People on a blind date and longtime married couples alike are finding ways to date for less. In fact, having a frugal mindset could save money while helping you make a positive impression.

"They're not (avoiding) dating anymore because of money; they're just doing some clever and some inventive things," says Whitney Casey, author of "The Man Plan" and a contributor to online dating site Match.com. "It's cool to be frugal in a recession."

Cheap and even free dates can be just as memorable, without taking a big chunk out of your paycheck or creating credit card debt.

There's no evidence of a correlation between how much money you spend on a date and the kind of memory that's created, says Jeff Yeager, an author based in Maryland whose books include "The Cheapskate Next Door."

"Never hide or be shy about your attitude toward money, even when you're first dating," he says.