The Great 'Where to meet people on the cheap' Hunt

mickadoon

The site may be free for females, but not for males. Less than 24 hours after registering I had a 'message' from a 30 year old Latino babe with a penchant for us Wrinklies, (as if!) When I clicked on 'read the message' the screen came up 'pay here'

Phoebs

curryqueen wrote: »

.....I agree that the dating sites help a lot of people meet their new partner - but sometimes an activity or social based group can be good. I have been a member of Spice in the Thames Valley for ages now - I agree with the earlier comments made - it is really good group to be with! ... check them out!!

Waves @ curryqueen

Spice is great! I joined the Thames Valley & Solent group earlier this year as I wanted to get out more and not just for dating. Have had plenty of good experiences, even won a holiday too And met some great people.

You don't have to do expensive activities and holidays, I often just go to the cinema, and the co-ordinators are making a concerted effort to find cheap and free activities in the region too.

Check them out... you've nothing to lose... and I've not met a non-friendly Spicer yet!

ditzymuppet

I am on www.mysinglefriend.com which is free to set up a profile, get searching, get clicking people into your favourites folder... and if someone sends you a message, you can click on their name to see who they are and then you can work out whether you want to pay up the fee...(which is minimal in the grand scheme of things) In my experience, this is money well spent, as everyone that I've spoken to on there are well spoken (written/same thing!) and literate, and not just after a quick "how's your father";) - Well, would you want a quick fling if a friend of yours has just written a review of you worthy of a Richard and Judy Book Club award?!

www.gumtree.com will always bring up some amusing ads and has details of various clubs and things going on... Have a look at the London ones if you fancy a chuckle...

Failing all this, take up a new sport... I'm on a "back to badminton" course in the new year and I've also taken up (really badly) skiing.... It'll at least open up your social group....Don't bother with a gym though!

~ditzy....

competitionscafe

For meeting new people and socialising (these are not dating sites):

I agree Meetup.com is excellent (in the larger cities) and if you don't find a group which interests you you can always start one.

Couchsurfing.com also has lots of local groups in most UK cities and is very much geared towards people on low budgets. In London there are also loads of sub groups for dining out, clubbing, language exchanges etc.
http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=618
Other big groups include Manchester: http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=1248 and Edinburgh.

IanMorley68

Anyone recommend any free dating sites that are aimed at professionals in their 40's or thereabouts?

competitionscafe

Hi Ian,

Love and Friends ( https://www.loveandfriends.com ) is good and has a lot of London members who are professionals in their 20s/30s/40s - basic messaging is free.
Guardian Soulmates is also good (but not free)

Some people have recommended plentyoffish as it's free but I wasn't very impressed with it. You can try the main dating sites thread here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=95652

Apart from dating sites; groups like Spice or any club which you have an interest in (sport, hobby, eg: hillwalking club or whatever) is good for meeting people. That way you don't have the pressure of going on a date but are doing something you enjoy and meeting lots of other likeminded people and if you meet someone special then that's just an extra bonus, but it does happen.