Since you’re currently on a website reading this, it’s probably a little redundant to say how much of our lives take place online nowadays. Suffice to say that except for the eating, breathing and sleeping parts, almost everything else you do can be done on the Internet, including meeting that special someone… or that’s what the commercials say anyway. But is online dating, especially at our age, really a good idea?

On one side, we’re the tech generation – why should we be stuck with using the same bar hopping/meeting someone in class/dreaded blind date set up that our parents and grandparents used for finding a date? With online dating you have the chance to actually decide if you’re interested in somebody based on something other than the “is he insanely hot or have I had too many tequila shots” method. You can look at a person’s interests, see bits of their personality, sometimes even find out what they’re looking for in a relationship so you can avoid that awkward talk later when you find out that he wants to be married before he’s 25 (run!). That would sure as hell save a lot of head- and heartache. With online dating you don’t have to rely on the right person being in the right place at the right time; you find each other at your own convenience. Plus, many online services now have matching software so they can you search beyond the surface to find things that you might like in someone.

It’s like a made-to-order BF! Right??…

But there is still something to be said for the old fashioned method – something that goes way beyond nostalgia. Sure, being able to pick out a guy who shares all of your interests sounds cool, but it can also be both limiting and misleading. Some of the best relationships I know are between people who are so not one another’s “type” and might not seem very similar, and yet the balance each other out. There’s also that little problem of chemistry. Most of us have had a pal in the past who is a great other half – you get along great, you make each other happy, but for whatever reason there’s no sexual chemistry. Picking out someone online means weeding out things you think you don’t like about people, but you might, in the real world, develop a taste for. It’s like surviving only on burgers (who hasn’t been there) – sure, you know you’ll always like the taste, but you’ll never take a chance on discovering something new and delicious that you never thought you’d like. And even though over 20 million people use online dating sites, I don’t actually know anyone under the age of 40 who has ended up in a relationship because of one.

Are you an online dater? Did you find someone special on the interwebs? Do you think it’s a great way of meeting new people? Or is it not worth the effort of finding that perfect profile picture? Duke it out!

While I’m happy I was never a member of such a shallow and douchey organization (mostly because I would have been one of the many kicked off, thanks to my love of anything frosted), this move to improve the service for members got me thinking about my own online dating experiences.

I’ve been a member of an online dating site for a year now. I have yet to find the love of my life, but I have had a few good dates… and way too many creepy interactions to count. Seriously, these sites will let anyone with a computer and $29.99 a month to join. And I mean anyone. I’d like to believe that there is someone out there for me and that taking my dating online will increase my chances of finding him, but it’s nearly impossible to stay optimistic when this guy is sending me messages daily.

So maybe BeautifulPeople.com took things a tad too far (What – only thin people can be considered beautiful??), but as long as we’re on the subject, I’ve got a few online daters of my own that should get the boot. You listening, JDate?

1. The Creepy Guys: Including (but not limited to): 55-year-old men who hit on 21-year-old girls; anyone who refers to me as “baby,” “sexy,” or “hottie” in an email; guys who send photos of their genitalia (TRUE STORY); and guys who email asking for photos of my genitalia.

2. Only-One-Pic Guy: There are two types of guys I’ll never trust: those without Facebook profiles and those with only one picture posted to their online dating profiles. Whatcha hiding, man?

3. “Sexy” Shirtless Guy: If there’s one thing worse than a guy with no pics, it’s the guy who whips out his iPhone in the bathroom and does “sexy” shirtless poses in front of the mirror. I’m looking for love here, dude, not a guy who loves his (hairy) self.

4. Foreigners: I’ve got nothing against foreign men – how can you not love a sexy accent – but I just do not understand the weirdo guys from Russia, Japan and other non-English speaking countries who email me in their native tongue. How did you find me? Why are you flirting with a girl on the other side of the world who has no idea what you’re saying? Is it considered sexy in your country for men to wear really tight pants, unbutton the top 5 buttons on their shirt and show off gaudy gold chains?

