This terrible economy doesn’t seem to be getting better very fast. Chrysler and General Motors have gone bankrupt, housing prices are rebounding slowly (if at all), and the ranks of the unemployed continue to swell by huge numbers each month. With all of this bad news around us, who has the enthusiasm to bother with dating?

Yes, things are tough, but one of the worst things you can do is to totally give up on dating altogether. Just because you’re facing financial challenges does not mean you are any less interested in finding a partner whose companionship you enjoy. The trick is figuring out the dating scene when everything around you seems to be falling apart.

Here are some tips and suggestions for dating in a terrible economy:

1. Broaden your preferences. It used to be that no self-respecting woman would consider dating a man who didn’t have a job, and a large number of men took the same approach. Today, however, you’re more likely than ever to find potential matches with people who are out of work for one reason or another. If you want to stay in the dating scene you need to consider broadening your preferences a bit so you don’t automatically exclude someone whose current situation is not ideal.

2. Get out and meet people. Let’s face it, online dating services can be pretty expensive, and that’s a cost your budget might not be able to handle anymore. The solution is to get out into your community more so you can meet people in the traditional way. Volunteer at a charity, take a class at the community center, or simply go for a walk each day along the same route. You’ll be amazed at how many opportunities to meet new people will come your way!

3. Stick with low cost activities. It’s okay to let the person you’re interested in know you would prefer to do low cost activities, so don’t be shy. If you can’t afford to go out to dinner, for example, suggest packing a couple of sandwiches and meeting at the park for lunch. Put on your thinking cap and be creative to find the best low cost activities to enjoy!

Dating Essentials Economy, Job, Meet People, Money, Volunteering

With all of the media sensationalism over the recent swine flu outbreak, it’s easy to start feeling a bit paranoid about getting out there and meeting new people. Those pictures of people walking around wearing surgical masks and the daily briefings with a “sky is falling” theme are downright scary.

Fortunately, it seems the flu outbreak is winding down and hasn’t been nearly as serious as originally feared. There is another sickness going around, though, and this one has no cure.

It’s called Spring Fever. It’s extremely contagious. And there’s no cure except to get outside, get active, and let it run its course.

Spring is a natural time for singles to feel energized about finding a new partner and it comes with plenty of opportunities for doing just that. If you find yourself suffering from this seasonal affliction, here are five great ways to get through it and even share it with others:

1. Join a co-ed softball team sponsored by the local parks & recreation department.

2. If you have a dog, take it to the nearest dog park on a regular basis.

3. Get outside in the evenings after work and go for a walk.

4. Sign up for an outdoor class like kayaking, fishing, or the like.

5. Sign up for group golf lessons and make a point of playing the local par-3 course at least once per week.

These may sound kind of silly or even ho-hum, but I guarantee that you’ll find yourself having some fun, enjoying the spring a bit more, and perhaps even meeting other singles like yourself along the way.

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While you might think that you have all the answers when it comes to online dating and meeting people, maybe there’s a better way. At SinglesPlease.com, you can go through a quick and painless profile setup process while also being guided through the dating service with informal greetings and commands. Now that’s more fun, isn’t it?

In truth, many of the dating sites right now are simply sterile and do you want to actually meet the people who enjoy that kind of impersonal attitude? Absolutely not. And to make things even better, SinglesPlease.com is completely free, so you’re not shelling out money to meet people…until you want to take them out.

To make things even easier, the singles on this site can look through hundreds of profiles all at once by simply putting a check on the pictures they like and them reading through only those profiles. When the site member signs in again, they’ll see who has been looking at their photos and the dating fun can begin.

Sure, dating is a business for those who run the dating sites, but when you’re looking for a deeper connection with someone – or maybe just a fun night out – you want to go to a site that treats you like a friend, not like a customer.

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