This is good advise.
And if its because all your friends are going, and you didnt want
to be left out.
Then go, but either pay for your own food or bring along a gift to
the host.
A small bouquet of flowers if the hosts is female, a cheap bottle
of wine with a easy to decant bottle stopper to drink with the meal
if all of you are adults or you can try to scrape together some $$$
to buy the desserts to share with everyone and the host.
A, you treat us, we also treat you back something kinda returns is
always welcome.