Jewelers offered this 26-year-old a free $6,500 engagement ring. He turned them down and DoorDashed for 89 nights instead

It wasn’t always smooth sailing for Cho — he had to take time off when he got sick for two weeks, and deal with his car breaking down in the cold. “There were so many times I questioned if it would be worth it,” he wondered “what if i just took one of the free rings?”

“That’s the part I’m most proud of,” he concluded “not the money or the ring, but no matter how hard my day was, I didn’t stop showing up and now I finally hit the goal.”

Cho’s story is a pretty inspiring tale of how a side hustle can help you achieve a dream, but it may not be possible for everyone to work an extra job after a full day of work. Still, if you have someone special you want to propose to — or buy an expensive gift for — there are other ways you can do it.

Saving for an engagement ring without a side hustle

Depending on the price of the ring you want to buy, these methods might not earn you enough for a ring in 89 days, but they are useful tools to set you on the right track.

First, find out what your future fiancee wants, and set a budget with that in mind. This will help you avoid over-spending while still giving them the ring they’ve always imagined.

You should also consider opening a savings account for this specific goal. A high-interest savings account that has no fees, flexible withdrawals and a solid interest rate or promotional rate, can set you up for success by helping your money grow as you save and will be easy to access when you’re ready to pop the question.

Starting early can be key. Ideally, you want the funds ready when you’re ready, rather than postponing the move until you’ve got enough cash to make it. So it’s not a bad idea to set up a savings goal if you know the big decision is around the corner.