So you're ready to pop the question to your girlfriend. You've planned the perfect night and have envisioned in your mind her big smile when she says yes. It's time to go shopping for a ring. Here are three tips for choosing the perfect engagement ring for your fiance.

Determine what you can afford.

Obviously, you want to get her the absolute best, but you also don't want to be deep in debt when you start your new life together. Beautiful rings can be purchased in all price ranges, starting at $500.00. One rule of thumb that is often quoted is spend no more than two months salary. While this is a good rule, especially if you have cash, I prefer another method - payoff in a year or less. With this method, you use no more than one tenth of your take home salary as a payment amount. Then you choose a ring that will be paid off in one year or less using that payment amount. You don't want a payment for five years, because there will be many other important things where that money could be used, especially if you start a family.

Determine her style.

Is she practical, reserved, extravagant, outgoing? You know her well. After all, you're going to propose. You should know her style and choose an engagement ring to match. Here are some possible ring types for different styles:

Practical - Choose a ring with one stone in either a flush setting or a bezel setting.

Reserved - Choose a ring with one to three smaller size stones. Perhaps a channel setting.

Extravagant - Use an invisible setting or maybe a pave setting with a large diamond and smaller supporting stones. Supporting stones can either diamonds or semi-precious stones.

Outgoing - A Solitaire diamond in a prong setting is a good choice. This is the classic engagement ring that most people envision.

To determine her style, just pay attention to how she acts, especially around her friends. After all, she will surely be showing the ring to them for approval. Then, use this information to help determine the right type of ring.

Choose a jeweler.

If you live in or near a town of any size, there will be several jewelry stores. Usually, you will find at least one of the big chains, such as Zales or Kay, as well as several local jewelers. In addition, more people are buying engagement rings online. Buying local and buying online both have their advantages.

Buying from a local store has the advantage of being able to physically see and touch the ring. You can actually put the ring on your finger, or have a clerk try it on, to see how it looks on a hand. You can even compare two or more rings side by side quite easily. Some jewelers also offer free ring sizing and sometimes free cleanings with the purchase of a ring.

Purchasing online also has advantages. The cost is often lower than purchasing in a store, so many times you can get a better ring for the same price. Also, a local jewelry store has limited space, but an online store has no such limitation and can therefore have a much larger selection of rings. Be sure and check reviews from other buyers at online stores before purchasing.

Another option is to combine the two. Shopping locally and finding an engagement ring that you like, and then purchasing the same or similar ring online, can often save much more than the cost of free sizing and cleaning.

Following these tips will get you started in the right direction on your ring purchase. By purchasing a ring you can afford, based on her style and from a jeweler you select, you will be able to make a better decision when choosing an engagement ring for the one you love.