How to be a great host on a budget

Hosting friends, family, colleagues, and small get-togethers can be stressful that some people opt to never do it. But when you really want to have some people over, it doesn't have to be the conventional way.

Here are some tips that can help you have a great time with any company over at yours.

Invite people you like

Set boundaries with your invites because the last thing you want is someone making you uncomfortable in your home or at your party. If it's at your place, invite people you genuinely like and want to come. In any other setting, you can make exceptions.

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Snack up

Forget food and drinks, and buy some snacks. Preparing food for a number of people and running around doing errands can add strain to the hosting experience. Instead of enjoying the company you are likely to turn into a mother hen making sure everyone is extremely comfortable. Not to mention the huge mess afterward which calls for cleaning.

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Timing

Get your timing right. Sometimes it can be a spontaneous thing and other times it's a plan, but try to get the timing right. The afternoon and evening are typical get-together times. You can also host around the end of the month! Why the end of the month? This is the time you are most likely to have some cash in case you want to do something, but also hosting can help you and your friends spend time together without splashing your salary. Check out these ideas for the end-of-the-month free fun.

Ge honest about the intention

Know why you are hosting. Is it because you are feeling lonely? Is it because you miss your friends? Are you celebrating something? Understanding your 'why' can help you set the scene and also handle your guests.

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Pre-event

If there's somewhere you and your friends or family have to be, you can invite everyone over for a pre-event hangout. Since everyone will be in high spirits already, the pressure will be off you to be the perfect host.

Post-event

It also works the other way around. Invite everyone back to your place after an event. It may be slightly different from the pre-event scene but your place will essentially be a haven. Plus this is a good way to ensure everyone is safe and can get home when the sun is out.