Well, we’re only just over half way through the month and I have no money left. And it’s not just me - although my idea of budgeting is hitting Topshop (who just announced increases in their profits) at the start of the month only to live on beans on toast for 2 weeks before the next payday. We’re all starting to feel the pinch. Rising gas and electricity bills, food costs soaring. Blimey, at least we can drown our sorrows at the weekend… Um, in London? Are you mental? A place where the average price of a pint edges ever closer to £4, where people don’t blink at handing over a tenner for a cocktail before heading to a club where they have to part with anywhere up to £20 just to get in… Yeah, I’ll be going to the cinema too again this weekend (long live The Genesis in Whitechapel!).

However, if you refuse to be beaten down by the crunch then there are places in London – one of the most expensive cities in the world – where you don’t need to max out your credit card to have a good time. Don’t believe me? Well let me enlighten you…

Of course, you can always milk the cheesy side of London. Before starting your night at the clubs, every good budgeter knows you first need to hit the Happy Hour Bars. Getting tanked up (but not too much - responsible drinking, people!) on 2-4-1 cocktails or half price wine is a surefire way of cutting your spend. Alternatively, you can settle in for the evening by making the most of one of the competitive areas of London’s clubland like Leicester Square or Piccadilly. Here bars and clubs like On Anon, Tiger Tiger and Zoo Bar and Club vie for your attention with offers and free entry (before 10pm, natch). However, this is only recommended if you can cope with hordes of tourists crushing you into a tiny spot of the dancefloor and hen parties wafting dildos around. Can’t face it? Me either! But beggars can’t always be choosers…

Another hot tip from me to you, is areas like Shoreditch. Sure, the cost of a beer has shot up around East London in recent years, but it doesn't even come close to the prices of West London. Also, many clubs and DJ bars around here are free to get in - especially if you get there early. T Bar, Juno, Green and Red, and the newly opened Cube are all examples of late night bars where you can dance to tunes well into the wee hours, all for free (excluding some special events). Genius.

It's also wise to keep an ear to the ground for special deals, which are becoming ever more common in these times of economic downturn. Three of London’s top venues have teamed up to offer a night out on the town in Central London for just £20. Yeah, I could hardly believe it either. Starting at Vapiano - an Italian restaurant that is high on convenience but doesn’t skimp on quality – you pay your £20 and collect a pass for the night. You can then choose a meal of a main Italian dish and a glass of wine, beer or soft drink. When you’re done stuffing your face, OK nibbling delicately on spaghetti, it’s a hop, skip and a jump to Graphic where you can present your pass in exchange for a cocktail. Graphic is a popular bar in the area, known for its party atmosphere, so it’s sure to keep you smiling. Finally, best of all, you can then head over to one of London’s top clubs, GLM Night at 24 London, and receive free entry. Anyone who knows Central London clubbing will know that this is an exclusive party hotspot where the entry fee alone will cost you almost £20. I say, job done. That is, of course, if you can resist the urge to splurge on extra drinks… Now is the time to indulge in that alcohol-free diet you’ve been wanting to try for ages...

Credit crunch? What credit crunch?