If you haven’t found love yet, fear not-there are plenty of options for finding that special valentine. But it will cost you. JupiterResearch predicted that Americans would spend $516 million on online dating services in 2005. That’s quite a bit, considering that only 16 percent of single Americans are looking for romance, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Here’s a sampling of services that can help you ignite-and extinguish-the flame.
by Alice C. Chen
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9.74 million
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82,889
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35,037
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Single, separated, divorced, or widowed adults in Illinois in 2005*
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Weddings in Illinois in 2003**
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Divorces and annulments in Illinois in 2003**
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Sources: *U.S. Census Bureau **Illinois Department of Public Health (most recent year available)
Meet Your Matchmaker
So you’re looking for a date. Do you…
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$129 … first-year membership
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$85 … ten weeks of coed floor hockey
$115 … ten weeks of coed basketball |
$20 … an evening of board games, trivia
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>> One year with jdate.com*
>> One year with eHarmony.com
>> One year with match.com*
>> One year with IndianDating.com
*Package available in six-month increments
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$69 … first night
$59 … follow-up event $40 … follow-up event if you reach elite status (where 70% or more of participants request a follow-up date with you) |
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$1,500
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$2,400
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$150,000
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… one-year membership and at least 12 dates
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… one year and a minimum of eight introductions with local matchmaker Elsa Malinsky
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… one year with a personal matchmaker to accompany you out on the town and screen potential matches
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When Love Dies
$1,000 … ten hours of surveillance from All State Investigations to catch a cheating partner (www.94truth.com) $125 … an hour of service with Lynn Torre, certified financial planner and divorce practitioner (630-858-8290) $350 … one hour with collaborative divorce lawyer and mediator Brigitte Bell (312-360-1124)