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VI.<br />
Getting Engaged<br />
A. Making a Budget<br />
It is imperative that you make a budget for<br />
marriage. You and your ‘spouse-to-be’ should discuss<br />
openly plans and goals for employment, school, learning,<br />
etc. This discussion should take place before<br />
engagement to ensure that you have common goals and<br />
are both willing to compromise on plans, if necessary, for<br />
example, delaying school and working to earn a living to<br />
support you and your spouse while he/she continues to<br />
pursue a degree. The majority of arguments among<br />
married people revolve around income and money.<br />
Avoid them by discussing the matter. For a copy of a<br />
sample budget please see Chapter VII.<br />
B. The Bracelet<br />
It is customary for some to first buy the girl a<br />
bracelet when you become engaged. The price for the<br />
bracelet may vary from $450 – $900. This is not a<br />
requirement, rather merely a custom. Others may<br />
present this gift in the yichud room. There is no pressure<br />
to follow either of these practices; this should be a joint<br />
decision between you and your bride-to-be.<br />
C. The Ring<br />
The engagement ring, on average, should cost<br />
approximately 2 and one-half months’ salary. This is just<br />
a guideline, and, of course, the boy should determine<br />
what he can afford to pay. This two and one-half months’<br />
salary rule only really applies to someone who has been<br />
working for some time, not to someone who recently just<br />
began employment. Nevertheless, a person may expect<br />
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