EVERY year, Poundland’s cheap as chips engagement ring hits shelves in time for Valentine’s Day.
And, as the name of the store suggests, the ring comes in at just £1 – making it perfect for anyone who’s strapped for cash and planning to propose.
However, this year Asda had taken on the high street store with their version of the cut-price jewel, which will set you back just 96p.
One shopper took to Facebook to share a look at the ring, which comes complete with a red heart-shaped velvet box.
“Proposing on Valentine’s Day? Asda has an engagement ring for JUST 96p,” she wrote on the Bargain Hunters Facebook group.
She added that the ring is “dead handy if you’re skint”.
However, people in the comments section were divided as to whether the ring is a must-have bargain, or a proposal joke.
“Take this, Poundland!” one joked.
“Turn ya finger green though,” another sighed.
“Wow I was very lucky girl to get my ring – I could have ended up with one of these lol,” a third giggled.
“96p ain’t a bad shout, I said I’m cheap,” someone else joked.
But others defended the rings, and anyone who buys them.
“Not sure why people laugh at these so much, be a good idea for proposals,” one wrote.
“You don’t want to lose expensive rings – propose with (this) and let them choose their proper ring.”
“So many shallow people laughing at a cheap ring,” another raged.
“If the ring means more than the proposal, there is a big problem before you’re even married.”
“I’d take that, not everything is about cost,” a third agreed.
“It’s love that matters.”
How to ace a proposal
Thinking of proposing? Follow this checklist by Fabulous’ Deputy Editor Josie Griffiths to ensure a yes…
- Time it right – the average Brit waits between 18 months and two years to get engaged. But you might feel ready after six months, or decide to wait five plus years to pop the question. Only you truly know when the time’s right, and this isn’t a decision you want to rush. Falling in love might feel amazing but of course most relationships DON’T end in marriage – and this is for good reason…
- Pay attention – hopefully you haven’t reached the point yet of your frustrated partner leaving their laptop open with ‘hints’ for rings they like. Ideally you’ll want the ring to be a secret, but also something they’d happily wear – and for the rest of their life, so just a TEENY bit of pressure here. You need to be paying attention to any comments your partner makes about other people’s rings, what they do and don’t like, and what’s most important to them – size, clarity, specific details. If you’re really unsure, or if your partner hates surprises, it’s best to propose with a dummy and then buy the real thing together.
- Family matters – tradition dictates that you ask the dad’s permission for his daughter’s hand in marriage, but it’s not so straightforward nowadays. Maybe your partner’s closer to their step-dad, or wants her mum to walk her down the aisle, in which case you’d be better off chatting to them. Maybe they’d find it weird if you went to their parents first, in which case you could ditch the whole thing. Or perhaps they’re closer to their friends and the best idea would be letting your partner’s best mate pick the ring. These things do matter and could come back to bite you if handled in the wrong way.
- Plan the setting – does your partner dread being centre of attention, or are they someone who’d be gutted if you proposed at home, berating you forever for a lack of ‘effort’? Plan the place for your perfect proposal – how busy it’ll be, whether you’ll be able to get a good pic there, and other logistics around it. A proposal at the top of a mountain might sound good in theory but your girlfriend might not actually appreciate it when there’s sweat dripping down her forehead and she’s not wearing the cute dress she’d imagined for the pictures. Personally, I can’t think of anything worse than a public proposal where everyone’s waiting to hear your answer – in a group of friends, the middle of a restaurant or with an announcement at an event. So bear all of this in mind and remember, it’s meant to be about what THEY want, not you.
“It’s a cute gift,” someone else insisted.
As another tagged a friend who was waiting for a proposal, and said: “All he’s got to spend is 96p!”
