The Ring vs. The Plasma TV?
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The Ring vs. The Plasma TV?
| Mon, 11-29-2004 - 3:48pm |
My boyfriend and I recently moved in together after being together for three years. We have been discussing getting married for some time now, and we seem to always get into the subject of the cost of getting engaged...namely, the ring. My boyfriend made a point that since the girl typically gets hundreds upon thousands of dollars spent on the ring, the guy should get something as well. I told him that he would be getting me on the deal, but that didn't sway him in presenting an interesting argument. He proceeded to make a very good point of how "a plasma tv" was to "a guy" as "an engagement ring" is to "a girl". It got me thinking about the possibility of when he proposed I would get him a TV or something else to his liking, then again thinking he should want to get me the ring without anything in return. In this day and age, are we outdating ourselves with not giving our sweeties something of equal value and want at this crucial time of pre-I-do-ness? Or should we be following in the footsteps of our fore-mothers and let the ball keep rolling?

Will he be getting a wedding ring? Although a man's wedding ring typically doesn't come close to the cost of a woman's ring set, that is traditionally the item you trade with one another.
The only comment I want to make is that your post made me cringe. I have a friend whose marriage is just as yours is probably going to be. When she buys anything of significant expense, her husband has to go out and spend an equal amount for it to be "fair" and vice versa. Their life totally revolves around material items and getting as many "toys" as they can. They even are in competition with their siblings' families. Please note that there is no end to this mentality and the satisfaction and enjoyment in those material possessions has been short-lived. They always need more, and better. And, needless to say, they are in a lot of debt and only in their early 30's. Although no doubt you'll plow right ahead and marry this man, take this one instance on this one topic as a big huge sign of what is probably to follow for the rest of your life -- a life of materialism (and unless you're weatlhy, debt). Good luck.