Online dating is all the rage today, and there isn’t any doubt about that. What if you’re the type who would instead meet someone special via an alternative route?
There are still plenty of options available to those who want to shun internet dating altogether.
Some of you may be surprised that any married couples these days meet at a place other than the internet.
It does happen, and some people prefer to meet people the old fashioned way. If you’re one of those people, then pay close attention to this list.
You are sure to find some suggestions that will undoubtedly make your dating life a little easier.
The old smoke-filled bar hookup
You’ve heard stories about smoke-filled bars. They aren’t too smokey these days considering you’re not allowed to smoke in most places anymore.
That doesn’t stop people from going into bars in search of a significant other.
The problem with bars is, you don’t know who is an alcoholic and who isn’t.
Some people go to bars to mingle and nothing else, but that’s not always the case.
Sometimes people get so stinking drunk they don’t remember what they did the next day.
That’s never the right way to start a relationship.
If you’re looking for love at a bar, be very careful. Make sure you’re not hooking up with someone who only wants a one night stand.
You’re probably going to have a difficult time finding someone serious to fall in love with at a bar.
No one is saying that it isn’t possible to find the perfect person at a bar. You will probably have to spend quite a little time sitting on a barstool to find the right person.
Don’t be surprised if quite a few fights and other unfortunate situations arise from your time in the bar.
It’s best to avoid bars and all the drama that goes with them if you can.
Public gatherings and events can be an excellent place to meet people
Are you into art? A local art museum may have a special presentation that attracts a local crowd.
Chances are pretty good; there are all kinds of events taking place in your city that are great places to meet others.
The great thing about these events is, you know you share the same interest as the other person.
If they have a book fair downtown, then you know the people who are attending are going to be bookworms.
These public gatherings, in many ways, were the first social media outlets. Think of them as specialty groups where people get together who all have a common interest.
A word of caution about trying to hook up at public events; You don’t want to come across as being hard up.
Don’t talk to everyone with the intent that you’re going to date them. If you see someone who you find attractive, try to start a little small talk with them.
Don’t propose marriage to them after hearing a single word come out of their mouth.
Mingle around the group and try to meet as many new people as possible.
Many of these social functions are free or low cost, and that means you can attend many of them without putting a dent in your wallet.
You can always ask friends to hook you up
Everyone you know has countless people they know. Some of those people are going to be single.
Ask your friends if they know someone who might be right for you. You will probably end up going on a few blind dates if you go this route.
That’s okay as long as you don’t have high expectations when going into the date.
It’s also possible that your friend could introduce you to the person in a setting outside of a date.
If the person works at a coffee shop, for example, maybe you and your friend go there for a cup of coffee, and that gets the ball rolling.
Asking friends to hook you up is a tried and true method that has worked throughout the ages.
It still works if you have friends who are in tune with who you are and those around them.
It doesn’t have to be friends; it could also be relatives, coworkers, or even neighbors.
It does feel a little odd when your mom recommends that you go out on a date with someone. Why not go? What do you have to lose?
Sure, it feels a little awkward, but she might have found the right person for you. It’s only one date, and if nothing comes out of it, then it’s no big deal.
Go into it with the mindset that you’re going to have fun and nothing else.
Actually, that’s how you should view all of these dates when people hook you up with strangers. Go out and have a good time, and if nothing comes from it, then so be it.
Personal ads in newspapers are still a thing
Back before the internet, people used personal ads in newspapers to find dates. How many people read newspapers these days?
That’s the problem, and it’s why personal ads are becoming less effective. Still, it’s possible to place an ad and see what happens.
Sometimes you can find a company that allows you to place a personal ad for free. If that’s the case, then you don’t have much to lose.
You may have to pay to hear any responses to your personal ad. That’s how they get you, and it’s why they offer free personal ads.
They know you’ll want to hear who responds to your ad, and some people will pay a hefty price to discover who may have the hots for them.
The way personal ads work is pretty straightforward; Usually, you create the ad over the phone, and the company puts your personal ad in the newspaper.
There is a phone number listed near the personal ads in the paper that people call and respond to ads.
