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I’m just back from a shopping trip. I would call it a trip because at one point it seemed that it is never going to end. No I was not out on a shopping spree nor was Ryan. Now you all must be wondering who this Ryan is. He is one of my closest pals and is getting married next month. You know there is this strange thing between both of us….we didn’t start off that well.

I simply hated him n trust me the feelings were mutual. Lol!!! But later on when we started talking we realized “Oh gosh!!! We are so similar.” Be it books, movies, food or anything we share same likes and dislikes. But the most important thing that makes us so strikingly similar is our belief in simple living.

Today he called up and said “Hey just come over and help me with the ring stuff?” An engagement ring is a token of love and commitment. So it has to be special. And shopping for special things is really a nerve wracking job, because you have to be extra cautious. While driving on my way to meet Ryan, many things cropped in my mind. For a while I was clueless, but then I sorted out two important factors: value and quality. I always believe that there is a line of demarcation between being frugal and being cheap. And I knew that Ryan too thinks the same. But what about Emile, his fiancée? She will be wearing it and looking at it for the rest of her life. Women really care how their engagement ring looks. So, how much Ryan should spend on it?

I have seen people spending their two to three months’ salary. It’s simply extreme. There are much better things in life to spend your three month’s salary - be it home, car, retirement, insurance….the list is endless. Then why is there so much hoopla about a big and shiny ring that is worth $1342. That makes me think, is it really a token of love or merely a status symbol that your wife will show to her friends. Now that’s something worth pondering!!!!!

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