"How to Celebrate Christmas on a City Year Budget"

1)      Enjoy the city lights.

Drive and stroll around and see all the pretty decorations and twinkling lights on the road.  No need to hang your own!

How lovely are thy branches

2)      Decorate with things you find around the house.

First, voluntarily in-kind green and red paper from your local school.  Next, cut out a tree shape from the green and make a long paper chain from the remaining paper.  Use the Usher head that has been lying around the house for 4 months to make an Elf.  Don’t forget to decorate the tree with bottle caps and lids from the recycling bin!

3)      Listen freely to the sounds of the season.

Check the newspapers because you might find some free entertainment like the caroling along the river!  Grab some hot cider from the generous people at the Riverwalk Park and walk along the sidewalk lit by luminaries.  Along the way, listen to local singers and other musicians as they serenade you with popular Christmas carols.  Don’t miss the Sugarloaf Mountain Boys as they play the country version of “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer.”

Next, visit your local elementary school again for some superb singing.  Bring your elf hats and meet Santa at the end!  Be careful because Santa likes to throw candy canes into large crowds of children, and they tend to swarm.

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

4)      Secret Santa and Potluck it up.

Save those food stamps to buy or make some delicious treats to bring to the Corps Christmas bash.  Buy or make a gift for that secret Corps member, but don't go over $5!  City Year the Board Game and coal in a stocking are some of the best gifts to give.  Here's a tip: (sshh don't tell everyone) You can get a gingerbread house kit with your food stamps!  Find some nice holiday apparel to show your spirit (elf hats from the generous teachers from your school are your best bet). Don't forget to download Christmas music from Youtube for free and set the playlist on shuffle.  The greatest hit will be the Christmas Can-Can!

Song of the day: "The 12 Days of Christmas" by Straight No Chaser