How long should I wait to buy my girlfriend a promise ring before giving her an engagement ring?
355386
Don't put a time limit on it . Just wait until you are 100% sure that you love this woman enough to spend the rest of your live with her and you are certain she is the one you will respect and take care of and give your life for hers if necessary. Remember : the ring is just a symbol of your LOVE.
698054
OK, I love this question!! My answer is NO NO NO! You absolutely do NOT have to have an engagment ring. I too am in my early 20s and my fiance (already call my husband) and I have been living together for the past two years and he just proposed about 7 months ago but he did not have a ring and it was the most amazing moment of my life. I completely understood his financial situation so it was never an issue, I knew a ring would come later so I never worried about it. I'm a big fan of ebay and I would just browse at second hand rings until I found the perfect one for $200 but I had it appraised at $1400. My fiance bought it for me one month ago and I can't stop looking at my finger. Is it an ice skating rink? Of course not but it's the ring MY fiance put on MY finger and that's good enough for me. It sounds like you and your fiance are just as ginuine so I'm sure you really don't care what he puts on your finger as long as it's from the heart. Just keep in mind that all this crap you see on television and magazines...that's not real! Every engagement is not going to be on top of the Eiffel Tower and your wedding may not be in the Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria but it's your wedding and that is what makes it PERFECT! FYI: My fiance has an engagement ring too and both of our rings cost less than $300 combined (from eBay) and everyone "thinks" we bought our rings new! So now people know, you and my mom (and all of Yahoo Answers) Congratulations sweetie to you and your fiance!!
54368
Get the ring before you give it up. They'll stay a little longer, then  :)
682782
The better question is, do *you* think now is the right time to propose to your girlfriend!
535392
Conventional wisdom used to say 2 months salary... sometime in the past couple of years its changed to 3.  In reality, the best answer is no more than you can comfortably afford.  Remember that once you get married your debt becomes her debt as well-- and you've got a wedding on the horizon to pay for.  So don't finance a huge rock that's going to take you years to pay off.  When you go ring shopping, make cut, color and clarity a priority over size.  $3,000 should buy you a decent 3/4 carat ring (depending on metal).
204637
Wait until your 1 month anniversary.  If you give it to her now it seems a bit desperate.  Also, if your giving her gold after 1 week what are you gonna give her after 6 months, a year?  You'll always have to try to top yourself.  A girl doesn't need presents all the time.  Wait for a special occasion.
1109566
Price doesn't matter.  You can find a beautiful ring for a reasonable price.  Just don't sacrifice quality.  My engagement ring is gorgeous and suits me to a tea, and my fiance only spent $2000 on it.  I know some women who's rings cost more.  I say just pick something out that says "her" all over, and you can't lose.  Or if you're really not sure - buy a single solitaire ring to use for the engagement, then go back with her and the two of you can pick something together.  Engraving?  I think it's nice, but not necessary.
1042040
Instead of him telling you that if that's what YOU want then go ahead and do it, which doesn't sound very convincing on his part to me, he needs to actually say directly that yes that is what I want to do too, not if that's what makes YOU happy because he isn't including himself in that equation and that kind of leaves him room to get himself out of it if he up and decides to take off before hand. So no I wouldn't make plans just yet not til you hear him say He is ready and wanting to and he buys you an engagement ring. Then if that happens you can probably be more sure of it being a true thing.
1075294
She should return the ring. If he refuses to take it, she should sell the ring and give him the money--but tell him first that that's what she's going to do. The ring was a symbol of a promise that has not been fulfilled. Unless he gave it to her as her Christmas or birthday present, it was a promise and not a gift and now MUST be returned.
790042
If you have a loving girlfriend who doesn't care about how much her ring costs I would say to not spend more then $1,000. If you want her to have better quality than no more than $3,000. Just remember one thing...do not get a loan or pay for the ring with a credit card. If you don't have enough money to pay for one then purchase a cheap one! No girlfriend wants you to pay for her ring like you do a car! I would say a fair price based on your income is about $1,500.
838394
promise ring: to promise to be committed in a serious relationship\n\nthe engagement ring: token of love and as a pledge of eternal togetherness\n\n\nthe wedding band:they symbolize their commitment to the relationship
1023627
I have one on right now. Old fashioned but some how cuter than an engagment ring. Have always liked the idea of keeping a promise.
239257
If you can't afford the ring you deffinately can't afford a wife!  If it is love you could give her an aluminum ring and she will love you for the sentiment and it won't matter to her.  Otherwise save your pennies and buy it out right, there is no point giving the woman you want to make you wife a ring you haven't paid for yet, you don't want repo depot showing up for that.
734717
You should of given more details to the relationship and the girlfriend but i'll try to help you anyways.\n\nDating:\n\nabout 6 months:  purfume, a nice designer wallet, a massage (from an actual massage place not from you), cd's or dvd's she's been wanting, really nice wine and wine glasses (unless she's under 22).\n\nabout 1 year:  pearl earings, a simple necklace with a pretty pendant, a painting (if she's into that), tickets to a play/concert (if there's one she would enjoy obviously), designer purse (if she's into that), a dress (this can be tricky cause you have to know her style and her size [size advice: aim low], \n\na year + 6ish months : a charm bracelet with charms that represent something to the relationship (this one works more for younger girls than it would for someone over 23), a really nice jacket (depends on the weather in your area [really nice means designer]), jewelry usually works for women but she might not be into that, if she is into jewelry do not buy her a ring unless it's the ring but please do not propose on christmas that is so tacky it can wait 'til new years that's nicer,  business suits if she works in a business environment (not cheap suits go to a designer store, again unless she's not into that)\n\n2 years +: a trip/vacation (to a beach, the mountains if you live in warm climate, although both would be nice)\n\n\nhope i helped.\n\nif the girlfriend is under 17 the gifts for dating 6months will work no matter how long you've been dating.
645273
If you are asking her to marry you, you obviously want to spend the rest of your life with her. So what would be a worse way to start off a marriage than to go into debt for a piece of jewerly.  If she is worthwhile, she will know that your long term success is much for important.  Plus, you can do some more hunting around to find a better deal.  High End stores such as Tiffany's sell the same diamonds as other stores, but they have a 20 to 30% markup for a little blue box.  Make sure you are spending the money on things that matter more.  For instance, if she wants a 1 carat, try looking at a .85.  It will be lots less and chances are that she wouldn't know the difference.  Good Luck
837392
An engagement ring from some-one close to you or some-one you wanted to marry?
823566
engagement is not a legally binding contract (any more) so go ahead - but wait for the decree absolute before any wedding preparations!