5. Looking for a Booty Call Guy: There are far cheaper and easier ways to get in a girl’s pants than a monthly membership to this site, sir. Have you ever tried a bar? And if you’re just looking for a little cyber sex, there’s an AOL chatroom with your name (or “Sexy Singles Looking To Mingle 48) on it.

But when my dean handed me my diploma, my parents took away the checkbook and I was on my own. For everything.

I didn’t know much about saving, but I knew that I wanted to spend as little as possible on the big stuff so I could have more money for the things I wanted. Like shoes. And bags. And shots of vodka.

But I learned the hard way (by purchasing a broken TV from Craigslist) that while being frugal is a great idea (especially now when saving is even more important) there are a few things that are worth splurging on as you embark on your new life as an adult.  It may be hard to part with the big bucks, but I promise you these 5 items are worth every. last. penny.

Your bed:
It seemed weird at the time, but when I was at my graduation party an older cousin of mine pulled me to the side and gave me the “most important advice you’ll ever need.” What was it? To fork over the cash for a good mattress. Begrudgingly, I heeded his advice and now I must pass it along to you.  You will be spending a good chunk of your life on your bed (especially if you are living in a small studio!), so this is definitely a purchase worth splurging on. There is a huge difference between a cheap mattress and a good mattress, so this is a place where spending more will make a huge difference. And what is that difference? A body that doesn’t ache, a lot of good sleep, and an oasis to snuggle in after a long and hellish day at work.

Renter’s Insurance:
This stuff costs about $125 a year and covers all of your belongings in your apartment in case of fire, water damage, or anything else that might happen to that 1 bedroom apartment (converted into 2) that you call home. $125 may seem like a lot to throw down when you’ve got so many other things to purchase, but just imagine how much you’d be spending if something happened to your apartment (like the roof blowing off….true story) and you lose all your stuff (like all those designer jeans you’ve been collecting…true story. Sigh).

DVR:
$15 a month adds up quickly, but there is nothing better than coming home from work on a Friday and having all of your shows waiting for you. Without commercials.

Costco Membership:
If you’ve got a Costco (or Sam’s Club) nearby, become a member. You’ll spend some money to join, but you will save a ton on your basic necessities: toilet paper, paper towel, cereal, vodka…. And weekend sample days? That’s 4 free meals a month, people.

Online Dating:
It’s really hard to meet people in a big city, so if you’re single, sign up for a dating website. It is annoying to spend $25-40 a month to talk to some major freaks (because that is who you’ll encounter about 80% of the time), but there are some gems in there that you wouldn’t meet any other way. And if nothing else, you’ll make your money back in free drinks/dinners with the boys you find.

Now don’t get me wrong, people can still do shady s**t even if they are a 22 year old Dartmouth student.  The first “dating site” I saw that was remotely geared towards college students was the Craigslist personal ad section.  No offense to any of the upstanding gentlemen on Craigslist, but I think it’s a little odd to post an ad for yourself on the same site that you advertise the cactus that your roommate peed on at your last house party.  Plus, as we all know, thanks to the “Craigslist Killer,” it’s not exactly the safest way to meet people.

So what’s a lustful but “sick-of-all-these-douche-bags” kinda girl supposed to do?  Well StudentLove.com has the answer.  (It may not be the right answer, but it’s an answer.)  In order to join their dating site, you have to have an .edu email address, so it does a pretty job of keeping out the Scary Larrys.  But just because it’s there doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a good way to pick up the hotties.  Here is my oh-so-technical analysis of StudentLove:

Pro: You can see the guy’s picture before you go out with him.
Con: Sometimes you would just prefer to not to see a picture…

Pro: Members can search by state and by school so you can avoid the long-distance instant message relationship.  (PS Does anybody actually do that anymore?)
Con: Stalking can become an issue when the guy that won’t stop sending you love haikus realizes that you go to the same school.

Pro: You can widen your dating pool by putting yourself on a more public forum.
Con: It’s just a tad embarrassing when your friends (not to mention your ex-boyfriend) find your profile you made describing yourself as a “Sexy kitten ready to pounce.”

Pro: You can find love that lasts forever.
Con: You can find STIs that last even longer.

