Relationships

With the holidays just around the corner, it is not uncommon to start thinking about that dreaded question: what kind of gift should I get for my new boyfriend or girlfriend? Well, never fret! There’s the perfect gift solution for those couples who are “newly dating.”

You should never feel pressured to spend outside your means when it comes to the holidays. This is especially true if you’re been with your partner less than six months. If your partner is with you for material reasons, best to find another partner now and buy yourself something cool than waste any more time on someone more interested in your bottom line than you.

When you’re “newly dating,” that’s not the time for expensive electronics or pricey jewelry. It is, however, a great time for you to let your partner know that you value their place in your life and went to the effort of getting something that suited their personality. Skip the stuffed animals and Wii video game systems. It’s not Valentine’s Day and you’re not a bank.

Here are some perfect gift suggestions for all you “newly dating” folk that should get you through the holidays is style – and still in love!

You’ve gone and done it – you’ve joined the world of online dating. First and foremost, congrats! Believe it or not, it can actually be a ton of fun. But now that you’re here – what do you do? Well, the first step is to create your online dating profile.

Maybe you’ve been in the online dating scene for awhile. In that case, it’s probably time for a profile audit on your end! Regardless of whether you’re new to the online dating scene or simply want to make your profile more effective, here are some tips for you to follow. Get more responses from women you want to talk to and waste less time worrying why no one is emailing you back!

Tip 1: Your Pictures. You’re not still in high school (while you may still be in college). Yearbook photos are out. Make sure that the pictures you post to your online dating profile are not only current, but show you actually doing things. If you like to fish, put up a picture of you fishing with the guys. Love to ski? Show it! But there are definitely a few things that your potential matches don’t want to see in your profile pictures: you with a herd of other women, you with an ex-wife/ex-girlfriend, every picture shows you holding a beer. Just like you don’t want to look at pics of a gal drooling over a bunch of dudes, be discrete with your pictures. Fun and funny is fantastic for showing personality – just don’t go over the line and close the door before it’s even opened with inappropriate photos. On a closing note, make sure you have at least five pictures. Need pictures? Go out with a buddy and a camera for the day!

Many of us are holding out for “the one.” That person who makes our heart sing. In the world of online dating, you can opt to either date more people more often or be selective in the dating process, choosing your dates carefully and only going out on occasion. Different dating styles suit different personalities, but how do you hang in there online while you’re waiting for your prince or princess to come home from the ball?

We’ve put together some tips that can make a extended period in the online dating realm more bearable. Remember: your quest for the right person to share your life with isn’t something to be rushed!

No one wants to be alone at the holidays. If you’ve ever thought about delving into online dating, well – what’s stopping you? The holiday season offers plenty of opportunity to get out on the town and find someone to snuggle-up with inside. There’s no reason to lock yourself up and stare at the Yule log solo. Here are five tips to get you in the mix of things with online dating this holiday season!

Tip 1: The community is hopping! There’s no better way to break the ice (or bear the cold) than by taking on the town with a partner in crime. Whether it’s a festival of lights or a special engagement of The Nutcracker, the holiday season is ripe with activity. Find a partner at an online dating site and keep one another company while seeing the holidays from the streets of town.

Tip 2: It’s a time for sharing. Enjoy meeting new people this holiday season. Don’t think of it as dating – think of it as an adventure with people! Whether over coffee or a meal, it’s a treat when someone lets you see a glimpse of their life. Even if you’re not a match, walk away richer in spirit after sharing your time with someone.

Tom Shone decided to give internet dating a try after breaking up with his girlfriend a month before. Guess who was the first person to contact him on a dating site? If you said his ex-girlfriend, you would be right.

Loved your profile on Nerve. Glad to hear you’re feeling so “chipper” these days – Natalie.

Tom hadn't meant for anyone who really knew him to read his profile, especially his ex. You always put your best foot forward when writing a dating profile, which made it look like to his ex-girlfriend, that he had forgotten all about the heartbreak and tears from the month before. She did later apologize that day for the email, and said it was just a shock to see the profile. Tom told her that he wasn't using the dating site to go on dates, he was just window shopping.

Sometimes, you're single and want to find love, but you're on the road between two things. You may think about hanging up our hat and not dating for while, but why put your life on hold, right? Let's look at some examples of reasons why people push the Pause button on their dating life.

Losing Weight
You're thinking, "I'm too fat to date. Nobody will want to date me. I'll lose 20/30/40/50+ pounds first, then I'll get back into the dating scene." Why hold yourself back from emotional connection with other people just because you're not at your physical ideal? Do what you can to look your best in your current condition - get a new haircut, some snappy clothes, whatever you can do to be your best at your current weight.

In your dating profile, you should write about the new lifestyle you've adopted in an attempt to lose weight and become more healthy. Are you doing the Couch to 5k program? Playing Wii Fit and EA Active? Working out with your best friend? Recently switched to a vegetarian diet? Write about your new lifestyle with passion and you'll attract people who live that lifestyle or want to adopt it themselves.

Unemployed
Unemployment is a reality for over 10% of Americans. You may think your dating life is doomed since you're out of work, but it doesn't have to be that way. Fancy dinners may be out of the budget, but there are plenty of inexpensive ways to have a romantic evening out.

In your dating profile, it's best not to mention you're unemployed. Write about the other aspects of your life that are going well. Maybe you've taken up knitting hats and mittens for the kids at the homeless shelter, or you've improved your tennis game. When the question of "what do you do for work?" comes up, be honest about your current situation. It may cost you the date, but in this economic climate, you'll find more sympathetic ears.

Moving to a New City
Congrats, you got a new job! Only problem is that it's in a new city and you're slated to move in two months. While you will be pretty busy packing, saying goodbye to your old friends, getting your utilities and things scheduled to turn off in the old place and on in the new place, etc etc, you don't have to completely put your dating life on hold.

Switch your dating profile over to your new location early. In your profile, mention that you're moving to town in a couple months to start a new job, so you figured you'd start getting to know new friends ahead of time. Folks are pretty open to the idea of showing a newcomer their favorite places in town, so you have a very convenient "problem" that potential romantic partners can "fix" for you.

Being in transition doesn't mean your dating life goes on Pause mode. Be honest about where you are and where you're going and you can continue the search for the best match for you.