10 Budget-Friendly Quarantine Activities For You And Your Family

With the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) and only the heavens know when this will be over, a lot of us are required to stay at home. I know, it’s a lot difficult, especially when our source of income is affected.

Lucky are those who are making money online though but for those who don’t, you can check my top-recommended ways to earn extra cash at home.

Meanwhile, it’s not always about the hustling and grinding; the best things in life are always free! So in this post, I’ll share with you the top 10 budget-friendly activities you can do at home for you and your family.

P.S. Most of which are FREE!

Top 10 Budget-Friendly Things to Do at Home With Kids
#1 Netflix And Chill

BECAUSE…

It’s at the top for many reasons and one is binge-watching! Although the monthly subscription costs around Php500, it’s worth your time. Imagine, you and your family can watch classic and new movies and TV series for less than a thousand.

Before, we used to go to ACA video -- a popular rental retailer before the era of Netflix, YouTube, and seeders. I forgot how much each VCD/DVD costs and although I miss those days, having Netflix is more convenient.

It covers a lot of genres and now, there are Korean and Filipino movies, too so I know how happy Koreanovela fans are.

As for recommendations, here are mine:

** I’m not sure what kind of genre you like so feel free to browse the streaming service. 

• The Big Bang Theory (watching it now for the second time!)
• F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
• How I Met Your Mother
• iZombie
• Good Girls
• The Good Place
• YOU
• Extraction
• Girl Boss
• Insatiable

#2 Read The Books You Bought From BBW

C’mon! How many books have you bought from the Big Bad Wolf? 1? 5? 10? How many of it have you not read yet?

Don’t worry, I won’t judge you. The latest BBW in Manila was last February 2020 and until now, out of 4 books I bought, I barely finished everything.

So this month of May, I vowed to read 2 books.

I bought these books, by the way:

You can do the same, too! And don’t forget to share your book recommendation below.

If you don’t have any books, I recommend that you download free e-Books online instead or choose a perfect alternative like a Podcast.

#3 Connect To Your Family And Friends… Virtually

Now that social distancing is practiced at all times, meeting friends and other family members are not possible.

Enter social media.

We might not be able to have a drink or eat with them but we can still connect and re-connect with many people and make our relationships stronger. I’ve seen a lot of friends meet via Zoom and Skype and it amazes me how technology can develop such bonds.

It’s also a great time to meet new people virtually. I’ve joined a lot of communities these past few months to enhance my skills and expertise with social media and insurance and not only did I meet wonderful people who helped me improve my skills and expertise, but I also made a few friends!

And you know what? You can do that, too! 

#4 Develop An Exercise Routine

Now that we know that “health is indeed wealth,” why not use this time to create a regular exercise routine that can help you achieve not only #BodyGoals but also increase your energy, stimulate metabolism, and improve strength.

Exercising has lots of benefits not only to the body but also to the mind.

However, I know the struggle of most moms -- both working at home and/or staying with the kids. Time is super limited, especially when you have a newborn; not to mention the energy left in your body.

So how do you resolve this?

My suggestion is to commit to a 10 to 12-minute workout you can do at home and try doing it at least thrice a week. You can also wake up an hour earlier than everyone and use this time to exercise and have coffee -- hot coffee in peace.

My favorite YouTuber for home workouts, by the way, is Blogilates.

#5 Have A Dance Party

Whether it’s TikTok, Zumba via YouTube, or simply playing tunes that would make you and your fam bust a move, having a dance party at home is one of the best and most affordable ways to make quarantine fun and exciting.

Do not forget to take a video and upload it on YouTube -- make it public, unlisted, or private, your choice -- and have a digital memory you’d love to keep.

#6 Camp At Home

In case you got a backyard or a rooftop, why not use it as a campsite for you and your kids. Otherwise, you can use a small tent and set it up in your room. Grab a few bedtime books, some puppets, or snacks you can enjoy.

In case you don’t have a tent, you can use an alternative, such as a blanket and a rope to hold it.

The key to making it fun, especially with little ones, is to use your imagination.

#7 Play Board Games

Oh, board games never get old. 

It’s one of the childhood things we have that saves us even until now that we’re over 20’s, 30’s, or even 50’s.

And guess what? Even our kids will love it, too. But of course, be sure to choose age-appropriate board games so everyone will not only have but also, will know how to do it.

For toddlers, it might be a bit complicated but you can refer to this link to learn the best board games for kids under 4 years old.

#8 Themed Lunch Or Dinner

Missed partying with friends and/or families?

Then why not party at home?

Set up a themed-dinner party and get your kids involved. It can be a Samgyupsal night, Pizza Night, Kid’s Cook night, etc.

Make it more fun by dressing up and cooking meals that you don’t usually serve.

On a tight budget?

Now that most of us have received relief goods, why not upgrade canned goods, such as sardines into gourmet. Just have fun and let your imagination run wild.

#9 Start A Passion Project

When you were a child, what’s your passion? Dancing? Singing? Writing a poem?

Whatever it is, try to go back to something you love and work on it again. 

It might not be easy at first but just have fun. Let your creativity flow and just do it for love.

No one’s stopping you. No one’s bossing around. Just let whatever activity you choose to tap your inner motivation and turn you, your body, and your mood into a better state.

#10 Take A Virtual Trip

Today, while writing this down, I’m also enjoying an island trip to Aruba. Oh yeah! The perks of having a laptop lifestyle… just kidding!

But seriously, a virtual tour to your dream place is one of the cheapest ways to enjoy getting safe at home. Open YouTube or visit Travel + Leisure to check out various virtual tours.

Not only will you satisfy your eyes, but you’ll also learn facts about different places.

See, having fun doesn’t necessarily mean spending a lot; some won’t even require you to spend a peso at all. Now that we’re on lockdown and most of us have no means of income, perhaps we know how valuable having a job and savings is so every peso counts.

Save it and protect it. 

And oh, if you want to learn more tips on making, saving, and protecting money, be sure to follow @femillionairemindset on Instagram. I can also offer a FREE financial plan to protect you and your family while saving for your dream vacation, child’s education, or retirement.

Cheers! 

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