Free up your finances

6 January 2007

If you are feeling the pinch on your finances this month after an over-indulgent Christmas, check out our Top 10 ways to enjoy free entertainment in 2007.

1. Visit cultural attractions and use a great day out to expand your knowledge. Entry to Britain's best museums, including the V&A, the Science and Natural History museums, Tate Liverpool or the Lowry in Salford are absolutely free.

   Find out more on free museums .

2. Watch free films on Film 4 , one of the 40 channels available with Freeview. There’s no need to go to the cinema, just sit back and enjoy the great range of films available - from blockbuster movies to old-school classics, there’s something to suit everyone.
3. Mystery shop 'til you drop and get paid for it. From ‘testing’ out hotels to sampling restaurants and bars, mystery shopping is the perfect way to enjoy a night out, without any of the expense!
4. Enter competitions and the law of averages says you have to win something eventually. Whether it’s a trip to find some winter sun or a VIP night out to The BRITS in February, there’s heaps of ways to try your luck in 2007. Keep checking our website for regular competitions too.
5. Test drive a Porsche and feel like a millionaire for the day. If you have a clean driving licence, and the ability to pass as a potential buyer, visit your local Porsche dealer for more details.
6. Get a free hair cut and a new look for 2007. Volunteer as a hair model at the Toni & Guy or Vidal Sassoon academies or search the internet for information on free haircuts in a salon near where you live. You could even afford a few drinks afterwards to show off your new cut!
7. Walk or cycle to work and not only will you save some money, you’ll also increase your fitness levels. Here's more on commuting by bike from Sustrans .
8. Be a party host and earn some commission on the side. From Tupperware to make-up, party hosting is the perfect way to enjoy a social evening with friends and beat the winter blues.
9. Join a TV audience for top shows such as Never Mind the Buzzcocks, The Jonathan Ross Show and Tricia. Tickets are free – simply search the internet or look in your local paper for information on how to apply. Then sit back and enjoy being part of the show.
   BBC Tickets
   Channel 4 Tickets
   ITV Tickets
10. Enter a fun run for charity and get friends to sponsor you. Not only are they free to enter, but you’ll feel good physically afterwards and be doing your bit for charity.