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Dave Ramsey
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Hannah
How much should I expect my boyfriend to be paying on an engagement ring?
Dave Ramsey
Ooh, yikes. Y' all are bringing the fastballs tonight.
Hannah
My boyfriend is here, so you can be generous.
Rachel Cruze
Is this him right here?
Dave Ramsey
Oh, my goodness.
Rachel Cruze
I think we need him on the mic too, don't you?
Dave Ramsey
Yeah, I'll do it. I'll do it. I'm a man of the people. I'm going to come down here.
Rachel Cruze
Well, I don't know if you wanted to join her up there.
Dave Ramsey
Do you want to go with her? I think you should go up there. Yeah.
Ken Coleman
Yes.
Rachel Cruze
This is fantastic.
Ken Coleman
This is what we need.
Dave Ramsey
Okay, Hannah, Hannah, on the mic real quick. Did he know you were going to do this?
Jeff
I did, yeah.
Dave Ramsey
Oh, so you're willingly participating.
Rachel Cruze
Hey, you got a nice watch there.
Ken Coleman
Y' all communicate so well.
Jeff
Didn't expect to be on the mic, but I was willing for her to ask the question.
Rachel Cruze
Okay, I gotta know what kind of watch you're wearing there.
Jeff
It's a T shot.
Rachel Cruze
What's that cost?
Jeff
It was about a grand.
Rachel Cruze
Ok, just give me a good baseline. Give me a good baseline.
Dave Ramsey
And are you. Are you aware that she's expecting a ring, I hope?
Jeff
Yeah, we've definitely discussed it.
Dave Ramsey
Okay. And have you been planning for this financially?
Jeff
Yes.
Dave Ramsey
Okay. Are you willing to tell us right here, now, how much you've been planning to spend or would you like to keep that private?
Jeff
Oh, yeah, I've been told. Kind of like two to three months salary.
Rachel Cruze
Who told you?
Dave Ramsey
Who told you that?
Jeff
Parents.
Rachel Cruze
Every kiss begins with K. No. Okay.
Jeff
Just. Just friends and par De Beers.
Rachel Cruze
Yeah. Well, that's a lot of marketing.
Dave Ramsey
That's a lot. Two to three months.
Hannah
A lot.
Dave Ramsey
Yeah.
Rachel Cruze
What do you. What do you think?
Ken Coleman
That's average. That is what they say.
Rachel Cruze
What do you.
Jeff
I'm in tech sales.
Rachel Cruze
Oh, you're gonna get a nice ring, sweetheart.
Jeff
Yeah.
Dave Ramsey
Well, do you have any debt?
Jeff
No. Debt free.
Hannah
He has a family friend who works for Diamonds Direct as well. So you're getting Debt Free and Diamonds Direct connection.
Dave Ramsey
Okay. And have you.
Rachel Cruze
I have a.
Jeff
She's teeing it up.
Dave Ramsey
Yes, she is. Have you two. You have.
Ken Coleman
I bet not.
Jeff
She's talked about the size of the ring that she wants, so.
Dave Ramsey
Hannah, are you aware of what said size costs?
Hannah
Nope.
Rachel Cruze
Let's be honest. Do you really think he would give you a ring that you'd be disappointed with?
Hannah
No.
Rachel Cruze
I think it's a moot. Point, then.
Dave Ramsey
All right, well, I want to dig a little more. This is too juicy. What is your name, sir?
Jeff
Jeff.
Dave Ramsey
Jeff.
Ken Coleman
Y' all are adorable, by the way.
Rachel Cruze
I'm rooting for this couple already.
Dave Ramsey
They're fantastic. You guys are a handsome couple. Have you went and looked at the size ring that she wants and priced it?
Jeff
We've went and looked, but I haven't really priced it now.
Dave Ramsey
I think you should price it.
Jeff
Yeah.
Dave Ramsey
And then George, after he prices it, we don't know what we're dealing with, and we're trying to keep a little bit of mystery here. Although Hannah has put this poor boy on the spot.
Rachel Cruze
Yeah, it's a little too late. I mean, he has to put a ring on. I would price it.
Dave Ramsey
I would price it. And I don't know, George, if I like that two to three months salary business that feels artificial.
Ken Coleman
That's a very.
Rachel Cruze
Well, like, we got a call on the Ramsey show. This guy wanted to spend $80,000 on a ring. So there is a level where it's, like, out of control.
Ken Coleman
Okay, back to our values thing, y'.
Hannah
All.
Ken Coleman
If he made 15 million a year, who cares? I mean, do you know what I'm saying? That's why the salary of what you make per month is a good gauge of it.
Rachel Cruze
My heart says a month.
Jeff
15 million.
Rachel Cruze
Trust me, it says a month's salary is plenty.
Dave Ramsey
Yeah. Well, here's. I think we may have varying opinions. I'll vote and say, I think you need to go price it and price it multiple times. Talk to your buddy, say, here's the situation. Hannah's amazing. This is what she wants. This is what I feel comfortable with. Because I think you know in your mind what a comfortable number is. Don't you? You're responsible, young man.
Jeff
I would say so, yeah.
