieces may age them, rather than projecting a powerful, modern, and classy image. That’s why men like the look of the industrial metals for wedding bands, in particular tungsten. They offer a way to uphold the tradition of a wedding band, while choosing a ring that says they’re stylish and modern, not outdated. Continue reading »

Getting married can be an intimidating time in a person’s life. This is especially true if you’re getting married for the first time—and hey, who wants to be married more than once? Here are some important steps to keep in mind when it comes the traditional wedding as well as the important role the ring plays. First of all, the wedding ring is traditionally a metal ring, and it is commonly set with diamonds. It is usually in contrast to the engagement ring, which boasts a larger stone and a promise to get married at a future date. The wedding ring represents a marital commitment to fidelity. Continue reading »

When you are looking for engagement rings, it never hurts to also look at the different types of diamond wedding bands. By looking at the wedding bands, you can get an idea of how the engagement ring and the wedding band will look together. Similarly, you can get a sense of the style or design that interests you, or your future bride, before you actually make your purchase. Still, while it is helpful to review the different types of diamond wedding bands, you should leave picking out the bands as a couple’s activity to be done after she accepts the proposal. This will allow you both to have a say in the type and style of diamond wedding bands that you purchase.The first type of diamond wedding bands are those that are only accented by diamonds. This may include one or two diamonds, or just a few diamonds in a unique pattern that are no bigger than a chip. A straight wedding ring with diamonds can even have the diamonds set closer to the outer edge of the ring, which allows the diamond wedding bands to be seen without being overpowered by the engagement ring. Generally, the only important part in matching up the bands is that they are of the same type, which will make them blend together better than two completely different styles. Continue reading »

After the engagement ring has been purchased, it is time to think about the wedding band that will accompany it. Often, the woman will be a part of the decision making process for the wedding ring whereas she may have not had any input for the engagement ring. Therefore, a slight challenge is created, choosing the ideal match of what the woman loves but also what works with the exiting engagement ring.The first step in the process of buying a woman’s wedding ring is to choose what will complement the engagement ring. The wedding ring should have interest and class while enhancing the engagement ring. Even if the two rings were purchased at different times and from different jewelers, there are many options available to make it appear as if the two were meant to go together. Continue reading »

There are several things to consider when deciding to insure your most precious diamond investment. A wedding ring symbolizes a commitment to a life-long relationship which will only grow stronger as the years pass. Making sure you insure your wedding ring is a must. During the initial purchasing process, always speak with your salesperson about which types of diamond insurance are offered through the store. Continue reading »

Many of us choose gold for a wedding band, but there are a growing number of people who choose silver for their wedding band. This may not be the biggest news that one could hear, but if one looks a little closer at silver and the nature of silver, both in terms of its natural qualities and in terms of its rich symbolism, such news can become a bit more interesting. While silver may never take the place of gold for most people when it comes to choosing wedding bands, it has gained some ground. Continue reading »