PERHAPS you have already noticed, but there s a bit of a recession washing over us at the moment and threatening to become a tidal wave. The credit crunch – I wonder how many people really know what that phrase means? I don t – is in full swing, it seems.

PERHAPS you have already noticed, but there's a bit of a recession washing over us at the moment and threatening to become a tidal wave.

The credit crunch - I wonder how many people really know what that phrase means? I don't - is in full swing, it seems.

So much so that according to one survey which has just been revealed, we as a nation are ditching luxuries and going back, in desperation by the sound of it, to the old World War II ways of living.

According to this latest piece of research, over 43 million Brits - which is an enormous proportion of the population - are taking measures to fight the dreaded credit crunch.

I can't say that I have noticed it myself but apparently some of us are now growing vegetables, mending clothes and hand washing in a bid to save money.

Over a third of a million of us - not me, though - have stopped going to the cinema and begun playing board games at home, which in itself could be a somewhat odd experience saving money while at the same time trying to become a Monopoly property baron worth a fortune.

The most popular cost-saving measure being employed by people is making a conscious effort to switch off lights and electrical equipment to save on power bills which is understandable given the rocketing, I would say near criminally, demands being made by the suppliers.

Close behind as a favourite way to save cash is to make use of special offers and money off vouchers when food shopping - but haven't people been doing that for years?

More talk about cutting down on buying takeaway food, reducing car journeys to save money on petrol, purchasing cheaper brand toiletries is all too depressing.

So it was heartening to get another press release which claimed a survey had shown that in this throw away society of ours, the British would rather buy new than reach for the needle and thread to sew on a button or repair a fallen hem. That's more like it, I thought.

Apparently, 89 per cent of people under 18 claimed their parents had not taught them these basic skills, so it's the fault of us grown-ups.

A staggering - the surveyors' word, not mine - 30 per cent of people questioned admitted to having an expensive shirt or pair of trousers sitting in their wardrobe for over three months simply needing a button sewn on while the lazy owners bought new ones.

I might say they are a lot of so and sos but I don't think that would be appropriate by the sound of it.

Instead, I will concentrate on beating off the recession tomorrow (Friday) which is the eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year of this millennium.

The Chinese believe the number eight to be linked with prosperity, wealth and good fortune - so come tomorrow, for the first time ever, I may buy a ticket for the Euro Millions draw. I won't be letting you know if my numbers come up.