Never be afraid to turn down an invitation if you can’t afford it. There are few things more tedious than dividing a bill according to who ate and drank what. These days, I tend to focus my diary towards entertaining at home – partly because of penury and partly because I am too lazy to negotiate transport and too old to shout over a crowded bar. Bah humbug.

However, when the spring occasionally returns to my step, I do love www.toptable.co.uk for their ever-growing list of hot offers. Also, for the sake of financial prudence, I’ve had to eschew my beloved cocktails and stick to champagne. Life is full of sacrifices! Seriously, when the average London cocktail pushes double digits and a bottle of champagne is £40, you’re making a saving of a third. On the same principle, a bottle of OK wine works out to be even cheaper.

The best deals tend to be off-peak. Happy hours, Monday movie nights, Orange Wednesday cinema tickets and half-price dining can make going-out much more affordable. And as Martha Lane Fox discovered, there is much to be gained from being last minute about your plans. Theatres often sell tickets at half price on the day of production – the half price ticket booth on Leicester Square is the best for this, although there are bargain shows that allow forward booking on the said lady’s ex-website. Also, it’s not just your plans that are last minute. Unforeseen circumstances sometimes result in the sudden appearance of tickets for that sold-out festival or concert – check out Gumtree, Loot, Craigslist or eBay for tickets that can go for less than face value.

So, if you’re the type to go with the flow, start being proactive. Hunt out the good deals and rally up the troops. Your friends will be indebted to you.