Across the country businesses are going bust, people are losing their jobs, families are losing their homes.

But let’s forget all that and turn our attention to more important knock-on effects of the credit crunch.

It’s bad, it’s terrible, its catastrophic – women are having to change their beauty regimes.

They are, says a survey, changing brands, choosing cheaper skincare products to cleanse, tone and moisturise.

Things have got so bad that 35 per cent of the 3,500 women aged 16 to 60 questioned for the research now spend less than £60 a month on their regime, when previously the average was between £170 and £300.

As if to reinforce this madness I’ve just been offered a ‘budge boosting’ serum three-pack for £35 – they normally sell for £85.

I’m shocked. Here’s me going for years – most of them fabulously affluent, when economic upturns were ten-a-penny and the Dow Jones was higher than Everest – spending absolutely NIL, I repeat NIL, on beauty products, and no-one’s any the wiser.

As far as I know, my skin hasn’t suffered from a lack of moisturising and exfoliation products. No-one has ever come up to me and said: “You’d look so much better if you splashed out on some Oil of Underlay or Crème de la Menthe. I’m not saying I’m often mistaken for a supermodel, but I’m nearly 48, and people often say "Really? I thought you were younger." Maybe they’re just being polite, but I put it down to my unique anti-ageing cleansing regime. It is simple, and it is free.

So for all you credit crunchers – here are my budget beauty tips.

l Seek out the famous elixir, the L’Eau de Jeune (Water of Youth), otherwise known as Yorkshire Water. Just splash a little on your face day and night – it cleans without clogging the pores like those expensive, greasy creams.

l If you enjoy a tipple, save a little red wine and pat that on your face – the antioxidant effect of a certain chemical can, apparently, reduce wrinkles. (Extra tip: avoid doing this before parents’ evening or the Neighbourhood Watch meeting).

l Get out into the garden – why pay for mud treatments when you’ve got your own spa?

l For a second-to-none exfoliation treatment, try a strip of Duck Tape. Your legs will be silky smooth. For more sensitive areas, a spot of masking tape will do.

l A used tea bag placed over the eyes refreshes you (Extra tip: wait for it to cool down first).

And if you’re unhappy with the results, you can spend the money you’ve saved pampering yourself on a fortnight’s break at a luxury spa in the Seychelles.