How Has the Recession Affected Dating?

Remember Madonna’s Material Girl video? A begowned pre-Madge Madge channels Marilyn Monroe, is plied with diamonds by a dancing troupe of tuxedoed beefcakes, and ends up getting wooed by a man (played by Keith Carradine) proffering daisies and a lift in a dusty pick-up truck. Madonna, in her own way, could have been offering tips about how to date in a recession: Keep it simple. Don’t break the bank to impress. And, whatever you do, don’t give the girl diamonds — at least not on the first date.

Recent anecdotal evidence suggests that people are not dating less because of the recession; instead, online dating sites are reporting double-digit growth in use. Love, it seems, blooms in hard times. People’s defenses tend to dip. They don’t want to worry about money alone. They have a heightened desire to connect.

But how to date in a downturn, especially in a city where cocktails can run upwards of $18 and late-night cabs may be among the indulgences you’re trying to cut back? Plenty of people believe in going dutch on dates anyway, and there are certainly ample suggestions out there on how to date for less. Still, New York is not cheap, walks in the park notwithstanding.

So, to all the single ladies – and guys too – do dish: How has the recession affected your dating life – and your dates?