All my mates are in dating, but I don't want to just "settle" for anyone...Advice?

Your biggest barrier to being more confident is your body image. Get on a diet and hit the gym, you're unemployed so it's not like you've got anything else to do. Ask your friend about that dating site he's using, seems to be working for him.

it's plenty of fish, but I'm not sure I want to go on a dating site. And what girl is going to want a guy who's unemployed?

The best girlfriend is one that loves you for who you are.

I wouldn't just settle for someone, as I want to be with a girl that I enjoy spending time with.

Yeah I guess, but unfortunately a lot of people are shallow on dating sites. They judge before getting to know the person, which is the way society is these days. And no, I don't want to "settle" because I know a couple of my friends who have done that, and that is definitely not me, I'm not desperate enough to go for someone I am not attracted to or have chemistry with.

Thats the issue with dating sites, as you can't show your true positives (i.e things like confidence, humour, friendlyness, which all come accross better in person).

I know it's easier said then done in the current economic climate, but maybe it should encourage you to try and find some work, because that will make you feel more confident.

What sort of work do you want to do?

Theres always ways and means to make money in my opinion.

Okay, so basically I am still single and have been all my life. The main reason I have been single is because during my teenage years I lost my mum and after my mum died I became reclusive, therefore I lost a few close school friends. Since then I've had trouble meeting new friends in college and even after I finished college. I also had issues with my confidence due to bad acne and being overweight, so It was hard for me to talk to girls and date confidently.

I am now 23 years old and I am still single. I am still overweight, but my acne is gone and I have clear skin now. My confidence has increased, but I am still lacking confidence due to my body image and my current situation. See I have been unemployed for 2 years, apart from the odd few jobs with my older brother and a couple of odd jobs here and there. But due to being unemployed, overweight, and not having a degree or any worthwhile qualifications, it makes me feel horrible when it comes to dating.

The thing is, it makes me feel awful because all my friends (apart from 1 or 2 who I don't see regularly) are either in relationships or have just started dating girls. Even a friend of mine who is less outgoing than me has found a girl on a dating website who he's been seeing a few weeks and now they're kind of "in a relationship"

The thing is, it seems as though people get into relationships just to "settle" for certain people because they need to be in a relationship. I am not desperate to be in a relationship, but I would really like to at least meet some girls and start dating. I am fed up of being single, and now I have little social life because all my mates are dating, so their time is taken up with dating their girls. If I haven't got a social life, how can I meet girls?

Anyway, be grateful for some advice, thanks.