Kim Claudette M. Caringal

10 Fun Things to Do with Friends from Home Budget-Friendly Games & Activities for Quality Bonding Time Who doesn’t love a fun night out with your closest friends? With current events in the world though, it may not be completely practical to let things go too far. Now more than ever, we know how much value there is to the dollar. And as the market keeps getting crazier and more complicated, we've had to come up with crafty ways to spend our money wisely. Otherwise, you might find yourself in debt for a bunch of stuff you don't even really need. Worse, you might not make enough for rent or your bills! These are all very important things to keep in mind, of course. But it's also equally important to make sure you take care of your emotional and social health. That means making sure you get some time to yourself and with your loved ones, especially your circle of friends. Because of that, we give you a list of 10 fun things to do with friends from home! From movie marathons to virtual museum tours and concert streaming, we’ll make sure you get all the quality bonding time you need. You won’t even need to get up off your couch! #1 Netflix Party - Binge Watch a New TV Show or Movie! Who says you can only have movie nights with your friends in one place? With this fantastic Chrome extension, you can have a Netflix Party anytime, any day with your friends! It’s finally time to catch up on that TV series you’ve been meaning to watch. Seen the final season of How to Get Away with Murder yet? Want to stream the newly released episode of Supergirl or Umbrella Academy with your friends? Thinking of binging the entire ten seasons of F.R.I.E.N.D.S. or all 60 episodes of Game of Thrones? You can also buy a miniature movie projector to maximize the movie theater experience in your living room. Here’s a DIY version if you don’t have the budget for it right now. Not sure what to watch? Here’s a great list of classic films you can choose from! #2 Multiplayer Video Games This is probably the most obvious one yet! But you’d be surprised how many people forget that this classic pastime is also a handy way to keep in touch with your friends. Some great games you can try out with your friends are in this list below. Animal Crossing: New Horizons Counter-Strike: Global Offensive League of Legends Minecraft Call of Duty Skyrim Fortnite Grand Theft Auto Check which games you and your friends have in common, plug in your PC and headphones, and play away! #3 Digital Trips to Museums, Parks, Arts and Theater Spots! We’re sure that at one point or another, you and your friends have talked about going on a tour to one of your city’s cultural spots. Whether it’s a museum or a theater show, you’ll finally be able to make good on your plans without having to leave the house! You can also use your mini projector to make the experience even more authentic. Check these links below to see which national parks, opera houses, and other cultural spots offer virtual tours: Museums (including the Metropolitan Museum and the Museum of Natural History!) Metropolitan Opera Sydney Opera House Theater Shows (including classics like Jekyll & Hyde, King Lear and Macbeth!) Connect with your friends through Zoom, Google Hangouts or Marco Polo and enjoy! #4 Tour the World From Right at Home! Travel around the world without ever having to leave your couch! You just need a laptop or desktop computer, a good internet connection, and friends to share the experience with. From France, Rome and London to Thailand, Japan and South Korea, you can go tour the world from right at home! Check out this list of places you can visit and do tourist-y things in from Travel and Leisure! #5 PowerPoint Party This has been a going trend lately especially with friend groups who have not seen each other in a while. And of course, they want to do it in a fun way. So people on the internet have come up with a great way to catch up with your friends – PowerPoint Party! Alternatively - you can just do a 3-minute PPT presentation about any topic you like! #6 Virtual Night Out You won’t ever have to go out to go drinking anymore! You can make an entire night of it by doing several drinking games like Never Have I Ever. You could even stream a concert to watch with your friends. You’ll finally be able to attend that artist’s or band’s concert you’ve been meaning to go to, right in the comfort of your home! You can also enjoy a nice dinner in by eating and chatting like you would if you were dining out in a restaurant. Whether you’re just having a classic grilled cheese or a full-on happy hour, it will feel great to share a meal with your pals again. #7 Digital Karaoke Night If you aren’t fond of dancing but love music anyway, then it’s probably time for a karaoke night! Use YouTube channels like Sing Sing Karaoke and Sing2Piano for great backing tracks to your favorite songs. Just share your screen and mute everyone else’s mic and take the stage with your singing prowess! #8 Online Game Nights If none of you are avid gamers but like to have some friendly competition once in a while, you’re probably fond of game nights! Here’s a handy spreadsheet of stay at home games you can play with your friends over the internet! You can even play some classic parlor and card games while on a video call with your friends. These include classics like charades, Bring Me, Name That Tune, and more. You can even make your own custom card game to suit your style! Some great multiplayer games that have an online version are the following: Dungeons & Dragons Monopoly Words With Friends (virtual Scrabble) Cards Against Humanity Battleship Skribbl (virtual Pictionary) UNO Exploding Kittens #9 Streaming Party Swap your favorite playlists and albums with your friends and get to know each other’s music tastes! It’s a great way to get to know each other more, and a fun way to expand your music library too. Listened to the hottest pop album yet? Heard your favorite band’s new single yet? Now’s the time to do it! #10 Get Creative with Your Daily Check-Ins Share something that made you laugh. Share something that happened with your roommate (good or bad). Share something new you did today. Alternatively - you can start planning that big reunion date you’ve been planning for months now! You don’t have to put a pin on the date just yet. But it’s a good time to throw ideas around on where to go and what to do anyway. BONUS: Just Hang Out! If you can’t think of anything to do, don’t worry! Nothing beats a chill day with your buddies just lounging around and catching up with each other, right? You don’t always need to make sure your pals are entertained. Trust us, just getting to relax and spend some time together is all the fun you guys need. For more information on home and life management, check these out. If you want to take classes or get certified as an expert on home upgrades and DIY fixes, here are the sites for you! Home Improvement Experts Penn Foster Career School Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education