Hi Freddy,

You should thank those mercenaries for making their agenda so obvious. They're just following the motto of their little black hearts, which is: "Love for Rent." Darva "I want to marry me a millionaire" Conger, the great role model for the female youth of America, showed her agenda to 22 million viewers by marrying a complete stranger for prizes and fifteen minutes of fame. No matter what excuses she (or any of the other 49 class-less contestants) gives us now, one fact cannot be erased: when she signed up for the competition, she proved she had no integrity. What rational guy would want her now?

Your problem, Freddy, lies in your selection process, not in being cheap, dating the wrong age group, or living in the wrong century. You realize that you're dating too many gold diggers, but you don't realize it until your money is gone and your heart is broken - or at least a little bruised. Most single women have no idea what men go through when dating, and the Feministas couldn't care less. That's why you came to me, the only love doctor who helps guys.

No one's forcing you to spend so much on a date, Freddy. It's painfully obvious that you don't have a sensible spending plan, but fear not - I will show you the secrets of cutting your love spending and investing more prudently. Though you've lost your heart and your money on lousy love investments in the past, The "System" will turn you into a regular Peter Lynch of dating.

Let's say you meet Caprice at a wedding reception and get her home phone number. Your problem is not where to take her, but how much money to spend. Taking a woman to a nice restaurant is fine if her Interest Level is at 75% or higher, but what if it's below 75% - or you're just not sure? Enter the Short Date, or as the mercenaries call it: the cheap date.

The Short Date requires that you call Caprice and ask her to meet for a quick drink after work. During your conversation at the reception, you should have found out where she works, so you can have a nice restaurant and bar in mind where you two can meet. Now if this place is only four doors from her office, and she says she cannot give you 45 minutes of her time - then guess what? Adios, baby! But if Caprice accepts, you will have spent only ten bucks, and read her Interest level without spending a hundred. As my cousin Rabbi Love would say, "Such a deal!"

What should Caprice be doing during those 45 minutes? Touching your arm, asking you questions, and laughing at your bad jokes - all the while, her eyes should be bright. What shouldn't she be doing? How about yawning or looking at the clock on the wall? This is very complicated, Freddy, isn't it?

In your case, Freddy, all your first dates should be Short Dates. You need to spend more time with Miss Right for less money until you learn to better read her true Interest Level and her attitude. Fair enough?

If Miss Right passes the Short Date, then she will graduate to the Long Date. If she makes it past two dates, then you can increase your spending slowly. As a rule, you should still pick fun places to go to rather than expensive places - how about free concerts in the park or miniature golfing? "Parks? Miniature golf? How boring!" See? Mercenaries cannot have fun unless it's expensive.

Remember: if a woman asks for too much, too soon - write her off. You cannot change City Hall, Mother Nature, or the black heart of a mercenary.

Guys, e-mail me at doclove@doclove.com with your love challenges. All will be answered, but because of space, only letters of general interest will be printed. To find out more about The "System" visit me at: www.doclove.com or call me at: (800) 404-2644.

Doc Love is a talk show host, entertainment speaker, and coaches men in his seminars. For the past thirty years he has asked thousands of women, "Why do you stay with one man versus another?"

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