**Confession:  I was too weak sauce to actually make a profile, so I would love to hear your experiences with internet dating – good or bad. The funnier the better!

Britney’s going all out for Halloween.

Save money on mags; read this instead.

The perfect year-round nail color.

NBC is getting rid of the chimes? WTF?

Internet dating: even the old people are doin’ it.

31 things you should know about Halloween.

David Letterman totally calls LC out.

Everyone needs this bag. Puma got so chic!

The all-in-one glass: a college girl’s BFF.

Seriously – when did Shia get so hot?

It’s time to unload all that baggage.

Craigslist and Google come together to get you laid.

Every time one of those redonkulous video ads pops up on my browser, I want to punch whoever made them in the face. Because those guys aren’t on Match.com. Those guys have never needed an online dating site to help them find a chick (or a dude, as the case may be). Those guys are hot. Those guys have fantastic smiles. Those guys are actors.

According to this little article, the success rate of the online dating industry is 22%. Of course, the ads for EHarmony and Match.com don’t want you to know that. They want you to think hot, happy people are all over their websites. They want you to pay money to find these hot, happy people with fantastic smiles.

But I gotta say, after doing my own (ahem) research, I have found the amount of hot guys on dating sites to be alarmingly low. There’s certainly no body building Brad Pitt lookalike hoping to video chat with me. There’s someone who wants to chat about how it’s cool to be a nerd or make vegan cupcakes, but sadly, this someone cannot hold a candle to those dudes in the video ads.

What do you think? Is internet dating really as easy / successful as people say? Or is it just false advertising?

No, no, not Match.com or anything like that. I didn’t surf eHarmony and develop some delusional love affair with someone’s profile picture. It’s a little more complicated than that.

I’ve always hated dating. The whole process stresses me out. The questions that make you feel like you’re at a job interview, (which technically you are, ‘pick me, hire me!‘) the awkward hand holding, the TIME. All of it, to me, is just a means to an end. An end where you’re finally comfortable and can stop wearing make-up around them, stay in for the night to watch bad reality television, or cuddle under your Disney blanket, knowing they don’t care — they just want to be with you. I love love, but I don’t love the process of getting there. I just want it to happen and what better way to get there, than by the Internet?

Usually when I have a crush, instead of actually being bold enough to ask him out, or ask for his number….I Myspace stalk him and add him. Facebook? Hell yeah. WHY? Because, the Internet has completely enabled me to be a coward. If he sends me a message, I technically trick him into showing his interest in me first and then the ball is in my court. We can exchange emails and fly through the whole “getting to know you” process relatively quickly.

So yes, I have a new crush. And we have exchanged enough chit-chatting through emails so that when we DO see each other in person again, (NOTE: yes, I already know him) we’ll be able to get to “the good stuff” (no, not sexually…though that wouldn’t be all that bad.)

The question is, is this a good thing? Are the conveniences of the Internet making our relationships stronger or weaker? Will the relationships last, or happen too fast? And lastly, is going through Facebook/Myspace the best way to let a guy know you’re interested?!

AM I TOTALLY ALONE HERE?

Recently, as I lay on my couch watching yet another What Not To Wear rerun, I realized that I am finally ready for something more than weeknights alone in my apartment and weekends spent catching up on my sleep. I don’t know if I necessarily want to find the man I am going to marry, but I have had enough time to figure out who I am as a single woman (boring) and want to get out and meet some new people.

So, I began hitting the dating scene (internet and all). I approached people, emailed people and began talking with some really great guys. I was all over it. And then, as things began to move forward and the guys showed interest back, I started to freak out.

I backed off.

Stopped responding.

Returned to my couch.

In theory, I want a relationship. I want to be with someone and care for someone. But for some reason when the opportunity presents itself I can never quite make it happen. Maybe it’s fear of the first date (“I freaking hate dates; I’d rather just get wasted and make out.

Much less pressure” -A Friend). Maybe it’is the fear of getting attached and getting hurt down the road. Or maybe my subconscious is trying to tell me something?

