Okay all you lovers out there, so what do you know about dating, living and loving in the recession? Budgets for lavish dates and gifts have shrunk; long-term plans for established relationships have been somewhat downsized; and we're all perhaps a little more deliberate in our dating than we were in the boom times.

Things have changed—not least in the way you appreciate your mate. Below, some of the new realities that have emerged in these tough times:

You don't need to spend a lot to get a lot. In a guest post, "Funky Brown Chick" … Read More

Let's face it: The economy may be improving, but blast that lagging economic indicator—unemployment is around to stay, at least for a little bit. And while you may have plenty of time on your hands, the reality is that, more likely than not, your pockets will be a little bit emptier than desired.

Never fear, necessity is the mother of invention! And there are plenty of ways you can save money on a date (without looking like a cheap skate). Clever, low-cost date ideas will get you out and about in the world with your sweetheart and allow … Read More

"Let's stop and get bagels," he said.

I ordered a sesame bagel toasted with cream cheese; he ordered a plain bagel, plain cream cheese. The total was $6. I paid.

He hadn't even made a move for his wallet. And it wasn't the first time.

Six months ago, I was laid off from a job I loved and a salary I really loved. I left with a nice little pile of severance and had accumulated a substantial 401K. But I was single. It makes a difference, it turns out.

Dating, for a period post-layoff, was about free entertainment.Read: Cheap Dates … Read More

First dates at Le Cirque and second dates in St. Barth’s are out (for me, and maybe you, they were never in, but you get the point). Everyone’s feeling pressure on their wallets, and so for a lot of folks, that means pressure on the dating budget. What are the dating experts advocating in the downturn?

Mainly: Be cheap and be wary. Be very wary.

We don’t really agree with the sentiment of "being cheap" - no one should blow their wad on a few casual dates, but a relationship is an investment and being cheap is a very bad way to … Read More

When you hear the term "breadwinner," you're likely to think of a dude. But the New York Times' Modern Love essay this week is penned by a former-female-breadwinner, who later scrapped breadwinning entirely for a more egalitarian set-up.

Karen Karbo reveled in a whirlwind romance with a Frenchman around whom she never opened her purse once. But then he showed up at her apartment, caught her 'unaware' in unattractive sweatpants, and informed her that he expected her to look pretty for him all the time. Mais non! Quite rightly, she dumped Monsier Jerkface.

In successive relationships, Karbo found herself … Read More

High-roller Heather Mills may be longing for yesterday, after news of her arguably-excessive spending has come to fruition. Fametastic reports that Mills has spent £10 million from her seven months-old-divorce settlement with legendary musician Paul McCartney. A source says Heather has been moaning that her money isn't going as far as she'd thought.

While £10 million is no chump change –its interest alone could feed a small army- Mills does seem to have more where that came from. Her sum settlement weighted in at about £24.3 million pounds: £7.8 million pounds of existing assets, £14 million straight up cash, … Read More