Here at FR2DAY, we aim to offer our readers an aspirational, upscale way of life that the Cote d'Azur is synonymous with. The best yachts, the most exciting supercars, the coolest bars and boutiques, the most sought after restaurants, the most discerning hotels -this is where you will find all the information you could ever possibly need to enjoy the high life on Cote d'Azur.

But in case you've just arrived back from a year-long spiritual sabbatical in Bhutan, you can't fail to have noticed that we are in the grip of a worldwide economic crisis, otherwise known as the Credit Crunch. Watch the TV headlines and weep. Jobs are being cut, retailers are going out of business and even the banks are going to the wall. It's looking mighty depressing out there.

There is nothing wrong with trading yesteryear's excessive and expensive lifestyle for a more humble let's-get-real existence. Everyone operates their own sliding scale on how best to tighten the money belt, whether it's eating out once a month instead of once a week, swapping NaturDis for ED or opting for World Traveller Plus instead of Club Class.

Turning your back on the fickle ‘spend now pay later' culture that we have embraced is the way forward, notwithstanding the fact that many of us no longer have a choice. I remember once arriving at a hotel in Lake Tahoe, California which came up a little short in the luxury stakes, to be confronted by my seven-year-old daughter and her best friend furiously demanding that we don't even bother to check in because it was such a dump. I shared their horror (and they had a point - the beer crate floating in the pool and the severed telephone cables in the room stick in my mind,) but I also found myself lecturing them on how spoilt they were. It wasn't their fault - our work hard, play hard ethos meant that they had only ever stayed in four and five star hotels. The same kids now rate their best holiday of all time as the rainy week we spent one July in Dorset, roughing it under canvas with no IPhone chargers, hair straighteners or soap in sight.

We're the product of circumstances but straightened circumstances are no barrier to enjoyment. Throwing a dinner party at home is just as much fun for all the guests as a night out at a fancy restaurant and packing a picnic and a bottle of chilled rosé to take to a remote and beautiful beach is every bit as rewarding, if not more so, than shelling out for parasols, sun loungers, bottles of Badoit and salads at a private wallet-emptying beach club.

Just to prove that Cannes doesn't have to be break-the-bank expensive here is our top pick of eateries that should leave you change from 50 euros for two.

Caveau 30, 45 Rue Félix Faure, Cannes Tel no. 04 93 39 06 33
Busy, bustling, half-terraced, half-indoor seafood specialty restaurant decorated in an Art Deco theme, with lots of gold on the walls but despite this, not gaudy or offensive. Service is fast and furious and there's lots of noise. The plus? No muzak in the background; just the hum of servers and diners. A great menu starts at 22 euros for three courses, with a good choice of meat and fish, a fantastic soup de poissons and copious desserts including isle flotant and chocolate mousse. The restaurant has a family friendly atmosphere and is a safe bet for the in-laws, located just opposite the old port.

La Pizza, 3 Quai St Pierre, Cannes Tel no. 04 93 39 22 56
If you love mozzarella and a more thick-ish crust for pizza, head for this family-friendly joint just west of the Old Port in Cannes. They do a mean aubergine pizza, big enough to feed an army for about 10 euros. Other mains on the menu include homey Italian numbers like breaded veal with marinara sauce, grilled chicken, salads, and entrecote steak. The service is a little cold at times but they get the job done and you will step out feeling as full as a pregnant rhino.

Caffe Roma, 1 Square Mérimée, Cannes Tel no. 04 93 38 05 04
If you like calamari, this is the place for lunch. Weekends get crowded so weekdays are best. They have a pan-fried calamari salad and also deep fried calamari with tartar sauce that is quite good. There's also great pasta at reasonable prices, it's always hot and there's enough on one plate to feed two. If you smile at the waiters when you walk in, they might serve you a few kirs with a little dish of olives as an aperitif. Lunch specials or formules can be a good deal too, with a choice of main and entrée or main and dessert. The last time I ate here, their lunch special was grilled sea bass with veggies and rice and a lovely raspberry cake to finish for around 17 euros. It's complemented by a good choice of Cotes de Provence wines.

Pizza Alba, 1 Allées Liberté, Cannes Tel no. 04 93 06 78 27
For thin-crust pizza, this is the place but their salads (like the grilled goat's cheese on farmer's baguette slices) are excellent too and always fresh. A great space outdoors for dining al-fresco. Not the best pasta but good grilled meat dishes. Lunch specials are an excellent deal and decent service is a plus. Pizza Alba is connected to the Palm Square restaurant and bar which is one level up on the dining scale and with African-animal-print-motif-interior. The dinner service is overpriced but there's a nice evening ambiance. Nicole Kidman was spotted here during the film festival two years ago.

Sushikan, 5 Rue Florian, Cannes Tel no. 04 93 39 86 13
The closest Cannes gets to the massively popular Yo Sushi! chain in the UK, Sushikan is a little gem at the back of Rue d'Antibes. The two Brazilian sushi chefs have worked in Sao Paulo and Lisbon creating nigiri, maki rolls, California rolls and salted edamame for the conveyor belt. The principal at Sushikan is the same - you help yourself to the dishes, which are colour coded according to price. A seat at the bar is best so you can pick and choose as the dishes trundle by. At 27 euros for lunch for two, it's hard to beat.

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