Like, “You are not ready for this yet, Lauren!”

It’s so frustrating! Why can’t I just be normal and navigate the dating world like everyone else? Why do I have to turn away when something good is finally coming my way? Finding someone I like should be the hard part; not actually developing something with them.

Single life has its perks, but it is time for something more. Now, if only I could get the rest of me on board.

But how?

Well, maybe it wasn’t so much that he “dumped me” as he “never responded to any of my Craigslist ads.” And maybe he wasn’t so much my “boyfriend” as he is the 4 million or so guys in the Tri-State area who never responded to my post. I mean, one of them could be *the one,* and if he weren’t such a pussy we could be married right now with five boys and five girls.

Hmmm. Maybe I should leave that last sentence out of my next ad.

I shouldn’t be so down on posting a Craigslist ad for a date. You can learn so much by doing so. For example, did you know that guys named Remington still exist and you ONLY meet them through Craigslist?

And then there’s Jared. Sweet, earnest Jared. Jared who started his response to my ad with the philosophical “I don’t know what I want to do with my life …. but I recently discovered who I am.” I sometimes wish I knew what that was, Jared. But I still don’t regret throwing your email in the virtual garbage.

For me, Craigslist dating is the product of months of consistently good — albeit non-controversial — Craigslist experiences. After all, it is through Craigslist that I met the self-described “Big Ed” who sold me his used TV for cheap. And that charming hemp-smoking nurse who delivered and furnished my room with her son’s crappy used furniture.

The only logical next step is to try to find some nice, cheap, barely used love.

The one problem with posting an ad on Craigslist is that you have to be willing to confront your own bigoted tendencies. I used to think that I was all about equality, but there are entire sects of the male species that I dismiss for the smallest reasons.

I now know that I am prejudiced against obsessive “lol“ers, guys who send pictures of themselves with their pet snakes, and anyone who commutes from New Jersey. And anyone named Remington. You know who you are.

There are people who look down upon those who try to find love through Craigslist. Mostly tall, willowy models and Usher. Or other hot bitchy people who have the time and money to go to a New York City bar and “meet someone.” I don’t have time for that. I’m juggling two jobs and an entire season of “Lost” on dvd. It’s called prioritizing.

And until I have finished said season, it’s all about trailblazing for the cause of Craigslist dating. That and finding a used printer. Any leads? Anyone?

Blind dates can be scary. They can also be fun. The scary / fun part depends on your idea of a good time and your date’s idea of normal.

Most of us go on blind dates pretty confident we’re not about to meet our soul mate, but always hope there’s enough of a connection to make putting on make-up and those tight jeans worth it. Blind dates are our way of doing something fun and spontaneous, something slightly nerve wracking but full of possibilities, a reason to get out of the house or apartment and have a drink made by somebody else.

The only thing is, if you’re not big into internet profiles and don’t have a lot of friends trying to go all Yenta on you, blind dates don’t actually happen that often.

That is, unless you sign up for Crazy Blind Date.

Developed by the funny people behind OKCupid (a free dating site that’s big on humor and small on pretense), CBD is all about helping you “coordinate a date on extremely short notice.”

Connected for New York, Boston, Austin, and San Fancisco, Crazy Blind Date understands that some of us “just want to go out immediately, with reckless abandon”, and helps facilitate that want with instant blind dates through email and cell phones.

Once a person signs into the free service, they pick their city, area, and date type (single and double dates are available), and answer a few short questions detailing personality and possible date times. Without being able to see a picture, a person agrees to the possibility of a date that night with someone who’s been picked for them, and then wait until their email or cell phone tells them where to go!

Personally, I’m not a big fan of online dating, but the possibility of going out on a date instantly, whenever I feel bored, is definitely appealing—especially if I can bring a friend along for support! Since most people wax poetic and try too hard to impress when it comes to dating profiles, jumping into meeting someone with no pretense saves everyone time and undo disappointment.

Just go to CrazyBlindDate.com and check it out. The simplicity and fun of it might just have you moving your mouse and agreeing to a spontaneous shot at love (or at the very least, hilarity) tonight.