As if the first day of week wasn't bad enough normally, next week it's Blue Monday - the baddest, bleakest day of the year.

The tag line was made up in 2005 by Sky Travel, which declared the third Monday of the year to be the most dismal date going using a formula based on such things as bad weather, bills and failing New Year’s resolutions.

Our top tip is to book the day off and stay in bed all day, but if it's too depressing to be using your holiday allocation in January, look on the bright side of life and forget Blue Monday with these cheap and cheerful ideas...

Bounce away the blues

If you've spent January bouncing off the walls at home in a bid to save cash. Here's something that's not too expensive, energetic and just plain fun. Trampoline park Gravity opened in the Lockmeadow complex in Barker Road, Maidstone last month and has been a huge success with kids and adults. The wall-to-wall trampolines are a real laugh and if you're not too out of breath there's also areas for dodgeball and basketball. More info at www.gravity-uk.com

Raise a smile in the office

Granted, a farting pen holder isn't particularly sophisticated, but it sure is amusing! The pen itself is much like one you'd find in a bank, a simple contraption attached to a base with a chain. An ordinary pen with an ordinary chain. Yet look at the base and you'll soon be chortling into your book. Shaped like buttocks, the pen slides right on into the middle and when it enters the rump a large farting noise emits. It costs £9.95 from www.prezzybox.com

Speaking of laughs

Annoy everyone around you by only speaking to them through this tiny voice changer on Blue Monday. It comes with four different tones and you just operate it by pushing the switch along to your chosen voice and speaking through it. It's loud enough that everyone in the pub will be able to hear you order a drink (we vote for requesting a flaming sambuca in an alien voice), but it is also small enough to hide when the kids demand you hand it over. The World's Smallest Voice Changer costs £6.45 from www.geniegadgets.com

Munch and be happy

Eat your way to happiness on Blue Monday. Restaurants around the county are offering to turn that frown upside down with a number of Blue Monday deals. Among the best are 50% off the food bill at the Slug and Lettuce in Tonbridge plus 25% off on Mondays at Frankie and Benny's when you register at www.frankieandbennys.com. Of course, there's also the usual Mexican Monday deals to be had at various Wetherspoons across the county too.

Dine, drink and laugh

If you've missed out on tickets to funnyman Ross Noble's sold out gig in Maidstone on Monday don't fret - there's still time to book a fun night out. Basil, Sybil and Manuel will be bringing the Faulty Towers Dining Experience back to the county on Monday and there's still a few tables free. The globetrotting show will be at Canterbury's Gulbenkian Theatre, expect shambolic service, Seventies cuisine and plenty of belly laughs. Book at www.thegulbenkian.co.uk

Roll out some toilet humour

If someone gave you a toilet mat as a present, you may well feel a little underwhelmed, but if they gave you this one you'd definitely sing a song of appreciation. While you take a seat, you can play a ditty or two on the piano in front of you. It comes with a songbook so if you're going to be a while, you can multi-task and learn a few tunes while you're 'busy'. The Potty Piano cost £17.99 from www.findmeagift.co.uk

Download an app

Harry Hill's Doctor Doctor Jokes may not be a new app, but it will certainly brighten up Blue Monday. Hear the Kent comedian tell you a joke simply by tapping the screen. Shake your phone to get more jokes and if you want to join in the fun, you can add some sound effects too. Free from iTunes