I will start by apologizing in advance for the length of this post.....
There is one "free" dating website that I'm aware of, it is called Plenty Of Fish or POF... It is as free as you can find out there. I'm not advertising for them or affiliated in any way other than I do use that site.
To join you do need to create a profile but it gives you free access to other folks profiles and you can send an unlimited amount of messages back and forth as well as use their "instant message" chat.
They do offer an "upgraded membership" that you have to pay for... but the upgrade memberships don't really offer anything you cannot live without...
1 Year @ $6.78/month ($81.40)
6 Months @ $8.50/month ($51.00)
3 Months @ $11.80/month ($35.40)
This is what you get if you upgrade...and what POF claims....
'This upgrade more than doubles your chances of meeting someone.
Show up first on Meet Me!, Unlock every user's Extended Profile, See if your emails were read or deleted, Experience POF ad-free, Find out the date and time someone viewed your profile, See who viewed your profile and you voted yes/maybe on, Massive increase in emails, Number of people viewing your profile, Number of people viewing your profile triples, Use themes on your profile, Stand out in all searches, Send unlimited free gifts on email, Send three free profile gifts per day, Find out who is most attracted to you."
As with any dating site or chat room for that matter, please be smart...
Do not ever give out any personal information like name, address, phone number etc.
If someone wants your number, ask for theirs, only if you feel comfortable, and then place a call to them that will come through with your phone number as being unavailable, restricted etc...
Do not ever give out your real e-mail address - create a new email just for dating purposes- for example instead of
[email protected] do
[email protected]
Do not ever give information about, or links to your Facebook account if you have one.. they can easily access information there about you, your kids, your family etc..... you don't need to be stalked.
If you should get to the point that you meet someone, always do so in a public place - coffee shop, fast food restaurant, food court at the mall… etc Never leave with that person or let them into your car.
Tell a friend when and where you are going to meet this new person and have them call you to check in and make sure everything is ok… I have code words set up with a friend.. she'll call and say she's at the grocery store and ask whether I need anything or not…. If all is well I'll reply with "sure I need some pineapple" (universal symbol for welcome and friendship) or if things are not going well, I'll say "could you pick me up some Cheerios" (serial (cereal) killer… ) lol not a good situation
Or even better yet, if possible, have your friend come with you but sit separately so that they can observe and keep an eye on you, available to intervene if necessary…
If/when you do meet someone for the first time, feel free to ask to see their drivers license. Just because they show up doesn't mean they are who they say they are or who they have portrayed themselves to be. If everything is on the up and up they won't be offended to prove to you who they are.
I've been internet dating for just about four months and have been lied to quite frequently…
Men have said they are separated, single and widowed, when they were actually in fact married.
I'm very open minded and "street smart" so to say, but the number of openly married men looking for "extra curricular" activity was very surprising to me~ far more than I would have imagined.
If you feel uncomfortable and see red flags…GO WITH YOUR INSTINCTS! Gut instincts are always correct. I was interacting on line with someone for a minimum of 3 hours a day for 5 weeks and right from the very start I didn't only see red flags but I saw that the whole road was painted red.
Did I listen? NOPE! Because he was playful and fun and he had an amazing sense of humor and he made me laugh and I was sooo intrigued and captivated with the attention….
I'm lucky it ended with me only having a "broken heart" after I found out he was married and it was all just lies…
Again, I apologize for this post being so long. I'm just trying to hopefully pass on some helpful information….
Have fun, be safe and by all means take everything with a grain of salt when talking to people on line and only believe a quarter of what you are told
Btw, I do go to church but there are some pretty slim pickings there and only so many available men…