8 fun and cheap ways to enjoy the sembreak

MANILA, Philippines – Excited about your semester break but can’t think of ways to enjoy it without getting broke? Here are 8 ideas that you can try out for yourself.

Ah, sembreak. That lovely breath of fresh air that you get in between the stress of school or work and the stress of buying gifts for Christmas. It’s that special week that can help you relax, internalize your energy, and make you feel whole again.

Now that sembreak is getting nearer and nearer, you’re getting more pressured, aren’t you? Should you book a 3-day out-of-town trip? But it’s the overstaying rainy season and you’re broke!

How about a 3-day stay at a fine and classy hotel? But it’s tourist season and you’re broke!

Okay, okay, why don’t you try attending a concert by an international artist instead? But tickets are sold out and you’re broke!

What are you supposed to do, then? Just stay at home, go on Facebook and like all your friends’ vacation pictures (even though secretly, you’re displeased and you want to momentarily block their status updates)?

Never fear, Rappler is here. Don’t let the lack of money stop you from having fun.

1. Play a new sport.

Now’s the time for you to get those muscles moving and those abs aching. You want to get fit right now because come Christmas time, you’re going to put on a lot of weight. Try a sport with equipment  that you can easily borrow or rent cheaply. Badminton or volleyball are popular choices for this one. (You can also do swimming if you know someone who’s willing to lend you his pool.)

2. Learn the art of people-watching.

We’re not suggesting that you stalk people. Just have fun and observe how people talk, dress, and act, and try to think of ways to explain why they act that way. Grab a friend, go to a coffee shop and people-watch the whole day.

• Wear an earphone with no music on and look busy. You can overhear interesting and juicy conversations this way.
• Match-make people in your imagination.
• Pretend that you’re making a novel and create a back story for everyone around you. What are their names? Where were they born? What kind of family did they have as children? What’s their personality like? What do they do for a living?

3. Do karaoke.

Rent a karaoke and invite your friends over. Ask them to bring chips and juice (or, you know, diet softdrinks, if you’re man enough). Sing silly songs, sing sad songs, sing sexy songs! Just make sure to turn the volume to a reasonable level. You don’t want cops to knock on your door, now, do you?

4. Read a book. Lots and lots of books.

Go to your local library and spend the rest of your day there while reading books.

If you don’t like this option because your library doesn’t have the latest bestsellers yet, just go to a large bookstore which offers comfy chairs, get the book you’re looking for and read it carefully. Treat it as fragile – if you damage it, you buy it! You can always put it back and buy something cheap (like a pen or an eraser) to ease your conscience.

5. Play board games outdoors.

You can always take your Scrabble or Snakes ‘N Ladders board games and play them in public places. Try coffee shops, a public park, or a mall’s lounge area. To make things more challenging and interesting, the loser has to do something embarrassing like:

• Make his Goofy or Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse impression while asking a stranger the time.
• Dance a 7-second “Oppa Gangnam” style in public.
• Or ask someone a vague question like “Hi. Do you know where I can buy a scissor-shaped pretzel?” Or “Angelina or Jennifer?”

6. Do a garage sale.

This one’s amazing because you can actually make this an opportunity to increase your emergency fund. You can also use your profit to start an investment account!

Spend the whole day cleaning your closet and box the items you plan to sell. You can even invite your friends to sell with you.

Hand out free juice and home-made cookies to get people interested. Play an upbeat tune and people-watch while waiting for buyers as well!

7. Have a picnic at a nice, free, and refreshing park near you.

A picnic is a no-brainer. It’s easy to do too. Just bring your friend, make some cookies, bring juice, cook a pasta dish, and bring a book and a picnic cloth (or sit on a newspaper) and you’re all set!

If you’re feeling a bit generous, you can even order take-out from a fastfood restaurant and eat it at the park.

8. Volunteer in nonprofit organizations whose values matter to you.

Into health care? Contact your local Red Cross and ask how you can donate your time helping out people in need.

Love children? Try your hand at World Vision and donate your time and energy to securing better lives for them.

Into Filipino empowerment? Join the Exempli Gratia Foundation and help Filipinos get better education and skills to empower them to better their lives for themselves and for their families.

Learn to enjoy the little things in life. Have fun without breaking your bank account. You don’t need a million-peso bank account or a fancy condo to enjoy yourself.

Sometimes, the simple things in life can be the most significant life experiences. The number of trips you’ve been to doesn’t really count. It’s the number of lives you’ve touched that really matter. – Rappler.com

 

You can also read:

• 5 questions to ask yourself before freelancing
• 5 signs you’re going broke
• 5 ‘money lies’ you should stop telling yourself by age 30
• 20 tips to survive your 20s
• 10 things to know to build your rainy day fund
• 6 things to do right now to retire
• 5 reasons to stop being a people pleaser
• 5 things lovers and investments have in common
• 7 daring ways to pursue your passion
• 5 money mistakes 20-somethings should avoid
• 13 money resolutions for 20-somethings this 2013

 

 

Lianne Martha Laroya is a financial advisor. She’s also the founder of The Wise Living, a website dedicated to guiding people on money management and early investing without boring you to tears. Get your FREE copy of her basic personal finance book for 20-somethings. Connect with her on Twitter, @MsLianneLaroya

 

 

Young woman reading in hammock photo from Shutterstock