High School Ring Question

[luvmarypoppins]

Well 2 of the ds have brought home the high school ring brochure. They both seem to want them and I dont want to pay for them. I told them I think they are a waste. They said well you and dad have them, I said yeah, and all they do is sit in the drawer etc. They both have jobs and can afford them themselves. I don't know what to do. I am more inclined to talk them out of it. Did your teen purchase their school ring? Who Paid etc. It really doesnt seem to be a big thing around here, they go to a small private school and frankly I have never noticed kids wearing the rings etc.

 

[Just2554]

Well, speaking from experience (I just graduated last year), I agree with you that they are a waste. I didn't buy one; I thought it was stupid to spend all that money and so did my mother. So rather than get a ring I'd never wear, I got a pair of 1/8 carat diamond earrings for graduation instead.

As for the people I know that did buy them: they don't wear them anymore. Girls that got them wore them until graduation and haven't touched them since. Boys wore theirs about a month and that was it. Such a waste of money, imo.

That being said, you can't really force them to change their minds. I'd suggest this: either make them pay for their rings themselves or contribute very little money to them. Knowing they have to pay for the rings on their own might change their minds very quickly.

A better idea, if you're willing, would be to offer them something else upon graduation instead. Something that is affordable and that you KNOW they will get use out of for more than a few months. This worked for me and my mom spent 80 bucks rather than 300 and I wear my earrings everyday.

Good luck!

 

[dennis99ss]

I still have mine. I would not get rid of it for anything. It is a symbol of a part of my life.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I bought a HS ring. It was a big thing at my school. I wore it for 4 years. My parents paid for it. They are expensive but they are nice to have.

Just a warning, if they want a school ring, it is probably better off to get one from high school than from college. I spent somewhere around $280 for my HS ring. It's a very standard class ring. Nothing special at all. When I graduated college I checked out how much it would have cost for the same ring from the same company. From college it would have cost over $600! For the same ring just with the name of the college on there. From my experience, if they are insistant on a class ring get it now while its cheap.

 

[ntburns22]

I remember with my class ring my parents offered to pay for the cheapest ring. Since I had a job if I wanted a nicer one it was up to me to pay the difference. I did upgrade my ring.

 

[SC Minnie]

I bought my HS ring. I still have it but it is sitting in my jewelry chest. I also bought a college ring. It is all gold and flat on the top with the school symbol. It is very understated. I wear it just about everyday.

 

[Sandy V.]

Add me to the list of "bought one, it's now sitting at the bottom of my jewelry box". I haven't worn it regularly for many years.

We gave DD18 the option of a class ring or a nice birthstone ring for her 16th birthday. She chose the birthstone ring and wears it every day. Our DS15 has the option of a class ring or something else for his 16th birthday. He isn't into jewelry, so he will be getting an Ipod instead.

I think that if your kids want a class ring, they should pay at least half of the cost. That may make them think more about whether they really want one if they have to put up the $$$ to get it.

 

[PigletsPal]

My middle DS does not wear jewerly so I was very surprised when he told me he wanted a ring in his Senior Year. The cheapest was over $400 and of course he wanted a upgrade and went behind my back and did it......NOT HAPPY at all. With everything else to pay for: cap and gown, pictures and announcements they really kill you in your Senior year. He didn't want his pictures but I did so I told him that we would pay for everything including $250 towards the ring and he will pay for the bal. of the ring and his prom.

 

[Sandy V.]

With everything else to pay for: cap and gown, pictures and announcements they really kill you in your Senior year.

Ain't that the truth?!?!?! I spent WAY more on photographs then I thought I would, but they grow up so fast and you'll never get the time back, I couldn't help myself. And those graduation announcement/cap and gown packages at our school start at around $160 for "basic" packages.

I haven't thought much about prom yet until this minute. Yikes!!!

 

[monarchsfan16]

I got one. My mom and I split the cost. I will definitely never get rid of it. It symbolizes some of the best 4 years of my life.

 

[Chris2597]

I think most kids stop wearing their rings after they graduate from HS, but it is a fun thing and a nice keepsake....However, I will not spend the $$$$ for the HS ring that the school promotes (through a dealer). They must get some type of kickback because the rings are expensive. My ds did not ask for one when he was in HS, but both girls wanted a ring. I went to Walmart and ordered one....The rings look identical....If you dont want Walmart....several jewlry stores have them. Youngest dd is a jr in HS and we ordered her ring in Dec. It should be in this week. I paid 96.00 for it....It has every feature that she wanted from the ring that was offered at school.

