Finding the Bright Side to the Recession

May 12, 2009— -- The house is in foreclosure, layoffs have hit home and the checkbook is dangerously close to being in the red. But hey -- look at the bright side.

That's what Cheryl Richardson, author of "The Art of Extreme Self Care," advises couples to do instead of allowing the recession to sink them into a rut.

When Denise and Manuel Santana of Kissimmee, Fla., lost their jobs, they turned their free days into time well spent with their 4-year-old son. Both parents had been workaholics and spent little time with Danny.

But then Manuel Santana lost his job as a computer programmer and Denise Santana lost her translating job.

"Before I was without a job, I didn't see my son as much as I would have liked to," Manuel Santana said. "I feel blessed that we have this time to spend with Danny."

Now, the family said, he's able to take Danny to the bus stop.

"We're able to share more things together,"Denise Santana said, "He's so excited when Daddy's there to pick him or take him to the bus."

In Hamden, Conn., losing her job meant Andrea Espisito and her husband, Ron, had to get creative about romance. After Andrea lost her job as a manager at AT&T, the two realized they no longer had enough money for "date night" -- which meant no more expensive dinners, flowers or nights on the town.

Instead, they each made a list of five things the other person could do that wouldn't cost anything but would make them feel loved. Now they cook together. Or go for walks hand-in-hand by the water.

"I feel like a newlywed again! I know we're going to be married 25 years, but I feel like a newlywed again. We're closer than ever," Andrea said. "We're more connected than we've ever been. It's been the best thing probably for our marriage, not so much for our finances but for our marriage."