The Skint Fix

1. Throw a Hollywood party. Get your friends to dress up as their film heroes and play movie bingo. For example, every time Bridget does something embarrassing in Bridget Jones' Diary, you all have to down a shot. Which could get interesting...

2. Get clothes-swapping. One woman's fashion disaster is another's hot new look, so invite your friends to bring their unwanted gear around and refresh your wardrobe for nothing.

3. Go indie. Ticket prices at your local independent cinema are often a bargain.

4. Get stuck into a bestseller. Look at the current top-10 list in your local bookstore. How many have you read?

5. Gatecrash a gallery. Local galleries often hold private viewings, including free drinks. Get on the mailing list to find out when they're happening, then get your way in. lf you get stopped, try looking over the doorman's shoulder and saying, 'I'm with Dave.' Every party has a Dave.

6. Play SingStar. Forget your boyfriend ogling Lara Croft - a karaoke night with a difference is what PlayStations were made for. SingStar is a singing game that rates your performance and offers versions with '80s hits, anthems and legends. Look out for the PS3 version, which lets you download songs from the internet.

7. Learn to cook. Buy a girl a ready meal and you feed her for a day; teach her to cook and you feed her for life. Cookery books might be pricey but they save money on takeaways in the long run.

8. Hibernate. The best things in life are free - and that includes snuggling under the duvet with your man and seeing where it leads...

Author: Rosie Mullender and Tracy Ramsden