 

[jbdreamer]

Rings were a big deal at our school. My mom and I split the cost, but mine was only $130. I wore it for about two years, and I haven't seen it since. It's probably in a drawer somewhere. I don't know anyone that still wears their HS rings.

My sister wanted a more expensive one. She ended up ordering hers from Walmart. They make HS rings that look exatly the same and are much cheaper. My sister got tons of compliments on hers. It's worth looking into.

I agree, HS rings are a waste. Tell them to look around and see who actually wears their ring after HS. Then ask them if they think its worth the money. Maybe give your kids each $50 and they can pay for the rest.

 

[mtblujeans]

We have gone thru basically the same thing. Oldest DS is a senior and had been asking about a ring since he was a junior. He brought home the brochure and I told him the same thing....you won't use it. I guess one of his classmates, a girl, had checked into them and told him he should check at Wally World because they look similar and are much cheaper.

At the time, he was seeing a girl that graduated last year and has gone on to college, which may have made the issue seem more pressing. Checking into it himself led him to find, from additional friends who had graduated last year and gone on to college, they all felt it was a great waste of $$$. So, he dropped the issue.

I reminded him that, if he wants to give a future girlfriend a gift, he can always buy her a nice necklace etc. and that would be her own to keep. He agreed.

 

[stinkerbelle]

I didn't want one...but my father insisted I get one (as his was stolen in HS and he was very upset he didn't have one)

I remember mine cost over $400...14k gold i think with my ugly birthstone.
I don't wear gold anymore...and I don't like my birthdstone...

I kinda hope it's still in my jewelry box somewhere...I KNOW I kept it...but I definetly haven't worn it since HS

 

[Brianne]

My ring is sitting in my jewelry box. I think. I haven't looked at it since high school---that was....well....a long time ago. I'm sure it wouldn't fit now, considering I've had to have my wedding ring resized a couple times.

I'd be more apt to put that money towards a keepsake they'd actually want to use beyond high school, but I do know how peer pressure can be. After all, I do own a high school ring, don't I?

 

[Jessd]

Hi!

My mom bought my HS ring, it was 400.00 at the time and is white gold. I admit, I haven't worn it since I graduated but I am happy that I have one. My DH never got one, his mom wouldn't pay for one. He graduated in 1988 and I suprised him with one 2 years ago. I bought it at Walmart, I think it was 80.00. I will never forget the look on his face when he opened it, he was happy to have one, even if it was a few years late.

Neither of us wear them, they sit in my jewelry box, but I will take it out and try it on once and a while. To me it symbolizes my HS years, 4 years of my life. I like to look at both of them side by side, mine is a size 5 and his is a 16. It is like looking at a daddy ring and baby ring.

If my kids really want one I would probably buy them one. It is only once that they will be in HS and graduate and it was a special thing for me to have my HS ring. I would buy it from Walmart of a jewelry store, those brochures that they send home are way to expensive.

Jess

 

[ckay87]

I don't know....

I can't think of ANYTHING that I wore in high school that I still wear today. And yea, including jewelry.

If it's something he/she is going to enjoy now - even for a little while - it's not necessarily a waste.

I've paid $100 + bucks on concert tickets that I only enjoyed for 2 hours . Still don't consider them a waste.

 

[Kirby]

We purchased my son's senior ring during the 1st semester of his junior year. We bought it at a local jewelry store and received a very nice ring for less than the company that gave out brochures at school. He also got a discount for being a part of D-FY-IT, our drug awareness program.

We paid for the ring and he purchased insurance on it. He has worn it everyday since. We told him that he was to never give it to a girl, that we were buying it for him to wear, not someone else.

Now, if he wants a college ring, he'll have to buy that one himself.

 

[Dodie]

I still have mine. I would not get rid of it for anything. It is a symbol of a part of my life.

Maybe things have changed?

 

[suzannen]

I bought one, wore it for about 3 months. By the time I got to college, everyone was already making fun of "high school" rings. For me it was a total waste of money.