Before or after taxes?

[Petro]

So, I'm planning on popping the "question" to my girlie and was wondering... What is the rule of thumb for how much to spend on a ring? My girlie says 3 months salary... Is that correct? Is that before or after taxes? Thanks...

--Petro

[MikeF]

This place says two months:


However, if your "girlie" is demanding 3 months, maybe it's time for a new one...

Short of a car and house, I don't think I've ever spent 3 months salary on anything. And certainly not some jewelry...

[$tevie]

DeBeers says one to two months' salary. And since they are the ones who dreamed up this absurd guideline, they must know what it is.
http://www.adiamondisforever.com/ring/spend.html
They don't mention taxes.

I wouldn't let a cartel determine how much you spend. Personally, I never wanted a diamond ring, I can think of lots of other things to do with that amount of money.

But if your future wife wants a 3-months-salary engagement ring, I would say you should probably go ahead and do it her way. After all, it's only once.

[Paul F.]

I think that "3 months" number is insane also...

But if you MUST... then definitely make it AFTER taxes, AND after 401K contributions.


OH, and congratulations!

Haven't seen you around much! Still working where they don't let you carouse with the Mac using riff-raff, and potentially talk about things you can get fired for revealing?

(if you can't answer that, just wink and nod... we'll understand...)

[Zoidberg]

I'm wearing my great-grandfather's wedding ring, which my grandfather gave to me for my wedding. My wife wears her grandmother's wedding ring; she and her were very close.

These mean a hell of a lot more to us than whatever the monetary value might be.

[maco]

Wouldn't she rather have a reasonably priced ring and a new MacBook Pro?

[$tevie]

[quote maco]Wouldn't she rather have a reasonably priced ring and a new MacBook Pro?
Now that's an idea I could live with.

[Greg the dogsitter]

[quote Petro] My girlie says 3 months salary...
Bah. We went with inexpensive rings and a house.

[Racer X]

But Kathy is quite an extraordinary girl ;-)

[Greg the dogsitter]

With a house, too!!