These singles may be earning a good income butthey do not see why they have to pay a premiumfor dating services.

They baulk at paying more than $30, thegovernment-subsidised rate that the SocialDevelopment Network (SDN) usually charges fordating events.

Ms Joan Ong, co-founder of dating agencyChampagne JSG, says some singles even think thatdating service providers are “social workers whoshould live simply and earn just enough to get by”.

“They will question the cost of the events andsay that we shouldn’t even be charging thembecause matchmaking is a social service,” she adds.

“They think that the Government pays us to dowhat we do.”

Singles on a budget can try these solutions:

GO FOR SDN-RELATED EVENTSA host of dating services and events fromaccredited agencies like Singles Mingle andChampagne JSG are available for $25 under theSDN Trust Dating Treats promotion. Visit SDN’s,website www.lovebyte.org.sg, for details. Thepromotion ends on Sunday.

NETWORK AT MASS EVENTSGet to meet at least 80 other singles at thisnetworking event.Connecting People, Linking HeartsBy: My Perfect LinkDate: Early JanuaryCost: $10Sign up: You have to be a member of My PerfectLink to attend the event. Membership is free. Visitwww.myperfectlink.com for more information.

DATE ONLINELook for potential partners online and follow upwith dates at your own cost.Eteractwww.eteract.comCost: A one-month membership costs $24, whileone that is valid for a year costs $88.Singapore Lovelinkswww.singaporelovelinks.comCost: Membership is free, but if you and the partyyou wish to contact are on a free membershipplan, you will have to upgrade to a Goldmembership before you can send a message. Aone-month gold membership costs $29.99, while aone-year membership costs $119.99.

If not for their long working hours and erraticschedules, this lot of singles would be extremelyeligible. They are high-fliers with good jobs in thefinance industry or are senior executives in MNCs.They have engaging social skills and enough lifeexperiences to make good conversation.

But they are so busy that they spend whateverfree time they have catching up on their sleep.

“They don’t plan their weekends. When theyare free, they will call up old friends for coffee,” saysMs Lydia Gan, founder of Clique Wise. “Theyhardly make any new friends.”

Furthermore, they are frequently out of townand are unable to maintain personal relationships,notes Mr Andrew Chow, founder of Table For Six.

Ms Gan relates the story of a client who alwaysput his career first and assumed that men had alonger shelf-life on the dating scene. By the time hewanted to settle down at 42, he found himselflacking the time, energy level and dating skills.

The younger women he wanted to date were intheir early 30s and found him too old for theirtastes.

Here are some solutions for the busy bee single:

CUT TO THE CHASEFind out quickly if your date’s character suits yoursin this class. It shows you how to use theEnneagram, a system that teaches you about thehabits and quirks of different personalities.Are you my type?By: Table For SixDate: Feb 5, 2 to 5pmCost: $48Sign up: E-mail your name, mobile number,gender and date of birth to andrew@tableforsix.sg

USE YOUR GEOGRAPHICAL ADVANTAGEFind singles who work around you through thiswebsite that matches singles based on their officelocation. Now you will know who is working as lateas you and would like to grab supper.Who Works Around You(www.whoworksaroundyou.com)Cost: Membership is free until further notice.

GO FOR ONE-ON-ONE MATCHMAKINGSince you do not have time to socialise, make useof dating services that will set you up on dates withpeople you might click with. Visit the Registry ofDating Agencies (www.rda.gov.sg) for a list ofaccredited dating agencies that providematchmaking services.

M arketing manager Ezen Hohas been looking for love forthe last three years.

The 28-year-old attends events forsingles at least once every twomonths. She has gone to teas, takenpart in driving rallies and even goneon blind dates organised by herfriends. She is also searching onLovestruck.com and SingaporeLovelinks.

The business managementgraduate from SingaporeManagement University has herselforganised two singles’ events – acanoe polo session and a four-daywhite water rafting holiday toMalaysia – to “kill many birds withone stone”.

“Even if I don’t find anyone whois suitable for me, they might besuitable for my friends,” she says.

The longest relationship she hashad in three years lasted four months.It ended because of “communicationproblems”.

Ms Ho began going to datingevents at 25 because she wanted tostart looking for Mr Right early.

“I was usually the youngestparticipant,” she says. “But I’m glad Istarted young, especially when I seewomen in their 30s at these eventswho are still looking for a lifepartner.”

The bubbly extrovert says she takesa proactive approach to dating

because she meets mostly women ormarried men through her work in thebeauty industry. “I am at a stage inmy life where I know what I wantand I’m just waiting for the rightcandidate.”

