I think you all would approve of this.
My daughter is living abroad teaching English in one of the struggling European countries. She has fallen in love with a local, a young computer programmer, and they are starting to build a life together. They have been together for a year and a half. They recently had a civil union so she could apply for residency, and are planning on getting married someday.
When he proposed for the civil union he did the traditional proposal down on one knee, but couldn't afford a ring. They bought a cheap ring at an H&M store because that was all there was in the budget. My daughter tells me that she does not really care about rings. She said she can’t wear it often because it turns her finger green, and we had a great kind-hearted laugh together over that. She also told me that when they get married she just wants a small simple ceremony with a few friends and family.
They do like to travel, but they do it on the cheap, and they have picnics and sight-see instead of expensive dates. Both of their families are financially comfortable, but they don’t try to keep up with those standards. They live within their small means and seem wonderfully happy to do so together.
