Home ownership vst savings vs marriage

[scfr]

The last time I was at Sam's Club they were selling a DR Total Money Makeover Kit. I did not stop to look at it, so I don't know what it includes. The price was in the $25-30 range.

[DebbieL]

The whole notion of expensive engagement rings is just brainwashing. Seriously. I don't think engagement rings were even common before all this commercialized nonsense. I'm a woman, and can honestly say I couldn't care less about jewelry. Anything I buy for myself is costume jewelry. In fact, I would have been angry (and worse still, I wouldn't have felt free to express my anger) if DH would have blown several thousand dollars on some dumb ring (sorry, just how I feel).

My ring cost about $700, and our whole wedding was about $1,100. We were already going to Maui for a vacation, and we just threw in the wedding. For about $1,100 we got a wedding planner to do it all - arrange the license appointment, hair and makeup (done by a professional), flowers, a wedding cake, photography (including the CD so we could also print our own), ceremony on beach, engraved champagne flutes, a ride to the location, etc.

[disneysteve]

The whole notion of expensive engagement rings is just brainwashing. Seriously. I don't think engagement rings were even common before all this commercialized nonsense. I'm a woman, and can honestly say I couldn't care less about jewelry. Anything I buy for myself is costume jewelry. In fact, I would have been angry (and worse still, I wouldn't have felt free to express my anger) if DH would have blown several thousand dollars on some dumb ring (sorry, just how I feel).

What is even worse is I know several people who got one ring when they actually got engaged and, over the years as they got more money, traded up for a bigger and bigger ring. I know one woman who has switched rings 3 times. Sorry, but still calling that your engagement ring is just plain wrong. It isn't the ring you were given when you got engaged.

[snafu]

W4LV: congratulations on getting rid of your debt and being clever enough to realize you need to make some choices and defer some wishes. Conflict about money, how to save and how to spend ...are still the numero ono break-up issue so it's critical that you both understand and accept how the other handles finances.

An engagement ring doesn't have to be a diamond, it can be whatever you decide. Kate Middelton's engagement ring from Prince William was a Sapphire. snnshijuptr [post #5] gave great suggestions.

Home ownership is very reachable, if both of you are willing to make choices that allow you to save the 20% DP. I know you can do it!

[wrk4lvg]

Sat down with the DG (lol) last night and went over her finances. 20k debt. This is spread over 10k student loan, 6k car loan, and 4k in CC debt.

We talked it over last night and she's going to knock out the CC debt with her two bonuses she's getting Feb/March.

Her car is set to be paid off by March 2012 and I'm not sure just yet how we're going to tackle the student loan. She currently defers it now as she's still in school, but she did say she pays taxes on the loan. I'm no tax expert, but from what I gathered on here, she should be writing the tax off? I mentioned that to her and she said she gets no tax form at the end of each year. We've been together 3 tax seasons, so that's at least 3 she hadn't received a form regarding her student loan.

[DebbieL]

An engagement ring doesn't have to be a diamond, it can be whatever you decide. Kate Middelton's engagement ring from Prince William was a Sapphire. snnshijuptr [post #5] gave great suggestions.

And better yet - it's a hand-me-down It was Diana's.