Want life's luxuries for less? Here's how to save money and still indulge those guilty pleasures.
I'm all for debt-busting, money saving and frugal living - but everyone needs a treat now and again. The trick is to make sure that treat doesn't send you shooting straight down the debt snake and back to square one.
If you really can't bear to give up all the luxuries in life, read on. I'm going to look at how you can indulge those guilty pleasures - for a lot less cash.
1. Designer clothes
If you're a connoisseur of designer clobber, think outside the box. There are certain member-only websites aimed at people who want new designer clothes without the designer price tag.
They typically offer 30-70% off big name brands like Dolce & Gabbana and Christian Dior. And as a member, you'll be alerted immediately when there's an online sale - so you can have a good root around before the bargains get snapped up.
Just make sure you choose sites that are free to sign up to. Brand Alley, Catwalk To Closet and Secret Sales are all good places to start.
2. Posh perfume
Don't worry - I'm not suggesting you buy dodgy fake fragrances out of a suitcase on the high street. The key to getting top perfumes for less is to shop around, and shop online.
The quickest way to do this is to use a comparison site specifically designed to check the price of perfume at various different retailers - simple!
The two most comprehensive sites are Fragrances Compared and Cheap Perfume Expert.
3. Eating out
There are still several restaurant chains offering big discounts on food and drink. But what if your heart's set on a particular place which isn't offering a discount?
You could dine out in style and still save money - by opting for lunch rather than dinner. Most restaurants, including the really posh ones, offer set menu lunch deals that are much cheaper than their dinner equivalent.
This one, at Gordon Ramsay's Claridge's eaterie, is less than half the price of the dinner option.
4. Take in a show
You could halve the price of a West End show by having a good root around on lastminute.com.
At the time of writing, for example, you can get 50% off tickets to The Sound of Music at the London Palladium.
5. Telly addict?
Are you addicted to having more channels than you could possibly ever watch? Ditch that Sky subscription and switch to Freeview.
If you don't have a digital TV, you'll need to buy a Freeview digital set top box (these start at around £30).
You'll then have access to between ten and 50 channels (depending on where you live), and you won't have to pay anything monthly.
6. Glossy magazines
Whether you're obsessed with the lives of the rich and famous, or want to build a new and healthier you - you no longer need to splash out on glossy magazines.
That's because you can now read many magazines online - for free. Whether you're a devotee of Heat, Vogue or Men's Health, there's something on the web for everyone.
7. Your dream holiday
If you'd love a holiday - but you really can't afford it - consider taking part in a home swap.
In a nutshell, you use a house swapping agency to list your own home, then browse to find someone else's in your dream destination.
Once you've found your perfect swap, you contact each other, arrange all the details, then swap homes for affordable breaks for you both!
Of course, there's no such thing as a completely free lunch: House swapping agencies usually charge annual fees of £50-£100. Intervac and Home for Exchange are both sites worth looking at.
8. Computer games
If you're a gaming fanatic, try to wean yourself off the games that cost £30 a pop. Instead, explore the weird and wonderful world of free games now available on the web.
My particular favourite (and the nemesis of anyone working from home) is free Tetris - it's as addictive as ever.
Once you're registered (for free) as a regular user, this site also offers free Pacman, Frogger, Sonic, Asteroids and Space Invaders - whoo hoo!
9. Naughty but nice
If you're going to have a diet blow-out, at least do it cheaply. Ditch the Crispy Crème/M&S sugar fix for treats at half the price - from good old Greggs. Let's face it, the nutritional value will be much the same!
You can get all sorts of cakes, doughnuts and chocolaty-looking things for under 50p each (I can personally recommend most of them.). And if it's a savoury treat you're after, you can currently get two chicken bakes for the price of one with this voucher.
10. That daily caffeine fix
Finally - are you someone who just has to buy a cup of coffee on the way to work? Try swapping down a brand.
I'm going to be shot down in flames for this - but I think Starbuck's coffee is a bit yuck. And you can now get freshly-ground coffee from McDonalds for a fraction of the price.
More: Twenty Things You Can Get For Free | Twelve Ways We Can All Fight The Recession!