FUN GAMES TO PLAY DURING SCHOOL BREAK

 

School break had just started for most students and is yet to start for some, especially those from public schools. However, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has already declared that the Philippines is now in the rainy season. Thus, swimming on the beach or hiking might become extra challenging for students, groups of friends, and/or families who are planning their school break. 

Also, there is still the pandemic going on, although the confirmed cases have started to drop for most cities that are now implementing lighter restrictions. However, we do not want another surge to happen. So, if you are a homebody or a converted homebody due to the lockdowns, here are some fun online games that you can play while spending your school break at home.

Word Search

Daily Online Word Search Puzzle Video Game, is a no-brainer game, but it would definitely need those keen eyes. This game can be played solo or with family and friends. You can have some friendly competitions on who finds the words the fastest or who finds the most words on the puzzle board.

Minesweeper

Of course, we have in our list the classic Minesweeper. To be honest, I don't know how to play this game. I just click a square tile randomly and hope I don't get those spiky bombs. Then, I pretended to be an expert by just randomly flagging some squares as if they were fancy decorations on the game board. (LOL).

Even if I don't really know how to play this game, I still enjoy it. I love the feeling of being able to avoid bombs without having to use a lot of brain cells. 

Sokoban

This game keeps your brain working. Daily Sokoban Logic Puzzle Video Game is a classic box or crate pushing puzzle game wherein you try to place them in specified or marked locations. You may have played a similar game before on your good old Nokia phone. This game will test your strategic thinking skills as you will be required to use your brain cells in moving the crates strategically to avoid a dead-end and push them to their correct placements. This is indeed a good brain exercise while you are not in school.

Same Game

Daily Same Game Stone Breaker Logic Puzzle Video Game is somewhat similar to the computer game – QBz. The goal of the game is to clear the board by clicking the squares with the same color that are adjacent or connected to each other. You can be strategic in choosing a square/s to break or you can just click randomly. It is really up to you as long as you are having fun.

Have Fun!

You may feel a bit bored while staying at home during school breaks so playing games is one of the best options. However, do not just do this just because you are bored, you can do this to sharpen your brains while you are not in school. A simple Solitaire game will help keep your brain working.

Moreover, playing these games can be a good opportunity to have fun and connect with family and friends. Games are fun to play if it is shared with a family member or a friend.

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Renting Vs Buying a House: What's Best for You?

Making housing decisions requires careful consideration especially since it can affect a great impact on our finances. A lot of couples would want to rent a house, others would also opt to buy one. Whatever it is, renting or buying a house depends entirely on the individual’s lifestyle. 

In many cases, contrary to conventional wisdom and societal pressure, renting can be a better option than owning. However, for some buying a house is something that they can have for a sense of stability and pride. 

However, before you decide whether to rent or buy, you need to consider your budget. Write down your financial and saving goals and see if you have enough money for your housing goals. Make sure that you don’t spend all your money on housing alone, but you still have enough to spend for other family needs and save for retirement.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you weigh the benefit of renting against the benefits of owning and see which is a better fit for you.

Renting a House

One of the benefits of renting a house is there are no maintenance costs. Although you may not be able to personalize the house design, your landlord is generally the one who is in charge of repairs. Here in the Philippines, the maintenance costs are shouldered by the landlord and are deducted from the monthly rent. 

Moreover, if you are renting a house, down payments are less compared to buying. Most landlords would require a one-month advance pay and a one-month security deposit. These deposits are returned to you when you moved out, provided that you haven’t made major damages to the property you are renting.

If you plan to move from one place to another or change jobs in the future, renting is a better option for you as it is easier for you to relocate. However, this would also mean that you can be evicted any time when the landlord decides to sell or use the property. 

Lastly, if you are renting you will be able to plan your finances wisely as you will only have to pay for a fixed monthly rent. Although your rent might increase the following year, you still have the opportunity to budget your money wisely. 

Buying a House

Buying a house can be the best investment you can make in your entire lifetime. Although the process of owning one can be challenging, the many benefits you can have can be worthwhile. 

When you buy a house, you are building equity for your home and potentially see your home appreciate its value. This means you can increase your personal wealth and use the resources for your other needs.

Moreover, buying a house gives you living security. Compared to renting, you may eventually be evicted by the landlord at any given time, while owning one gives you security because you own the house. Also, you have the freedom to make decisions about the look and design of your living space.

Owning a house comes with a lot of expenses, like mortgage payments and rates, taxes, and many others. However, you can still have control over these expenses by estimating payments of your mortgages as well as other expenses. You may also opt to get a fixed home loan so you can manage your finances wisely.

What’s Best for You?

The decision is totally up to you. The decision basically depends on your lifestyle and most of all your financial situation. After all, renting or buying a house is a financial commitment that requires you to plan ahead.

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