(BPT) – Social distance, remote work and shelter in place orders continue. As seasons change, the dropping temperatures drive more people indoors as well. Now that you’re spending more time at home, what can you do to make the most of it? Many people want to find fun at-home activities that are budget-friendly to help them enjoy the extra time being spent indoors. You can maximize your home time, strengthen your relationships and make memories together with these low-cost ideas.
Free TV: Shorter days mean longer nights for great movies, shows and so much more. Grab a blanket and cozy up with a new or favorite TV show together with the TiVo Stream 4K streaming player. Not only does the TiVo Stream 4K integrate all your favorite streaming services, but it also provides thousands of hours of movies, TV shows, sports, news and music via its free TiVo+ network. This fall, TiVo is celebrating an incredible breadth of free content including new and classic movies and TV shows, sports, news, Spanish-language and music channels. All you have to do is plug in your TiVo Stream 4K and select any of the more than 140 channels with thousands of hours of incredible entertainment. Sit back, relax and watch great TV for free. Learn more at www.tivo.com.
Board games: Whether it’s a classic board game from your childhood or a new release, family game night is tons of fun when you gather everyone around the table for some friendly competition. Remember Parcheesi? Aggravation? Mystery Date? You may have a collection of games you haven’t played in some time, but if not, shop online marketplaces for cheap used or nostalgic games to share with the next generation. Another option is to ask neighbors if they want to do a (sanitized!) game swap and trade for a few days or weeks so everyone can enjoy something new.
Movies: Plan a themed movie night with your family. With the TiVo Stream 4K, select from tens of thousands of free streaming and on-demand movies. Plus, you don’t have to waste time learning to navigate a new screen with every app. TiVo Stream 4K offers one centralized place for searching, browsing and creating watch lists across all your apps. Say you want to watch the latest action movie, but don’t know what platform it’s offered on; instead of searching within one app unsuccessfully then switching to another, TiVo Stream 4K searches all your favorite streaming platforms simultaneously.
Puzzles: Exercise your brain by tackling a puzzle together with your crew. Whether it’s a smaller 50-piece option with characters your kids love or a massive 1,000-piece elaborate lifestyle scene, it’s fun to converse and work on one as a team. If you’re ambitious and want something different, consider a 3D puzzle — you could build your own mini Taj Mahal or Eiffel Tower, transporting your imagination across the world from the comfort of your living room. Shop sales and used puzzles to save money, and support small-business owners by browsing the websites of your local bookstore, toy store and novelty shop for delivery or curbside pickup.
Free classes: Many organizations are offering free educational videos to engage people during the pandemic and beyond. Simply do a web search for “free” and the type of class you desire and you’ll find a plethora of options. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is just one organization offering online classes you can access 24/7, ranging from photography to fashion. Want to expand your kitchen skills? The Institute of Culinary Education is hosting free online cooking and baking classes via Zoom — all you have to do is sign up and get your ingredients! You’ll find many options that inspire your family to learn something new and enjoy their time at home.
Just because you’re at home this fall doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of it. Find some low- or no-cost activities using these ideas and you’ll discover just how fun being at home can be.