The country may be in the depths of economic gloom after George Osborne unveiled his spending review last week, but the mood of austerity hasn't hit Michael Winner yet. In a full-page piece in today's Mail titled "Splash that cash!", the restaurant critic boasts of his lifestyle of luxury hotels and dinners at the Ritz – all despite being £9m in debt. Bon viveur Winner tells readers the best response to the crisis is to "spend, spend, spend". "You can't afford a private jet?" he writes. "Won't hold that against you. Just find some excess, something within your reach – and do it. Get over the caution barrier. Life is now. Live it to the very best of your ability. Stretch." Monkey hopes Winner's copy doesn't get anywhere near the personal finance pages soon.
