Marriage Proposal or Car...my lil rant

[PQ]

Originally Posted by UT-Enginner

Just wanted to get my fellow C5 member's opinions/thoughts/advice. I've had my car for a little over 3 months now and I love it. It has not even crossed my once to trade it or ever get rid of it! .... Until today ... for the first time It actually came to my head how expensive a marriage proposal (and the things that come with it) can be. As I was pricing engagement rings online all I can think was !!! There goes 4 to 5 months of car payments. I dont think I can go that long with out my Camaro. I didn't plan on proposing to my GF when I made the deal on the car but maybe I should have put the car off just a bit longer. I guess you can't have everything you want right??? well at least not all at once.

For those that are married, what is a good range that you should spend on an engagement ring?

Well, as i continue to ponder on my situation, I'm going to do everything possible to have both. If I had tons of money to blow this obviously wouldnt be an issue but the car payment is just one of a list of bills I have.

Any thoughts? lol

Bonnies ring cost around 6 to 900 dollars. I can't remember. We bought it together. And payed for it together. We were young and knew we had to prepare for important things. And wedding rings are NOT important.

18 years and still going with our cheap ring.

[KATCMRO]

We have been married for 16 years and we started off with a small ring. I love that I was able to upgrade it about three times now! Today I have the ring I love and the car I love!! She'll love upgrading the ring.

[UT-Engineer]

Originally Posted by PQ

Bonnies ring cost around 6 to 900 dollars. I can't remember. We bought it together. And payed for it together. We were young and knew we had to prepare for important things. And wedding rings are NOT important.

18 years and still going with our cheap ring.

Hey thats great! Congrats on 18yrs. And the fact that you helped eachother out is a true testimonial to your marriage! Thanks for some inspiration

[UT-Engineer]

Originally Posted by Brokinarrow

yeah dude, i made some dumb decisions. Basically if I had spent my money more wisely I easily could have kept the Camaro. But I didn't and then I got put into a corner and had to trade her in for something cheaper Oh well, some of us have to learn things the hard way

Sorry to hear that bro! Well hey the 2011 are up now. Maybe you'll have some better luck.

[PQ]

Originally Posted by UT-Enginner

Hey thats great! Congrats on 18yrs. And the fact that you helped eachother out is a true testimonial to your marriage! Thanks for some inspiration

Thank you. And BTW. My ring cost like 100 bucks and I lost it about 16 years ago. lol I don't wear one.

[Iwantone2]

Originally Posted by gahammerle

Of course, that's if you play by other's rules. If she is worried that you didn't spend the proper amount on the ring, I think you're gonna have more problems down the road.

It's the thought that counts.

so..."Honey, I thought of buying you a ring, but paid my Camaro instead..."

Will that work?

[prostock69]

The cost of Engagement rings, weddings and wedding receptions have gotten COMPLETELY out of hand. More and more young couples start their marriages IN DEBT due to their weddings. And most of the blame can be put solely on the bride and her need for the "perfect" fairytale wedding. And once the "fairytale feeling" wears off and reality sets in, you have to deal with all the bills/debt from the wedding. It's not the way you want to start off a marriage.

I have a simple solution: Buy a 14k gold Cubic Zirconia ring and elope OR have a small ceremony with ONLY close family invited. No one will know the difference about the ring not being a diamond. Diamonds are marked up ridiculously anyways.

I have a CZ engagement ring because I refused to let him buy me a real one. I get comments from time to time on how nice and big my ring is (2.5-karats). I always say, yes, he spent a chunk of dough on it. Then I laugh because it only cost $75.00! I don't need an expensive ring to know he loves me. He shows me in other ways by buying me a CAMARO!!! Now THAT is better than any ring!

Anyways, Hubby and I got married in a small ceremony with just my parents, brother, and sister in attendance. His family was out of state and couldn't come. Cost was $250.00 which was a donation made to the church we got married in. We all went out to eat afterwards. We will be married 12 years on 7/25 and couldn't be happier. Honestly, all we cared about was getting married and being married.

Considering that more than 1/2 of marriages end in divorce, do you really want to spend all that money on a ring, wedding, and reception AND give up your Camaro, to boot?

[SSOOCH]

Originally Posted by PQ

Bonnies ring cost around 6 to 900 dollars. I can't remember. We bought it together. And payed for it together. We were young and knew we had to prepare for important things. And wedding rings are NOT important.

