As Filipinos, we naturally want to open our homes to host intimate (and not-so-intimate) get-togethers with our loved ones — especially now as the holiday season approaches. However, hosting a dinner or party can feel daunting if you’re looking at the potential price tag. But don’t fret. We got you! 

Here is our tito and tita-approved guide to hosting on a budget.

Keep It Simple

No one ever said hosting events has to have fiesta-levels of bongga all the time. More often than not, your friends and family are looking forward to the great company, so it’s more than okay if your get-together is simple. 

But that doesn’t mean you can’t add a bit of razzle dazzle to your event! Ditch the grand centerpieces and go for minimal yet impactful decorations. Depending on your vibe for the day/night, you can add small touches like customized name cards for your table setting, a small selfie station, flowers, or fairy lights to liven up the place. 

To add more sass to your house party, you can also add unique flair by making signature cocktails and naming them for your event. Or, if you want to be a little extra, you can add some simple party favors for your guests to take home — maybe something like custom wine glasses with your guests’ names. 

These seemingly small things can make your get-together feel more thoughtful, put-together, and memorable without buying extravagant decorations.

Ensure You Have Enough Tableware

It goes without saying, but it’s always good to triple-check if you have enough tableware for your guests. If you’re not so keen on cleaning afterward, you can always stock up on paper plates and plastic silverware that you can easily throw away. Plus, having plenty of disposables can help you prepare for more upcoming parties. Believe us when we say: magagamit mo rin ‘yan sooner rather than later.

But if you’re feeling a little fancy, you can invest in high-quality tableware that serves as your main decor for the night. Kapitbahay Jao’s gorgeous, artistic table setting is the perfect example of letting your tableware do the talking.

If you’re not looking for something bold, Jao also posted another great setup, utilizing colorful plates, dishes, and goblets for a perfectly mismatched look, which is great for celebrating the holiday season with its vibrant colors or just for giving your friends and family a visual treat while they eat.

The best part about investing in tableware? You’ll always have a beautiful set to present to guests whenever you host. 

Use What You Already Have

You can do plenty of things to host a fun party with stuff you already have around the house. After all, sariling sikap is the way to go! You can focus on some fun themes, like board games or karaoke, to better understand what you can use (and what you want to add). 

Game Nights

Hosting a game night is a cute idea for those who love to play and is a great way to entertain while on tipid-mode. This party idea is perfect if you already have plenty of fun, multiplayer video games, board games, or drinking games (for legal adults, of course). You can even download multiplayer games on your phone, like Heads Up, Among Us, and more. You can also ask your guests to bring some of their favorite games and extra controllers to add to the fun. The more, the merrier!

Plus, since you’ll mainly be playing the whole time, you can focus on serving snacks and pulutan.

Watch a Movie

A movie night might do the trick if you want a mellow hohol (hangout-hangout lang) with friends. Simply set up your TV, grab some blankets and pillows, and you’re all set. Or, if you don’t have a TV in your living room or think your unit may be too small for larger groups, you can try using a projector for that big-screen experience.

Kapitbahay Joseph recommends the WANBO X1 Pro projector — kitang-kita for everyone in the room! 

Aside from that, you can even have more movie night vibes by giving everyone their servings of popcorn. You can do it theater-style with paper bags or take it further with this snack cup shared by Kapitbahay Fahrah.

Sobrang cute! This cup holds your snacks in the top compartment, stacking onto a drink holder for the perfect movie-watching experience. 

Do Some Karaoke

Who says you need to go to a KTV to sing your heart out? These days, it’s so easy to host karaoke nights at home. All you need is a TV or projector (or even just a phone!), YouTube, and a mic.

Another great find from Kapitbahay Fahrah is this portable microphone and speaker set. You only need to link it up with your phone, smart TV, tablet, or computer with Bluetooth to get an instant karaoke set!

“Fancy” Dinners

Want to do something on the fancier side without the splurge? You can still achieve that classy, fancy feel with simple things you can do at home! 

You can print out cute invitations, customized name cards for your table settings, and even the evening’s menu for that high-end restaurant vibe. You can also set the mood with candles, lights, and a curated Spotify playlist.

Kapitbahay Candelene posted this gorgeous galaxy projector — perfect for enjoying drinks and late-night muni-muni. As Candeline says, “Lakas maka senti!”

Catch-Up Sesh

Another trendy party idea is to host a very corporate-Tito/Tita-coded presentation night, where each of you will present a slideshow wrapping up the updates you may have missed since the last time you saw them. Simple yet cute and quirky, this idea is perfect for friends who haven’t seen each other in a long time. 

Plus, you only need your computer hooked to your TV or projector! Throw in some wine and good food, and you have your party planned. 

When In Doubt, Potluck It Out

Need help determining what (and how much) to serve? Are you worried about the cost of food? The answer is simple: potluck! Ask your guests to bring yummy food and drinks. That way, you’ll have more options while saving yourself the effort of making or buying all the handa yourself. 

You can set out a self-serve snack and drink bar to keep the back-and-forth of “Do you have any more chips?” to a minimum. 

You can also consider assigning guests what kind of food or drinks you’d like them to bring to ensure you have covered all your bases. But if you want to have a little more fun, ask your guests to bring food that starts with the letter of their name. This activity in itself is entertainment; just take it from TikTok!

Prepare for Impromptu Sleepovers

Some parties inevitably last until the wee hours of the morning. In that case, it’s good to be prepared for any sudden sleepover requests (let’s face it; we all have that one friend) by having an extra mattress or couch, spare linens, and pillows ready. You’ll be hailed “super host” in no time! 

Do you have any more tipid tips for hosting? Let us know on our Facebook group!