His point of view: his idea of girlfriend material: these factors convince a guy you're worth forfeiting his single status for.(MAN MANUAL)

* If you're used to hearing the line 'Tin just not ready for a relationship," then please, keep reading. One important thing to bear in mind: Guys decide early on whether they're willing to forgo their freedom to become monogamous with you. To prove to him it's a sacrifice that he'll actually want to make, be sure that you ...

Pick Up the Check

Relax, we're not saying you have to pony up for every meal. But if you reach for the bill, he'll know you're a self-sufficient chick who's not just looking for a free ride. "If a girl looks away or suddenly gets distracted when the check comes, I feel taken advantage of," says Sammy*, 25. "When a woman insists on picking up the occasional tab though, it shows she's interested in me as a person, not in what I can give her:"

Have Friday-Night Plans

Sure, you want to see him, and he appreciates that. But when you bombard him with a steady stream of e-mails and text messages asking if he wants to do something this weekend, it's suffocating. What he needs to move forward with you is reassurance that you have your own life--one that doesn't revolve around him. "My girlfriend was the first woman I'd ever dated who repeatedly told me 'Already booked' because she had all this other stuff going on," says Amir, 29. "Soon, though, I realized that if I wanted to see her, I'd have to make plans in advance. That made me want her even more!"

Love His Guy Stuff

"My idea of long-term material is someone who will give me a high five when I've had a great day on the golf" course or night at the poker table and who will laugh with me when I tell her about all the stupid stuff my friends did at our bar crawl," says Carlo, 31. Yes, it's asking a lot (we don't expect you to embrace our strip-joint jaunts), but guys don't ...