18 years and still going with our cheap ring.

I got married when I was twenty, my Wife was ninteen! We got married at the "Toucan Cantina" it was a local restaurant and cost us maybe $800! I still remember other patrons laughing at us. I can remember hearing remarks like "way to go all out" or "how romantic...NOT". But....Fourteen years later we're still madly in love. I know people who have had $50k Weddings and they lasted maybe two years!

I think the ring I bought her at the time was only $1200! It looked like frozen spit on yellow gold. But that's not the point. It's what it symbolizes! She still wears it.

Good luck with your decision. And never let anybody tell you you're too young. If she's your Soul Mate then it will work out. I promise.

[prostock69]

Originally Posted by Brokinarrow

Here's a thought: WAIT AND SAVE UP MONEY FOR IT!! She loves you right? Does it really matter whether you get married this year or next? If she loves you, it really shouldn't. I could easily see getting married to my girlfriend right now, but neither one of us can really afford to pay for a ceremony. So, we'll just wait till we can afford it, no big deal. we still love each other just the same, and we'll still be living in the same house...

And whatever you do, don't get rid of that car!! You'll regret it for a looong time!

<------ Trust me!

Oh dude, I'm so sorry for the loss of your Camaro! :(

[UT-Engineer]

Originally Posted by prostock69

Considering that more than 1/2 of marriages end in divorce, do you really want to spend all that money on a ring, wedding, and reception?

Wow, Well first of all, I'm glad to know there still are married couples out there b/c yes u do have a valid point.... but i definatly dont plan on getting divorced to my future fiance/wife. And i know money isnt everything but i want to make sure what I get her is a reflection of my love for her. I admire how you can take the CZ and Camaro lol, instead of a 2K diamond and No camaro. All the same, I just want to give her the proposal, wedding, ceremony, and marriage she deserves.

[Da Hose]

you can do it.....

I was 17 and my wife was 21...and we got married 21 years ago...she still wears the 1200 dollar ring I got at that time....mine was a hand me down from my great grandfather....

My point being....it doesn't really matter how much u spend on the ring or the wedding...just make sure she is the one!!!!

[UT-Engineer]

Originally Posted by Da Hose

you can do it.....

I was 17 and my wife was 21...and we got married 21 years ago...she still wears the 1200 dollar ring I got at that time....mine was a hand me down from my great grandfather....

My point being....it doesn't really matter how much u spend on the ring or the wedding...just make sure she is the one!!!!

OH... IM SURE SHE IS THE ONE!!! Thanks. Really guys/gals all the comments and tips have been of great help. Ill be sure to keep you updated with what happens. I've never been more sure of this decision and Im going to do it! After hearing how many of you have survived and compromised and helped out your spouces, it really comes down to how you love and feel for each other.

[prostock69]

Originally Posted by UT-Enginner

Wow, Well first of all, I'm glad to know there still are married couples out there b/c yes u do have a valid point.... but i definatly dont plan on getting divorced to my future fiance/wife. And i know money isnt everything but i want to make sure what I get her is a reflection of my love for her. I admire how you can take the CZ and Camaro lol, instead of a 2K diamond and No camaro. All the same, I just want to give her the proposal, wedding, ceremony, and marriage she deserves.

Yes, there are still married couples out here. I know you think you will never get a divorce because she is the one. EVERY person who gets married thinks the same thing. The reality is that isn't the case for over 1/2 of marriages. Hubby and I went through a rough patch 5 years ago. I filed the papers and later retracted them. We never thought we would break up either but we nearly did. We worked things out. Marriage is tough. Shit happens that you don't expect or see coming. I guarantee you that most of the people who spent a ton on their weddings and rings who ended up divorcing, wished they had that money back. Pawnshops are filled with wedding bands and rings. It's a sad commentary on the institution.

Anyways, all the best to you and your soon-to-be fiance and I hope you work things out so you don't have to give up your car and you can give her the ring you think she deserves .

[hot_rod]

Ah,,,diamonds ....precious stones or common pebbles?

Common pebbles!

DeBeers has gone broke selling the myth of diamonds as precious stones. Don't fall for their trap. If you / she have got to have one, find a way to buy wholesale or make the pawn shops and save a ton. Check the SA or Dallas Sunday paper and you will see numerous adds selling diamonds for wholesale. It's a square deal, you make an appointment and go to their secured facility/office to buy. You can't get in with out an appointment and cash will get ya a bigger discount.