Brits propose on budget as engagement ring prices drop

It seems those heady days of proposing with a diamond-studded engagement ring in a glass of champagne beneath the Eiffel Tower are over - Brits are more likely to propose with a can of Tizer and the Blackpool amusements, according to one study.

Insurance firm LV= found that money worries and the price of precious metals mean that many British men are spending less and less on the all important engagement ring - although it does leave more money for a memorable stag weekend.

The average man now spends approximately three weeks pay on an engagement ring when they propose, far less than the traditional one to three months' salary.

And money worries are forcing one in eight men to cut back on what they would like to spend on a ring, with 13 per cent proposing more modestly.

Meanwhile, four in ten marriages start on shaky ground, with 38 per cent of men hiding how much their engagement ring is truly worth from their partner - while three per cent have exaggerated the real price when asked by a beau.

Managing director of LV= John O'Roarke said: "Whether splashing out on a diamond or buying on a budget, an engagement ring is always a valued possession."

But according to dating website Swoon.co.uk, it's not just money worries sapping the romance out of proposals.

Almost half (45 per cent) of British men spend less than a few days planning their proposal - leaving them plenty of time to come up with some winning stag weekend activities instead.

If money is putting the brakes on your engagement plans, there are a range of UK stag weekend packages available for less.

Whether it's the perfect bar crawl or a night at a comedy club with free-flowing booze, our stag weekend organisers have a solution to suit every taste and budget.