My boyfriend's mother always urges me to tell my family that they have no money and want less bride price.

Jewelry is definitely necessary. You can tell your mother-in-law about the bride price. You can give it to me and I'll bring it back then. Without jewelry, the bride price can't lift its head in front of relatives, which will give people the appearance of asking for marriage in the past. They have nothing, and they have no face in their mother-in-law's house, regardless of the cost.