Anyway, if you MUST have it, here are some tips I hope you find helpful. First try to select Sterling Silver rather than Gold for the metal of the ring. Men usually perfer Silver anyway. Second, if you don't get fancy with the side engravings that should lower your costs as well. Finally make payment arrangements with Josten, I remember that is what my parents did.
Winter is here, there are a lot of places looking for holiday help, snow to be shoveled, etc. etc.
This way it will not only help you pay for the ring, but it will make him appreciate the value much more if he pays for half of the cost of the ring. I was on the Ring Committee in my high school. There were 5-6 students, and an advisor. We met with the different ring companies. This was a discount with the company, and all the companies offerred it.