Dave Ramsey
All right. I would. If you can't get her what she wants, you get her something close and we have a fine conversation about it. And, Hannah, you want to marry this man, do you not?
Hannah
Yes.
Dave Ramsey
All right. Are you going to be happy with what beautiful ring he gets you?
Hannah
Yes.
Dave Ramsey
All right, then.
Hannah
That's right. Now. No,
Dave Ramsey
no, you gotta wait. Hannah, let this man come up with a plan.
Rachel Cruze
The simplest answer is, how much should you spend? How much you can afford at the time you want to propose. That's it.
Ken Coleman
And then you. That's simple. And then factor in, depending on your situation. If you guys have to pay for the wedding, the honeymoon, do you want a down payment on a house? I mean, you know, like, the money all is put into a Big bowl and saying, how do we want to divvy this up? And you guys need to talk about that. To say, what are our values? What are our goals?
Rachel Cruze
What's the priority?
Ken Coleman
Yeah, what's the priority?
Dave Ramsey
I gotta tell you, I'm a little irritated.
Ken Coleman
Why? Ken Coleman.
Dave Ramsey
I think there needs to be more mystery among this young generation. Why are we even talking about this?
Ken Coleman
Well, you're the one that told him to go up to the mic because
Dave Ramsey
she asked the question in front of everybody. I don't want you two talking about this. Hannah, relax.
Hannah
Look, I'm with Rachel. Like, I think you need to put it all in a bucket and then divvy it out. And I would much rather be on a beautiful diamond than maybe a wedding venue or a dress or other things.
Dave Ramsey
We'll see.
Hannah
Okay, a mortgage, that would take priority.
Dave Ramsey
All right. All I'm saying, I'm having fun. I'm truly not irritated, but I'm slightly irritated because I do think there needs to be mystery. And I think the young man should get a little information from you, and then you just need to go about your life and let him come up with a plan. Let him buy a nice ring. We got too much planning going on. Where's the romance?
Ken Coleman
How old are you guys? How old are you?
Jeff
I'm 26.
Hannah
Yeah. 27.
Dave Ramsey
Yeah.
Hannah
Okay.
Dave Ramsey
What does that have to do with.
Ken Coleman
Because they're hardworking, late 20s, they know what they want in life so they can have grown up conversations of where we want our money to go as a couple.
Dave Ramsey
I didn't say that.
Ken Coleman
Well, you did.
Dave Ramsey
The mystery around the engagement, the way
Rachel Cruze
the engagement happens can be the mystery.
Ken Coleman
That's the mystery. But to decide of how much.
Dave Ramsey
I'm talking about.
Ken Coleman
But how much money we want to spend on a ring, that can be talked about.
Hannah
Okay, I'm okay with that.
Ken Coleman
As long as you pay cash. That's my thing. And in two years, you're gonna be fine. You know what I mean? Or, Hannah, you may be slightly disappointed with the size. I don't know. But then in 10 years, you can upgrade a ring. Or in 20 years, right? Like, it's great. So it's fine. But I do like the month. I like basing it on what you make per year. I like that. I like that model. Blame it on K's, but I don't like it.
Dave Ramsey
Who's with me would like to see a little more mystery.
Rachel Cruze
I'm trying to rally everyone to get on his. Leave a poor couple alone.
Dave Ramsey
This is going out to the YouTube millions. I want. I want a good message out there amongst the crowd. That's loud and clear. Hey, you guys are fun sports. I'm having a little bit of fun, but kind of serious. Give them a big, big hand.
Ken Coleman
Congratulations, you guys. Good job.
Dave Ramsey
Why refi Refinances Defaulted private student loans for struggling borrowers. Learn more@yrefy.com Ramsey.
In this lively and humorous episode, Dave Ramsey and his co-hosts, Rachel Cruze and Ken Coleman, tackle a common question from listener Hannah: “How much should I expect my boyfriend to pay for a ring?” The discussion gets personal when Hannah’s boyfriend, Jeff, joins the conversation, sparking an open exploration of engagement ring expectations, financial values between couples, and how traditions and marketing influence big life decisions. The team offers practical advice, challenges traditional advice, and emphasizes aligning spending with personal priorities and financial responsibility.
Jeff reveals he’s financially prepared, debt-free, and has a diamond connection through family.
The hosts encourage:
Dave Ramsey: “I think you know in your mind what a comfortable number is. …If you can’t get her what she wants, you get her something close and we have a fine conversation about it.” [03:28]
Rachel Cruze: “How much should you spend? How much you can afford at the time you want to propose. That’s it.” [04:13]
Ken Coleman: “If you guys have to pay for the wedding, the honeymoon, do you want a down payment on a house? The money all is put into a big bowl and saying, how do we want to divvy this up?” [04:19]
Dave Ramsey laments the loss of mystery in engagements, suggesting couples should let some things—like the exact ring—be a surprise.
Ken Coleman and Rachel Cruze respond that transparent conversations are good, especially for couples in their late 20s who are building a foundation together.
Ken Coleman sums up: It’s okay to discuss ring pricing together, as long as you pay cash and remember upgrades are always possible in the future.