“I Laughed So Hard I Cried”: Woman And Fiancé Left Furious After MIL’s Fake Heirloom Ring Gift

Getting engaged is about so much more than just the ring. It’s about celebrating the love that you have for your partner and publicly declaring that you plan to spend the rest of your lives together. It’s about taking the next step in your relationship and agreeing that the two of you can’t wait to be married. But, of course, there’s often a ring involved too.

One woman recently reached out to Reddit after she found out that the ring her fiancé’s mother gave her was worth a lot less than she expected. Below, you’ll find the full story, as well as some of the replies invested readers shared.

An expensive ring is certainly not a requirement for every engagement

Older woman holding a cup and smiling while talking to a younger woman, illustrating family heirloom realization.

Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

But this woman was insulted when she found out just how much the “family heirloom” she was given was worth

Woman surprised to learn family heirloom from mother-in-law is only worth 30 dollars and not genuine.

Woman realizes the family heirloom engagement ring from her mother-in-law is worth only thirty dollars.

Woman realizes family heirloom gift from MIL is actually worth only $30 after jeweler appraisal.

Woman realizing family heirloom gifted by mother-in-law is only worth thirty dollars and a fake from Walmart.

Woman surprised as she realizes the family heirloom her mother-in-law gave her is only worth $30.

Alt text: Woman realizing the family heirloom from her mother-in-law was actually worth only $30, feeling surprised and disappointed.

Close-up of hands inspecting a small jewelry piece, illustrating a woman’s realization about a family heirloom value.

Image credits: Jacek Dylag (not the actual photo)

Woman realizes family heirloom from mother-in-law is only worth $30, expressing frustration and defiance in text message.

Image source: Wild-Inspection-3348

The average engagement ring in the United States costs about $5,200

Display of various gold and silver rings and earrings in a jewelry store, highlighting family heirloom items value.

Image credits: Robin Edqvist (not the actual photo)

Upon finding out that a loved one has gotten engaged, the first thing friends and family members will ask is to see the ring. An engagement ring is a symbol of a couple’s love and commitment for one another, and many women are thrilled to put one on their finger as soon as they get engaged.

But there are certain expectations that come along with this exciting piece of jewelry. Traditionally, there was a long-standing rule that an engagement ring should cost the equivalent of two to three months of paychecks of whoever is buying it for their partner. However, With Clarity notes on their site that times have changed, and that advice is now outdated.

Instead, they recommend finding a more suitable price tag that fits your lifestyle. Considering the fact that over a third of Americans are currently living paycheck to paycheck, it probably wouldn’t be wise for most people to blow over two months of their salary on a ring. Couples should be able to find a nice, yet affordable option that won’t send them into debt before they even tie the knot.

When it comes to how much people tend to spend on engagement rings, The Knot reports that, in 2024, the average engagement ring in the United States cost about $5,200. And this number has actually been on the decline in recent years, as people were spending about $6,000 on engagement rings in 2021.

So how much should someone be willing to shell out for their partner’s ring? Well, there are several factors to consider, the first of which being their financial situation. Don’t feel the need to spend thousands if that’s not in your budget. 

And if you can, take some time to save up before purchasing the ring. Assuming there’s no rush on getting engaged, you shouldn’t feel the need to rush into making any large purchases either.

Heirloom engagement rings can be an excellent choice, as long as they’re actually meaningful

Close-up of a woman holding a family heirloom ring that is unexpectedly worth only thirty dollars.

Image credits: Jeremy Bishop (not the actual photo)

Consider your partner’s expectations before buying a ring, and make sure that the piece you choose feels personal. Not everyone has to wear a classic diamond ring on a gold band. Discuss their preferences, and find something that perfectly suits them. 

Or, if you need more time to save before buying their forever ring, it might be wise to give them a “starter ring” first. This might be a less expensive, temporary ring that will be replaced at the actual wedding. This way, your partner can still wear a symbol of your commitment, even if you can’t make a large financial commitment just yet.         

Now, if someone wants to go the unconventional route and give their partner a family heirloom as an engagement ring, that’s perfectly acceptable. In fact, it may be even more meaningful than picking out a ring in a jewelry shop.  

However, The Knot notes that there is some etiquette to keep in mind before giving or accepting a ring that’s been in the family. First, it’s important to fully understand where exactly the ring came from and what its significance is. If you’re going to be wearing it for, potentially, the rest of your life, you’ll want to know the full backstory.

And, of course, if you’re giving an heirloom ring to your partner, you’ll want to ensure that it’s actually meaningful and, ideally, worth something. It doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, but it might be a bit insulting to give them a cheap ring from a grocery store. 

We would love to hear your thoughts on this situation, pandas. How would you react if you had been given an engagement ring from Walmart? Then, if you’d like to read another Bored Panda article discussing similar drama, look no further than right here.  

Readers were appalled by the mother-in-law’s behavior, and many encouraged the author to pick out her own ring

Text post about a woman realizing the family heirloom from her mother-in-law is only worth $30.

Comment about fiancé’s better judgment than mother-in-law regarding a family heirloom worth only $30.

Screenshot of a forum post discussing a woman realizing the family heirloom from her MIL was only worth $30.

Woman realizes the family heirloom from her mother-in-law is only worth thirty dollars after close inspection.

Woman surprised discovering the family heirloom from her mother-in-law is worth only $30, holding a brown paper bag.

Text conversation screenshot showing a comment about a woman realizing the family heirloom from her MIL was only worth $30.

Screenshot of an online comment discussing a woman realizing her family heirloom from her MIL was only worth $30.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment about a woman realizing her family heirloom from her mother-in-law was worth only $30.

Comment on a forum about a woman realizing her family heirloom from her mother-in-law was only worth $30.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a woman realizing a family heirloom from her MIL was only worth $30.

Comment about marrying into a family with a dishonest mother and the need to double-check the family heirloom value.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a woman realizing the family heirloom from her MIL was only worth $30.

Comment discussing skepticism about the value of a family heirloom given by a mother-in-law online.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment advising to respond to a family heirloom gift with a knockoff showing the $3.99 price.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a family heirloom given by a mother-in-law, questioning its value.

Comment about a woman realizing the family heirloom from her mother-in-law is only worth thirty dollars.

Woman looking surprised while holding a small item, realizing the family heirloom from her MIL is worth only $30.

Woman realizes family heirloom from mother-in-law is only worth $30, revealing a disappointing truth about its value.

Woman realizes family heirloom from mother-in-law is only worth thirty dollars after jeweler appraisal.

Screenshot of a social media comment expressing strong feelings about a family situation involving a mother-in-law.

Woman realizing the family heirloom her mother-in-law gave her is actually only worth 30 dollars, looking surprised and upset.

Screenshot of online comment discussing resizing a ring and advising to get a real, bigger ring to show off confidently.

Text post on social media showing a comment about loving the idea of a middle finger ring, related to woman realizing family heirloom price.

Comment about struggling to keep a straight face by the jewelry counter at Walmart after realizing family heirloom's low worth.

Woman looking surprised while holding a small item, realizing family heirloom from mother-in-law is worth only $30.

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