Diamond somewhat over budget but perfect otherwise--worth it to buy?

[Kim N]

I found a terrific 1.22 stone that is actually larger than my size goal, and that, dare I say it, might even be a tiny bit too large (is that possible?). I like everything about it, color, clarity, specs, and I''d never upgrade if I got it. The problem is, it''s about $750 over budget. Would it be worth it to get it if it meant I would never upgrade? I would be satisfied right now with a 1.05-1.10, which might even be enough as a forever size.

Any thoughts?

 

[kcoursolle]

What''s your budget? Maybe we can help find something that is still about the same size for slightly less.

 

[strmrdr]

depends on how the budget was set, its different if its just saying this is what I want too spend max or this is the most I have without taking away from something else.
So no one can really answer it but you.

 

[MikeRato1]

kim n...
if it makes u feel any better i ended up going $5100 over budget to find the "perfect" stone lol
gotta love financing!

 

[Kim N]

kcoursolle, my budget is around $5K. I''ve been trying to maximize size without going too low on color and clarity (I SI1).

storm, thanks for the input. Going over budget would mean reducing my savings goal, but I wouldn''t be going without anything. I half-hoped someone would say "Go for it!" but half-hoped someone would say instead "Don''t do it! Be practical!" LOL.

 

[hairgirl95]

I''ll be the bad influence --go for it girl!!

 

[Fly Girl]

Kim - The way I make decisions like this is I try to project out 5 years, or so. Say, I''m buying a new sofa. If I get the perfect sofa, I will still be enjoying that perfect sofa in 5 years, and I won''t remember how much it cost. But, if I say that the perfect sofa is too expensive, and I got with the cheaper sofa that is the wrong color (pattern, fabric, size, whatever), that cheap sofa will still be bugging me in 5 years, and I won''t remember the money I saved.

So, in your case, I''d go for the perfect stone. You won''t remember how much it cost in a few years, and you will still be enjoying that perfect stone.

Good luck!!!

 

[gastro]

Kim N, what is the stone being used for? Engagement ring, pendant, or other? E-ring will probably have the most emotional attachment, so if it''s going to bug you forever that you would have been happier with the bigger stone (for ~15% over budget), then I say go for it.

 

[Gypsy]

GO FOR IT! GO FOR IT! RA RA RA!

 

[Kim N]

Mike, haha, I''m hoping not to go even close to $5100 over budget! FI would not be happy!

hairgirl and Gypsy, LOL, I''m definitely feeling the bad influences!

Fly Girl, thanks for the perspective. Projecting out a few years from now is a great way to look at it. I hadn''t thought about doing that, so thanks for the suggestion.

gastro, the stone will actually be an upgrade from a current e-ring. I''ve been trying to take the emotional attachment into account, and how much wear I''ll get out of it (I don''t wear my jewelry every day). Thanks for your input.

 

[isaku5]

I''m a great enabler too, and I say, "Go for it!!!"

 

[MikeRato1]

yeah for a few weeks i was in the same boat as you. couldnt make up my mind. but i said f it and went for the better one.
it hurt at first but in the long run im glad i did it. im sure you will both be happier also
good luck!

 

[honey22]

Yep, do it. I always say you could be hit by a bus tomorow, you don't want to regret anything! Debt is only on a piece of paper - it can't hurt you !

I orginally looked for a 0.7 ct RB for my ering (ok, pre-PS it was 0.4ct!!). When I tried on 0.8ct I thought, that's a touch too big. BUT in an attempt to ward off the dreaded DSS, I went with a gorgoues 0.8ct ACA (which I havn't been given yet

torture!). Now, I am thinking, well is it big enough?! Yes, but in the 30 mins total I had it on my hand, taking pics, checking that it was ok before handing over to BF, I had got used to it in no time flat. It's perfect, I wouldn't want to go bigger now, but I am glad I went a tad bigger initially.

Well, I hope that rambling paragraph made sense, and does help!

PS - Our 'budget' (while we didn't really have one, that was what BF thought it would be and so did I initially) was $5k, we ended up spending $7.1K. He said I was totally worth it, it's a once in a life purchase (no upgrades for me) and he wanted me to be happy. If you really want it, and can afford it, do it!!

