A 10,000 ring?

She really needs to grow up and get this "keeping up with the Jones" thing under control. If she doesn't, you'll be in debt the rest of your life. Your furniture will have to look like a magazine because she wouldn't want to be embarrassed with anything less. Her clothes budget will be outrageous so she will look better than the people she works with. It never ends. This isn't even realistic.

I'd explain how important it is to you to live within your budget, and that you don't believe in going into debt for things that will take forever to pay off. She either supports your feelings, or you might consider whether or not you want to deal with this the rest of your life.

(BTW: your child will have to have the best of everything as well. This is going to be expensive. It needs to be keep in control from the beginning, in my opinion.) I've seen too many young couples go into debt and dig such a big hole that it takes forever to get out.

I wouldn't marry her personally. Some people equate a dollar value with love and that's fine....you don't seem to agree. So, what happens down the road when she wants a mansion and you are just looking for a nice ranch. Do you really want to be working 3 jobs just to give it to her? Same thing with the wedding....what happens when she has to further impress these biotches and demands a 35k price tag? I certainly hope you don't ever get laid off or something because then she'll leave you. Besides that I don't agree with a woman who would take things away from her baby's future just so she can brag to the other women at work that she got Tiffany's.

If you really want to tie yourself to a woman like that for life then take pics of the Tiffany ring to a family jewler. Compromise and have it made out of a cheaper material (ie white gold instead of platinum) but with the exact same design. The other option is to purchase the real Tiffany setting and have a moissanite stone put in until an agreed point like your 5th anniversary when you can afford the diamond. (BTW moissanite is harder than diamond, naturally flawless, and has a higher refractive index which means more sparkle) If she wants to lie and say it's a genuine Tiffany that's her deal but DO NOT over extend your beer budget to satisfy her champagne tastes.

dont give in. All you need to do is get a ring that LOOKS expensive but isnt. Go to Macys or any department store and look for rings there. They have great stuff that is only a few thousand dollars nothing close to 10,000. Or go to jewelryexchange.com they have some rings that look just like tiffany rings but cost much less! Do not go into debt buying a ring. Get a nice looking one and she will be happy with it. If she says no then return the ring asap and break up with her.

She needs to realize that money doesn't grow on trees and you cannot afford that ring plus provide for your child. Your child's needs come before either of yours, period. She is being materialistic and needs to grow up. If she really loves you, she should be happy with any ring you give her. I think that the cost of jewelry is not a measure of love, at all. Love is not measured in dollar amounts. I would serioulsy consider if you can stay in this relationship because if she is this way about a ring, guess how it's going to when she wants to show off your house, car, etc. You will be in debt and for what? All because she has this need to show off to her coworkers. Good luck.

I knew this couple once, the wife was extremely vain and wanted expensive clothes to show off to her friends. Then she wanted a face lift. Then a boob job. It never ended, and while she was prancing around with a young man, her poor husband was working two jobs at night in addition to his regular job.

So all Im saying is, talk to her and tell her the ring is out of your price range. If she is truly materialistic, better to find out now. She should understand. Most people cannot afford a Tiffany ring. Its not as if you are giving her a fake diamond!

The only real choice you have is to talk to her, she shouldn't put a dollar amount on your love for her. Explain how much you love her and that while you would love to buy her what she wants you also want to provide for your child and build a future with her and that a ring would get you off to a bad start. There are tons of options for a lot less. Shop around and find something special, with tiffany you are paying for the name as well as the ring. good luck

ask her to marry you but explain the whole cost & debt thing...ask if she'd be willing to accept something more affordable so you guys don't have huge debt at start of marriage...with a promise to purchase a diamond of her choice when it's right time financially...or what about a nice large gem stone 4..5 ct that would be talk of all the gals she works with..& different making her stand out. want good place to ck..hsn believe it or not...for gems & even thier absolute [ man made..vs diamonds & cost ] I have several absolutes & victoria wieks designs & like them as much as my real diamonds & sets. after 10 yrs & a baby I think she's a patient lady & would undersatnd & compromise for time being. Or, just go online & ck out sales in gemstones & surprise her with it & the proposal...when you give it to her & ask her as she wants you too...explain that w/ the cost & at this time you hope she likes the gem & won't mind waiting until you can afford a 10,000. dollar diamond. But, to be honest, been there & had rings like you said she'd want, had to impress people etc ...guess what it's a waste cuz you worry about the loss & cost & ins. & it'd be smarter to put $ away for babys future & spend a nice amount for something flashy in gems...or have a nice gem ring like the princess diana's made special & be sure it's a 2 to 3 ct gem...jewlers may charge more for same thing you can get at hsn...just be sure to get it in gold or platinum. good luck ! let me know what you do.

Honestly tell her exactly how much you can afford..if it's not enough than she can make up the difference..

....honey, the size of the rock in no way indicates the size of the guy's love...that is just soooo materialistic and shallow.

...and altho your heart is set on her, your wallet may not be able to satisfy her champagne taste and she'll lead you into tremendous debt, then drop you for someone she thinks is able to feed into her 'high maintenance' if you go along with this......stay within your budget dear..if she really loves you she will understand.....Good Luck

If she can afford she can get it herself, but your daughter and paying for a house are far more important.

Really if she wants to marry you it's about the marriage and not the ring, mine only cost $300.

Maybe getting a average priced ring and getting it engraved would make it more personal and different.

Getting married should be about a lot more than the ring. You need to talk to her and find a middle ground. That's money that you could put towards your daughter's education!