After the holidays, Ate sat at her kitchen table, staring at her credit card bill. What was supposed to be a simple family gathering had turned into a huge celebration. She thought back to the event: the fancy decorations, the extra food, the dozens of gifts—things she could barely remember paying for. Has this ever happened to you?
It’s a given that Filipinos love to party. But sometimes, people think that more money equals more fun, even though, undoubtedly, hosting family gatherings shouldn’t mean you have to break the bank. Here’s how you can spend responsibly and still enjoy every moment of your family event.
Start with a Budget
Before you buy anything, sit down and make a budget. Start by listing what you need: food, decorations, gifts, venue, professional services, and other expenses. Then, estimate the costs and add a little extra for surprises. Additionally, use your budget to set spending limits with your Maya credit card. That way, you stay in control and avoid surprises when the bill arrives.
Make sure you create your budget early. Otherwise, you might spend more on last-minute purchases. Moreover, if you plan months or even a year ahead, you’ll be able to catch sales and promos for what you need. You might just be able to grab decorations during clearance sales or buy gifts during big online events.
Shop Smart
When it’s time to buy ingredients, decorations, and other party essentials, shopping at Landers is a smart move. This superstore chain has everything you need under one roof. Even better, when you use the Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card for shopping, you’ll get up to 5% cashback at Landers, 2% on dining spends, and 1% on all other qualified transactions.*
You’ll start with a base cashback rate of 3% if your total credit card spending is below PHP 20,000. This rate increases to 4% when you spend a minimum of PHP 20,000, wherever you use your card, and then it increases further to 5% when you accumulate a total qualified credit card spending of at least PHP 50,000 during the month. Each point you collect is equivalent to PHP 1, and the points you accumulate can be used as a discount on your next purchase at Landers. That means you can pick up premium meats and cheeses, imported sweets, or stylish dinnerware—and get rewarded at the same time.
And here’s another bonus: getting your card is super easy with Maya’s online credit card application. Apply in-app and get approved in no time. No website forms. No emails. No paper. No need to leave home!
Share the Expenses and Tasks
You might be organizing the event, but you don’t have to shoulder everything alone. This is a family affair, after all! So, suggest ways to share the burden. For example, if you’re hosting the party at home, you can ask guests to bring a dish to the party that starts with the first letter of their names. This serves two purposes. First, it’s a fun potluck idea that will leave people guessing on what they will eat. The excitement level will just keep increasing as more people arrive. Second, you don’t have to cook or order lots of food for everyone. Win-win for everyone.
Moreover, you can also split the costs for things like venue rental, games, or drinks. Money talk can be a little awkward for Filipinos, but you can frame it as “teamwork makes the event work.”
Don’t forget to share other tasks, too! For example, let the kids help decorate. You could also assign tech-savvy cousins to handle the music playlist or games. And if you’re planning a reunion at a venue, maybe a cousin who’s great at finding deals can take the lead. Just make sure you use your Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card when paying the bill so you get the points!
Find Ways to Save
Look for ways to save without losing the fun. Can you host the party at home instead of renting a venue? Do you have aunts or uncles with good phones who snap pictures? Instead of having the reunion during the peak holiday season, maybe you can pick an off-peak weekend when prices are lower? Small changes can lead to big savings, and sometimes, even better memories!
Focus on What Matters
When planning a party, it’s easy to think that bigger is better. Tons of food, fancy souvenirs, a live band—it all sounds fun. But, at the end of the day, people really just want to have fun. So, keep things simple and heartfelt. Stay focused on what’s important: your family, laughter, and meaningful moments. For example, instead of giving gifts to everyone, suggest a family exchange gift with a price limit to keep things fair.
Make Memories, Not Bills
Family gatherings are a huge part of Filipino life. They remind us where we come from and who’s always there for us. After the event, people may remember how fancy the venue looked. But they will cherish more the laughter, hugs, and stories shared. With smart planning, careful spending, and the right credit card, you can create amazing memories without facing a mountain of debt later.
Ready to celebrate smarter? Then, start the easiest credit card online application in the Philippines and enjoy perks with your Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card. Because the best celebrations fill your heart, not empty your wallet.
*Transactions that don’t qualify include: cash in, cash advance, quasi cash purchases, casinos and gambling, fuel, supermarket, pharmaceuticals, utilities, telco, and government.