 

[Deelight]

If it will not cause financial burden or hardship I say go for it .

If it makes you feel better split the cost of the diamond over say 50 years of marriage most likely less then a cup a coffee a day I say it is worth it .

 

[Kay]

Date: 3/7/2008 8:59:15 PM
Author: Deelight
If it will not cause financial burden or hardship I say go for it .

If it makes you feel better split the cost of the diamond over say 50 years of marriage most likely less then a cup a coffee a day I say it is worth it .

I agree. If you can comfortably afford the extra $750, go for it! My personal perspective is that it is better to spend a little extra for something that you know will make you happy long term. Otherwise, it will probably cost you more in the long run because you will want to upgrade again.

DH and I have a philosophy for major purchases, such as jewelry, furniture, appliances, etc. -- "do it once & do it right." We would rather spend a little more and be really happy with the quality than go cheap (not that $5,000 is cheap) and be unhappy and want to replace the item in a few years.

 

[Kim N]

Isabel, Mike, honey22, Deelight, and Kay, thank you for the feedback! I''m now about 75% toward going for it. It''s just the other 25% of myself that I have to convince.

Isabel, thanks for the enabling! I''m certainly leaning towards it.

honey22, I''m trying to ward off DSS too and figure that with this size, I should never get DSS [crossing fingers]. But right now, I do think the size is a tad too big. Thanks for sharing your experience. It definitely helps, as I''m having that same thought process.

Deelight, haha, I can just imagine my FI shaking his head at me at the argument that the diamond costs less than a cup of coffee a day.

Kay, I agree, I usually use that perspective on my other major purchases, but for some reason it''s harder for me to apply it to jewelry because it''s not a "necessity" like a washer or a refrigerator would be. It''s a good idea, though, to think of jewelry with the same philosophy.

 

[Sparkalicious]

The fact that you are curious or asking about it leads me to believe that it is a "suppressed" desire.... you are attempting to be "good" by staying within budget and denying yourself this small splurge.

My 2 cents says ... Don't sacrifice your ultimate happiness with what doesn't actually amt to too much of a budget overage considering the inflated prices of the "luxury" item you are going to purchase.

GO FOR IT!

Seriously, aside from being an emotional or sentimental purchase ... it's a "feel good" purchase. Keeping this in mind, make it "feel good" .. Go for what you really want. Get your heart's desire. Don't settle.

While it may initially bite more into your savings than you would like ... maybe you can justify it by being more aggressive with your savings strategy post purchase?

 

[honey22]

Date: 3/8/2008 1:20:22 AM
Author: Kim N
Isabel, Mike, honey22, Deelight, and Kay, thank you for the feedback! I''m now about 75% toward going for it. It''s just the other 25% of myself that I have to convince.

Isabel, thanks for the enabling! I''m certainly leaning towards it.

honey22, I''m trying to ward off DSS too and figure that with this size, I should never get DSS [crossing fingers]. But right now, I do think the size is a tad too big. Thanks for sharing your experience. It definitely helps, as I''m having that same thought process.

Deelight, haha, I can just imagine my FI shaking his head at me at the argument that the diamond costs less than a cup of coffee a day.

Kay, I agree, I usually use that perspective on my other major purchases, but for some reason it''s harder for me to apply it to jewelry because it''s not a ''necessity'' like a washer or a refrigerator would be. It''s a good idea, though, to think of jewelry with the same philosophy.

Excellent!! Now, if that 25% and I could just have a little chat, I am sure we can work things out!!

 

[Deelight]

Date: 3/8/2008 1:20:22 AM
Author: Kim N
Isabel, Mike, honey22, Deelight, and Kay, thank you for the feedback! I''m now about 75% toward going for it. It''s just the other 25% of myself that I have to convince.

Isabel, thanks for the enabling! I''m certainly leaning towards it.

honey22, I''m trying to ward off DSS too and figure that with this size, I should never get DSS [crossing fingers]. But right now, I do think the size is a tad too big. Thanks for sharing your experience. It definitely helps, as I''m having that same thought process.