Responding and hearing responses usually cost money and can be quite pricey. Be careful if you go this route that you don’t end up spending far too much money.
It’s a common practice for these companies to charge by the minute, and minutes have a way of flying by quickly.
Chatlines are a blast from the past with a devout following
Chatlines are phone numbers that you call that have personals and chatrooms. If you’ve never called a chatline, then it’s hard to wrap your head around them.
Those of you who have used a chatline know that they can be a great place to meet new people.
Most chatlines have local phone numbers that are meant to be called by locals.
That doesn’t mean only locals call them since anyone from around the world can call a chatline as long as they have the phone number.
People who use chatlines for dating are usually locals since it defies logic why someone from another state or country would call so far away to find a date.
You should be aware of shady people on chatlines. Just like with anything else in life, there are some bad apples on chatlines.
It’s easy to say you’re one thing and be something different. It’s not unheard of for men to pretend to be women on chatlines.
Also, some people use chatlines as a means of finding one night stands.
Chatlines and bars have one thing in common in that they both host plenty of people who are looking for some no strings attached excitement.
If that isn’t your cup of tea, then it’s best to be upfront and say that you’re looking for a long term relationship or, at the very least, a scenario where you date the person awhile before anything physical takes place.
Church is where many people still hook up
If you look back far enough in your family tree, chances are, someone hooked up at church. Long before social media existed, people went to church to connect.
Church or other religious institutions are still a great place to meet someone else.
You already know that you’ve got one thing in common with a person when you meet them at church.
You and the other person probably share the same beliefs in God and morality if you’re attending church.
That’s not always the case, but more often than not, those who attend church do so because of deeply held beliefs.
Many large churches have a singles night where singles can get to know each other.
Going to church and meeting new people is still the best way to find someone to date.
If you go to a big enough church, there will be a ton of people who you can meet.
Quite a few of those people will be single, and many will want to get married.
It’s not uncommon for religious people to seek out someone to spend the rest of their lives with.
If you’re searching for a life partner, then there’s no better place to do that than at church.
Don’t rush into it or do anything that will make others think that you’re too pushy. If you’re new to the church, then give everyone plenty of time to get to know who you are.
Have you ever thought about dating people that you see at work?
You shouldn’t date your coworkers as that can cause serious problems at work. However, you might have a job where you meet all kinds of people every day.
Customer service is an excellent example of a job where workers are continually meeting new people.
If you run a cash register, then you might talk to hundreds of people in a day.
There are all kinds of situations where people get to meet the public during their workday.
Every new person you meet is an opportunity to discover someone who is a potential match.
It’s a bad idea to flirt with all the people who you come in contact with through your job.
Quite a few people will take it the wrong way, and they won’t feel comfortable coming back and doing business with you.
You’ll have to choose the right scenario where the person might be receptive to your flirting and won’t find it offensive.
If you’re in doubt, then don’t even try. Someone might take your advances the wrong way and try to get you fired.
It would be a terrible thing if you were trying to put the moves on someone married, and they go back to your boss and tell them of all that went down.
Don’t put pressure on yourself to make dates happen out of thin air
Sometimes single people put far too much pressure on themselves to find someone to date.
You’ve no doubt seen a few people who seemed to go out of their way to win over someone in hopes of going out on a date with them.
Take all the pressure off of yourself and have a good time. Go out there and meet as many new people as possible.
The only way you’ll be successful in the world of dating is if you meet lots of people.
The more people you encounter, the higher the likelihood that you’ll find someone to go out on a date with.
It’s a numbers game, and you’ve got to play the field to have the highest success rate possible.
Being single is a terrible feeling for many people, and quite a few will do anything not to be lonely.
It’s best to go through the loneliness and take the dating process serious so you can find someone to share your life with.
Settling down with the first person who accepts your offer to go out on a date is a big mistake.
Sure, take them out on the date, but don’t go into it, hoping to get married anytime soon.
Go out on as many dates with as many different people as possible when you’re single.
You increase your odds of success significantly by interacting with more people since you’ll be able to choose the perfect match for you.
Here are some romantic date not ideas when you ask the person out