In demand - and loving it!

Never before in my life have so many women been calling me, craving my attention and hoping I'll say yes to their offers, writes blogger Dan Wainwright.

As a happily co-habiting man I'd almost be cursing my luck, wondering why these adoring letters and phone calls did not come years ago when my social life was as empty as the store room at Curry's after a day selling discount sat navs.

So I take a great deal of comfort in the knowledge that these telephone temptresses are only after one thing – my money. And not even in a good way. They all want me to sign up to digital TV, broadband, car insurance, a new mobile phone and even, in one absurd case, the same mobile I had already cancelled.

Now that we've all finally admitted we really are in a recession various companies are doing all they can to tie me into regularly parting with my salary via direct debit and strangely I am enjoying playing the field.

This morning's exchange with Sandip from BT could have sounded to someone listening at my end like I was breaking up with her.

"I'm sorry, I just can't commit to something like that now…I really don't think so, no… It all sounds great but I'm not really ready for something like that…"

Short of telling her "It's not you it's me" there really wasn't much else to say, I just didn't want a BT Vision box. Having lived in my house for 18 months all the contracts we signed when we first moved in – phone, electricity, etc, are coming to the end of their minimum periods and everyone wants us to renew.

But right now I feel a real power in being able to wave around my contract-free status and look around for something better.

If I see any attractive adverts for digital TV or a super fast broadband I almost feel a pang of guilt, as if I've been looking at women in Blast Off on a Saturday, before suddenly remembering that I've got no ties and nothing to be ashamed of.

If we are to have to contend with falling house prices, soaring unemployment and every other misery that comes with an economy going through a bust then at least I can enjoy knowing that every single time that bill drops on the door mat I can get up and leave whenever I want, without having to pay any penalties or find any tools to cut off the ball and chain.

It's like being single again, only without all the self-loathing, loneliness and microwave meals for one.