The economic slump has affected almost every aspect of life, even trickling down to people’s love lives. Across the country, there are reports that singles are struggling when dating.

The hardest hit are single guys, who typically end up paying for the dates — at least in the beginning. Some guys are getting more creative with their dates, or looking for cheaper options to the traditional dinner and a movie. Others are just avoiding dating altogether. One guy I know recently told me he was taking a break from dating not only because he just needed a break from women, but so he could save up some money, too.

And one guy I was talking to for awhile said he was reluctant to take me out on an actual date until after he started his new job and had a regular paycheck. That was fine with me. I understood where he was coming from. (I didn’t, however, quite understand how he had the money to pay for multiple rounds of drinks on two separate occasions, but never dinner.)

My advice to guys is to go the creative route. Don’t feel you have to stick with the typical dinner-and-a-movie schtick — try something different. I don’t think I’m alone when I say that the quality of the date does not directly correlate to how much money you spend on it.

It’s not just singles that are feeling the pinch. Christine Cahill says while she and her husband didn’t consciously make an effort to cut back on date nights, they did cut back.

“We noticed money being tight, and we were less willing to go out,” she says.

Date night rituals of eating out and going to movies are now a thing of the past. There have been a few perks — Christine learned to cook as a result of not going out to eat.

But it’s also been stressful. Instead of being able to go out and have some fun after a hard day at work, the couple just goes home and “... we’d just clam up and watch TV,” Christine says. “There’s no relief.”

Again, this is where being creative comes in. Instead of just watching TV, Christine and her hubby could go see a $2 movie at Plaza 8, go roam around Borders for awhile or just take a walk together.

The point isn’t how much money you spend, it’s the time you spend together.