Your friends don't sound like friends. What would have happened if you said to them, "Your rings are beautiful. Congratulations", and when they asked you about your ring you said, "We can't afford one right now"?

Would that really have been so bad? I don't think it would have been at all, and it's exactly what I would have said. I never cared about struggling in my 20s. I didn't cause me to feel ashamed in any way. I took pride in moving towards my goals without the luxuries and help others had, and I considered myself a strong person. If someone didn't like me because of who I was and the material things I had I wouldn't have paid attention to them.