A house is the building. A home is the house plus the people and the care inside it. Choosing a house is a management decision, not only a picture of a pretty building.
The idea
Families acquire a house by renting, buying, building, inheriting, or borrowing through a mortgage. Renting needs less money at the start and the landlord keeps the duty for major repairs, but the family can be asked to leave and the rent can rise. Building or buying gives more control and can be a store of value, and it ties up money the family might need for food and school. The choice should match income, the size of the family, the site, and how far the house is from work, school, water and a clinic. A house that is cheap and an hour from school may cost more in time and transport than the rent that was saved.
Ventilation is the movement of fresh air. Windows and vents on more than one wall let air cross the room. Poor ventilation leaves heat and damp, and damp encourages mould. Utilities are water, light and fuel. Water should be stored covered. Electricity needs safe wiring and a habit of switching off what is not in use. Charcoal and gas need air and a place away from children. Sanitation means refuse is covered and collected, and waste water does not stand in the compound. Common accidents are falls, burns, cuts and poisoning. Prevention is the first mark: wipe spills, keep knives and medicines out of reach, and turn pot handles in. First aid is the immediate help before a clinic: cool a small burn with clean water, press a cut to slow bleeding, and do not give a home mixture for poisoning. Send for medical help when the injury is serious. Do not invent a drug dose.
How to prepare for the Management in Living papers: the family, the house, a budget, and the test of practical work. Start practising on glearn.now with Kevin and Anna. WASSCE Management in Living tips