12 Ways To Celebrate Christmas In A Recession...RIGHT HERE in THE WORLD AROUND US!

Seen: The World Famous Costco Fruit Cake. MY HOT CHRISTMAS PICK FOR 2009!

By: Randy Economy

Last year, I spent Christmas living at the Cerritos Sheraton Hotel.

Our house had caught fire in June of ’08, so while the rebuilding was being completed our traditional Christmas celebrating at home was taken into a new direction. We didn’t have a Christmas tree last year, and all of our lights, decorations and many family heirlooms went up in flames six months earlier.

This year, I am back home and celebrating a new Christmas with a new tree, some new decorations and new hope for the future. Yep. I am starting to get into the true Spirit of the Season.

But, the recession has hit everyone hard this year, so I have created this handy local guide I’m calling “The 12 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays With Out Spending an Arm and a Leg.”

1. Try going “Green” this Christmas by cutting clutter around your house by rounding up unused gifts from previous years and calling the Salvation Army so they can use it for the less fortunate.

2. Go buy a couple dozen tamales from any small-family owned restaurant in Norwalk, Pico Rivera or in Hawaiian Gardens. My favorite tamale place is Marquez Restaurant in Norwalk located on Rosecrans Avenue just west of Carmenita Road. $10 to $15 a dozen and they melt in your mouth.  See pic below.

3. Get your family and friends together and watch Christmas favorites like “White Christmas” or “Miracle on 34th Street” with hot chocolate and home made cookies.

4. Go Caroling, singing off-key is okay this time of year. We have already had 3 groups of singers hit our hood here, and it’s a blast watching everyone in the spirit.

5. Go for a drive over to the Houston Avenue area in La Palma and see the amazing home lights that are the “best in town.”

6. We live in the most ethnically rich and diverse community in America, so let’s make this year about learning how our neighbors celebrate Christmas. Visit Little India in Artesia and see the magic of the season with some delicious sweet treats. $20 and your palate will say “thank you, very much!”

7. Sign up and volunteer to decorate the City of Cerritos Rose Parade Float during the week of Christmas and New Years. Everyone needs to do this at least “once” in their lifetime and you will be amazed the wonderment of this tradition.

8. Spend one evening calling 10 people you haven’t talked to all year long, to share a moment with them to catch up on their lives. You will be amazed how fun it is to surprise someone you haven’t talked for such a long time voice to voice.

9. Take part in a “Secret Santa” program at your local Senior Center or go volunteer or help serve lunch or dinner anyone of the dozens of local nursing homes.

10. Start a Christmas-themed puzzle table somewhere in your home. It’s amazing how much fun you can have with special friends while working a puzzle.

, 11. Bake cookies. Lots of them and take them to your neighbors and favorite friends. Don’t hold back. Get crazy and have your kids do all the decorating.

12. Go buy the World Famous Costco Traditional Fruit Cake and eat yourself into a sugar coma. It weighs 3.49 pounds, costs around $12 bucks and will make you forget all your worries and will make you feel like a million bucks. This is “not your Grandmother’s Fruit Cake.” This is a slice of heaven…trust me!

So what ever you do, and how ever you celebrate this time of year, remember the true meaning of the Season. It’s about love and giving your time and being with those we care about most!

Ho Ho Ho!