Being in debt will often mean that people need to make many sacrifices to try to get as much money as possible to pay back their debts. At the CCCS we have been trying to think about ways to live on a tight budget but still have an active social life.

Here are a few of our ideas about ways to have fun but not break the bank:

• Cancel the Pub Trips – Instead of meeting mates down the pub you can save money by asking your pals round to your house for the night. The music will be better, the drinks will be cheaper and you won’t have to scour the streets late at night to find a taxi. You can also ask your mates to return the favour next time you are planning to meet up.

• The great outdoors – Get yourself closer to Mother Nature by enjoying the countryside. Pack up a picnic before you leave and all you will have to pay for is the transport costs. As well as being a thrifty day out, filling you lungs with all that fresh air will help put any money worries to the back of your mind.

• Ditch the gym – Gyms often charge huge amounts and hope that guilt will keep people paying long after they have stopped going to the gym. If you really are keen on getting fit then working out an exercise regime based on jogging outdoors and routines that you can do at home will save hundreds of pounds over a year. This way you can have a health body and healthy finances.

• Brew your own booze – Most of us like a drink from time to time, but the cost of alcohol can make it a guilty pleasure when there are debts to deal with. One way to keep the costs low is to start making your own drinks. Wine or beer making kits can be bought relatively cheaply and offer a great deal of satisfaction when you have perfected your ideal drink. Rhubarb wine anyone?

• Get Cultural – Many museums and art galleries do not charge for admission, and can be a great day out. Dust off your beret and soak up some culture.

• Library – Buying books in shops can soon add up to a lot of money, but borrowing books from your local library will cost you nothing and they usually have a much better selection of books to choose from. More trendy libraries will also have a CD or DVD lending schemes, though they usually charge a small fee for these.

If anyone out there has any ideas on how to have a good time on a budget please add your suggestions to our discussion board.