<prompt> Human: Looking for some advice as to what I should spend on an engagement ring. On one hand I want to be frugal, but there is a part of me that wants to disregard all budgeting and go all out and spoil her. I know there are certain rules you should follow based upon percentage of salary etc, but there are so many different numbers out there. She knows a proposal is coming but we have never discussed what I would spend on the ring I want to take care of that side of things in secret to preserve the surprise. I know she will say yes even if its a ring pop, but I was hoping for some help from you fine folks. Our situation is as follows Canadian dollars:Me: 75kyr job, just started in Sept 2016. 50k debt and 3000 in savings currently set aside. Her: 70kyr job, 30k debt. Other: We dont own a house, but rent is very cheap for us. She has car payments, I dont. I was planning on spending around 4k on it. Am I cheap if I do that? Or is that reasonable given our situation? Edit: Thank you everyone for the advice. Sorry, I should have clarified that I have other savings, the 3k has been specifically set aside for the engagement ring. Your responses have been a bit of an eye opener though, and I am going to look good and hard and a budget adjustment.  <response>: Really curious to hear what people say here.For me; youre broke. Dont worry; I was broke when I got engaged, too. I had a choice. I could go finance a ring, like youre talking about doing, or I could buy a ring that I could afford. Heres the problem with financing a ring. You get married, you combine finances, and guess what? That bill is now her bill. How romantic; she gets to pay for her own ring. Seems to steal some of the magic, and yet everyone does it. I dont get it.My wife had no illusions about my getting-started finances, and I was broker than you at the time. I got her a 500 ring that she loves. You could probably go 1k-1500 since you have a small amount of savings. Now, 4 years later, I make 120k and I got her a 6k ring that blew her mind, since I could afford it.Dont do it, man. Dont start your marriage with MORE debt than you already have, and with creating facades about how things are going. Be honest. Get an honest ring. 