getting hitched?, Need some ladies advice here Options

[Rayme]

I'm at that point in life wherw me and the GF talks more and more about marriage. I don't have a problem with it I love her. But my main concern is all that is money related wise..specially the "stone".

To put things in perspective, we have 2 relatively new cars and a house, all which are not paied, I make under 30 000$ a year, she makes about 15% more than me annualy.

Cliff note, the girl wants a ring that is about 2000$+, she has that way of saying afford what you can but I'll be sad and disapointed if I get a 400$ ring.

Oh and by the way, I got the reputation of being cheap. That's the way I can afford a WRX with my salary, no really. I want to make sure that everyone knows I'm hovering the "paycheck to paycheck" situation.

Why does getting married be a money issue? Girls are so brainwashed into that one fairy tales day in their life. I'll say right now I'd like to get a cheaper ring and actually use that saved money toward something more practical. Her day is being added to the pressure saying a man should spend 2 months salary on a ring..yea thats like 4000$ or 80$ a month for 4 years. Actually I investigated that thought and found it to be a marketing ploy by a diamond company so I dont think much of it anymore.

Am I being cheap talking like that? I spent the 2 last years getting out of debt..I refuse to be slave to money problems. And then we have all those project..which would eventually be more $ spent..

need counseling

[dabazied]

Honestly your best bet is to find a jeweler that isn't a big chain or whatever, but still a very nice company..... look for nice loose diamonds, find one with good depth and nice qualities that you think she'll like, if you pick the loose diamond and the color/clarity right n match it with the right setting then she'll never really know what the real carat is unless she gets it checked out... but a day or so after you give it to her tell her after you 2 get more stable in the future (i know this line is cheesy), "When we get to the point of more financial stability in our lives I'll get you the ring you deserve.". But if you get the right stone matched with the right setting, then honestly she'll think it's bigger n better than it really is..... just a good option to save some money n make her happy, or at least content.