When former Playmate Jeana wonders – aloud – how she’s gonna scrounge up $2,000 to get her kid’s car fixed, you know that this ain’t your typical O.C. moment. Over the years, we’ve watched the buxom brunette drop more than that on doggie treats, but now that her mega-realtor income is down by two thirds, things are a little different around the 9,000-square-foot Keough house.

Yep, hard times have befallen most of the Coto clan, as we found out in last week’s season opener of The Real Housewives of Orange County.

As recently as last year, money flowed as abundantly as insults for this Botoxed bunch, but what a difference a few months have made:

In a Freudian field day, Gretchen‘s trying to unload some stuff from the past by having a garage sale with new beau Slade (yes, that Slade), while Tamra and her doormat, er husband, Simon are bickering over bills and, of course, Lynne and her spoiled spawn have been booted from their pied a terre.

Only vicious Vicki seems impervious to the economic woes sweeping the silicone sisters and, even more amazingly, she and Don seem to be filling each other’s love tanks again. EW.

Times may be tough on the Gold Coast, but nothing’s tougher than the time Tamra’s giving Gretchen about having a “horrible, horrible reputation.” “I want to be around wholesome people who take care of their families and have jobs for a living instead of preying on old men,” proclaims Tamra. The unemployed Tamra. The unemployed Tamra whose husband had chastised her earlier for making inappropriate remarks at her kids’ party.

Maybe it’s all the financial stress that’s bringing out the worst in Tamra, but when she confides to Vicki that her family’s “going to move,” I could’ve sworn I saw her face move as she barely managed to hold it together. “We owe more on our house than what it’s worth,” she sniffled.

Workhorse Vicki, her alleged BFF, feigns sympathy, but can’t wait to tell the camera that Tamara “just needs to get a job,” on the heels of her season premiere gossip about Jeana asking her for a loan. Is it any wonder we love – to hate – Vicki?

Back to Jeana, maybe Tamra can take a page from her book: Jeana says she is “willing to do whatever it takes,” to scare up some cash, which in this case means liquidating a few of her cars and watches. Sadly, she’s also leaving the show to focus on her real estate business; next week’s episode is her finale one, after five years of RH servitude.

Meanwhile, with all the moaning about finances, I almost forgot I was watching Orange County denizens in action, until Lynne and her dropout daughter spent the afternoon at the plastic surgeon’s office contemplating procedures so they can be, as the doctor tells them, in “Mother/Daughter recovery.”

“Last year for my birthday I got a BMW, and this year I’m going to get a nose job,” giggles Raquel who, frankly, could benefit a helluva lot more from some real housewives parenting.

But, hey, what do I know? I’m from New York.

What do you think of the O.C. Housewives so far this season?