When you turn on the news these days, the headlines aren’t just about the latest crime spree or about the hottest celebrity, it’s all about the money woes of the world. Salaries are shrinking and prices are rising. Things are just getting depressing all around.

Who can even think about love at a time like this?

But what some companies have found is that online dating services are booming. Since online dating does help you save money in the long run, this is the one place where people can still look for love, even as their wallets grow thinner.

Online dating…

• Is cheaper than going out to bars or clubs.
• Lets you scout out prospects before you go out with them.
• Lets you talk at length with people before you meet for drinks.

Since you’re not heading to places to (hopefully) find a date, you get to stay at home with your cheap frozen dinners until you find the right person to take you out.

You might also want to make sure that first date is free or just really inexpensive. Go to a coffee shop or to a bookstore to get to know each other before you pull out your wallet.

Tough times call for drastic measures, but just because the economy is in a slump doesn’t mean your love life needs to be too.

Yes, people lie. While this isn’t a shocking revelation to anyone, it certainly seems to be forgotten when it comes to online dating. People think that just because they’re meeting others who want to find a date too that everything is going to go perfectly.

Not quite.

Just as in the ‘real’ dating world, some people aren’t all that they seem. To help you spot the liars before they get into your home, here are some red flags that the person you like shouldn’t become a person you love.

• They never want to meet in person – If you’re on a dating site, you should be there to actually meet people, not just to ‘hang out’ in IM boards and in chat rooms.
• Their picture doesn’t quite match up to how they describe themselves or you meet in person and they’re nothing like their picture – If they lie about what they look like, who knows what else they’ll lie about?
• They can’t give you an answer as to why they’re dating online – Everyone has a reason. If they’re honest about what they want and you don’t agree with them, that’s okay. But if they avoid answering that question, they’re hiding a spouse probably.
• They only use free sites – If you’re trying to find someone to hook up with, you use free sites. But if you’re looking or something long term, you’re willing to put your money where your motivations are. Many people on free sites are just looking for sex or they’re looking to cheat on a spouse.
• They don’t look you in the eye when you meet.
• They change your date suddenly at the last minute.

Over time, you’ll be able to spot the liars from their profiles, but until then, it’s best to treat any prospective first date like an employee you might hire. And they have to prove they’re qualified and up to your high standards.