She wants a man under 35 who iswitty, kind and goal-oriented. Hemust also be as adventurous andspontaneous as she is.

Ms Ho has backpacked in SouthAmerica and gone on road trips inAustralia.

Last month, she turned a plannedtrekking holiday to Ladakh into ahumanitarian mission when floodshit the region. With five friends, sheleft for the Himalayas with $3,000 incash donations and 150 pieces ofwinter clothing for the victims.

So far, she has not clicked withanyone she has met as most wereintroverts, she says.

“Many of them blend with thewallpaper,” she says. “They don’t takethe initiative to start a conversation.When I ask them what they do intheir free time, the answer is alwaysthe same: swim, jog, cycle, sleep.

“I do get jaded sometimes andwonder if I should keep going forthese events when the men are sosimilar.”

But she keeps hopeful. “Mymindset is to make friends witheveryone. Anything else I get wouldbe a bonus.”

Lacking in grooming skills and social etiquette, theclueless single is the bane of dating event organisers.

Mr Andrew Chow, relationship coach andowner of dating agency Table For Six, says somemen arrive at events with a smart-casual dress codein T-shirts, baggy jeans and track shoes, while somewomen turn up without make-up.

He says: “If you don’t make a good firstimpression, others won’t have the patience to getto know you better.”

Many clueless singles do not know the first thingabout tact either.

A man at one of Mr Chow’s dating events askeda woman he was meeting for the first time howmuch money she had in her CPF account.

“He had been told that it was rude to ask abouther pay. So he figured out what he thought was aclever way to find out her financial status.”

Here are some tips for the clueless single:

GET GROOMEDGet a style update and find out the colours andkind of clothes that suit you.Make Me Beautiful – Your Colours And YouBy: Exclusive MatchDate: Jan 8 next year, 1 to 4pmCost: $65Sign up: E-mail the event title, your name, ICnumber and mobile number to info@myexclusivematch.com.sg. Call 6227-0307 or visitwww.o2match.com for details.

LEARN SOME ETIQUETTEGet advice on how to develop deeper connectionsand get out of awkward situations with class.Growing ConnectionsBy: Clique WiseDate: Dec 4, 3.30 to 5.30pmCost: $55Sign up: E-mail the event title, your name, gender,mobile and IC number to register@wow-her.com.sg. Call 9795-0568 for details.

TAKE THINGS TO THE NEXT LEVELInstead of the usual dinner-and-movie routine,learn to come up with creative and fun dates.Creating Fun DatesBy: Clique WiseDate: Nov 28, 3.30 to 5.30pmCost: $55Sign up: E-mail the event title, your name, gender,mobile and IC number to register@wow-her.com.sg. Call 9795-0568 for details.

CLUELESS SINGLESBUDGET SINGLES BUSY BEE SINGLES

PhotographerASHLEIGH SIM;

StylingGLADYS CHUNG;Hair & make-up

MELISSA YEO (9768-2813)

Ms Ezen Ho, a self-professed tomboy,regularly attends dating events. She shares herexperiences with GLADYS CHUNG

A self-confessed tomboy, Ms Ezen Ho, 28,usually wears jeans, sneakers and a tank top(left) when she goes on dates. She seldomwears make-up.

For this Urban makeover (far left),make-up artist Melissa Yeo gave her afeminine and glamorous look with darkeyeshadow, light blush on her cheeks andloose curls that frame her face.

Urban dressed the marketing manager ina feminine silk top with ruffles and a silk skirtwith pleats. We jazzed up the looks with fauxpearl necklaces and strappy heels. All werefrom Banana Republic.

Ms Ho’s response: “I’ve never seen myselflook so feminine before. It gives myconfidence a boost.”

She likes the make-up, “but it’s notsomething I would do on my own because ittakes too much time”.

She also loves the hair.“I intend to buy a curler and I’ll use it

when I’m getting ready for dates.”Unlike most girls, shopping is not a

favourite activity of hers. She shops only oncea year and spends about $300 in total.

“I never knew that I look good in rufflesand blush colours. I will start looking out foroutfits like these,” she says.

“But I doubt I will start wearing heelsbecause I just can’t walk in them. They’re tooimpractical for me.”

Blouse, $119; skirt,$119; necklace,$229; bracelet, $99;ring, $89; sandals,$209, all fromBanana Republic;Vitra Heart Conechair by VernerPanton, $5,325,from SpaceFurniture, Level 2Millenia Walk

LOOKINGFOR LOVE

FROM TOMBOYTO HOT DATE

18 19