Sometimes even the least self-serving girl makes demands about engagement rings that she would in no other instance. Small house, old car, discount shoes, thrift-shop duds, forever21 baubles…None of these matter as long as the sparkle on our left ring finger results in the periodic blindness of those around us.

On the the other hand, the poor blokes who love and adore us and want to please us to the point of ecstasy don’t necessarily have $30k set aside, and if they do, it’s probably not filed under “the love of my life’s engagement ring fund” (we can only dream) and say they do have a nest egg already, wouldn’t we rather it go toward our dream house?

Case in point. This is one of my (Fayetteville) dream homes, I qualify because I have many around town (the country…the world!)

And this is my dream ring:

Both make me swoon. Why would a besotted young lady in love want to sacrifice one for the other? My answer is two-fold. We should and yet we don’t have to. We forgo blinding everyone in our office/circle of friends/random party for now.  Let me explain! The ring above is and will always be my dream. Must I realize my most precious of dreams NOW at 24? I think not.

A while back I posted here about beautiful dream rings but ladies, I have other ideas. Women seem to be marrying younger and younger and the state of our U.S. economy is getting scarier and scarier. Why don’t we wait on our dream ring? Instead of our beaus taking 10 years to save for what “we” want or taking out a loan he doesn’t need, let’s compromise.

My proposal: Find a gorgeous cocktail ring you know you’ll love forever and wear that until you (or hubby) strike it rich and can provide you with what your heart desires. Keep pictures, most jewelers worth their snuff can re-create for you.

Here are some of my faves under $5K

$4500

$4600

$3500

$4500

$2600

$2400

$4800

$1900

$3900

$5000

All of the above found at FayCullen

$795 $895

$895$1250

$1450 $1650

$1750 $1750

$1750$2250

$2250 $2450

$2650 $2650

$2700 $2750

$2750 I LOVE this one $2750

$2850 – I die $3250

I <3 $3250 $3350

$3350 $3450

I do – $3850  I do – $3950

$4250 I do $4750

And these below are the winners! All $750

Above images from Lang Antiques