Deelight, haha, I can just imagine my FI shaking his head at me at the argument that the diamond costs less than a cup of coffee a day.

Kay, I agree, I usually use that perspective on my other major purchases, but for some reason it''s harder for me to apply it to jewelry because it''s not a ''necessity'' like a washer or a refrigerator would be. It''s a good idea, though, to think of jewelry with the same philosophy.

My BF did too, he then proceeded to laugh and tell me I am cute but it worked for me

 

[diamondseeker2006]

My new diamond was for an anniversary, but the proposed initial budget increased by $4000 by the time we bought a stone! I sort of hate spending money like that, but once it was done, I didn''t think about the cost any more. In the overall scheme of things, $750 is not a lot of money if you have it to spend. I''d certainly stretch the budget if your fiance can manage it to get something you will be happy with long term..

 

[krisvrn]

Date: 3/7/2008 4:22:30 PM
Author:Kim N
I found a terrific 1.22 stone that is actually larger than my size goal, and that, dare I say it, might even be a tiny bit too large (is that possible?). I like everything about it, color, clarity, specs, and I''d never upgrade if I got it. The problem is, it''s about $750 over budget. Would it be worth it to get it if it meant I would never upgrade? I would be satisfied right now with a 1.05-1.10, which might even be enough as a forever size.


Any thoughts?

$750 over the budget is not bad. i say go for it as long as it doesn''t cause financial strain. If u get the 1.22 ct stone i think you would be totally happy. B/C if you end up with the other stone, will you totally be happy?????

 

[Kim N]

Thank you for your comments, Sparkalicious, honey22, Deelight, DS, and krisvrn! I''m still getting a little pushback from the FI, but I think I''m going to go forward with it with the promise that, as you suggested, Sparkalicious, I''m going to increase my savings amounts from now on. Also, absolutely no more jewelry purchases for a long, long time.

Sparkalicious, I was definitely trying to be "good" by sticking to the budget! So now I''ll just have to be good afterwards.

honey22, that 25% must have had the chat with you after all! LOL

DS and krisvn, I agree, one of the main reasons I''ve decided to go for it is that I think it will make me happier long-term than if I got what would make me happy only right now. And DS, I love the stone that you ended up with and adore your beautiful new set!

 

[Sparkalicious]

Good stuff! Can''t wait to see it!

With regards to your new savings strategy ... how about siphoning off some of your savings fund into a secret bling savings stash?

 

[Kim N]

Date: 3/9/2008 11:54:37 PM
Author: Sparkalicious
Good stuff! Can''t wait to see it!

With regards to your new savings strategy ... how about siphoning off some of your savings fund into a secret bling savings stash?

Ooh, that''s sneaky and naughty!

Maybe I''ll start thinking about that after my funds recover from this splurge first!

 

[krisvrn]

Hi! Good luck with your purchase. please come back and show us your new stone when you get it!

 

[hairgirl95]

If it makes you feel better split the cost of the diamond over say 50 years of marriage most likely less then a cup a coffee a day I say it is worth it .[/quote]



OMG I am DYING over this one!!

I am going to memory bank this when the upgrade urge hits me again. I can totally spin this one to my hubby!!

 

[bee*]

I''d go for it. My e-ring was €757 over budget and it was a bit bigger than I thought that I''d be able to get. D didn''t mind going a bit over budget as it really is my dream ring and I''ll never upgrade.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 3/8/2008 8:52:40 PM
Author: diamondseeker2006
My new diamond was for an anniversary, but the proposed initial budget increased by $4000 by the time we bought a stone! I sort of hate spending money like that, but once it was done, I didn''t think about the cost any more. In the overall scheme of things, $750 is not a lot of money if you have it to spend. I''d certainly stretch the budget if your fiance can manage it to get something you will be happy with long term..

Ditto!

 

[kellyfish]

How about a delay in the purchase until the extra $$$ is saved, so FI may have less of an issue as it sounds as if you have a bit of inner turmoil about this .....there will be other stones to choose when the extra $$$ is in your hands...