Dear Ruby,
I’m unemployed, but looking, and I’m doing okay with unemployment and my savings. I’m a single guy who’s always lived within his means, so I know I’ll survive until I find something. Even though I didn’t do anything wrong and I know there are so many people in the same boat, I don’t know if I should date. It’s like I shouldn’t even ask if I have to be cheap about it. My friends are split down the middle — half say to wait until I’m working (which could be months) and half say go ahead and ask. If I ask someone out for a low-budget date, am I a loser?

Sincerely, Dateless in Depression

Dear Dateless,
It’s funny, a year ago I might have said, “Why not wait until you’ve got a job?” In good times, even though it may not be fair, unemployment is kind of a red flag when it comes to dating. Not a Chris Brown-size red flag, but still.

These days, it’s not a flag, it’s the red badge of courage, and . . . it’s what everyone’s wearing this spring.

Between the bad news and the worse news, it’s important we make room for fun. And what’s more fun than getting to know someone cute and kissable, even if it’s over Netflix and beer?

Some of this is up to you, of course, DD. If your usual target is an heiress, a rockstar-slash-groupie, or the type of girl who hangs around the DJ booth all night, then it’s likely she didn’t get the memo and wouldn’t read it even if she did. For multiple reasons, Lindsay Lohan is not a good choice for you.

If, on the other hand, you go for brighter, deeper types who might be up on current events, you could be in luck. And if you look for her in a library around the jobs kiosk instead of at happy hour, you’ll probably find somebody who gets what you’re about and is willing to put the movie in while you make popcorn. You sound like a nice guy. Go have yourself a nice time.

Let Ruby hear all about it.

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