It is Chinese tradition for someone who is married to give out "red packet"/"angpao"/"hong bao" to friends' children during Chinese New Year. FYI Red packet is just some money inside of a red packet.
As someone who is recently married, it becomes my obligation to give out some red packets. How much should I give? If I give out too much this year, would they expect more next year?
What would an OzBargainer do? Help!
What would an OzBargainer do?
Give them one AA eneloop per child
Or perhaps a Slazenger shirt from sports direct
From my understanding/experience it is a small $ note and a gold coin (guess it depends on your own family traditions too)
none - chances are they have enough :o[>
Give them a Dick smith gift card
Dick Smith card actually still worth something as some retailers accept it.
Give them Zimbabwean money.
i would say $10-$20 depending how close you are
For Chinese new year and for younger recipients its socially acceptable to give smaller amounts.
Since it's the year 2016 why not just give them $20.16 (but you'd have to round down to $20.15 since we don't have single cent coins anymor)
$20 is "smaller amount"? I received $5 most of the time.
Well, that depends on how rich you are, relatively speaking. And the older the kids are the more you'd give. If they were under 10 and don't have a bank account it probably doesn't matter how much or little they get, but for teens I'd go for at least a 15.
I've always received around $10-20 when I was still in high school.
Guess I have stingy relos lol. And I thought $5 is the norm.
if you can afford give them a red one($20) this is what people like seeing during new years, also you should wear red shirt,pant,shoes …
$5 to friends' kids.
It's only a token gift.
To be honest, why even give it?
Most married couple will give out two red packets at a time. (Sort of one from husband, one from wife) I think 2 x $5 (i.e $10 total)is a lovely gesture, of course that would depends on how close you are to the the kid(s), and how much you are willing to give.
No coins. Coins = tight-a**. And you don't have to add more money the next year.
^this
no coins
5 bucks per packet
2 per child
Unfortunately a lot of answers in here are quite ignorant. But similarly you don't really give us much information.
Can you afford $5-$10 per child? How many children are there?
After a quick Googling, you should avoid the $5 note (something about odd number being associated with funerals), and $4 should be avoided as well (due to it being similar to the spoken word of 'death' in Chinese)
If I was in your position I would limit it to $100 and split it evenly based on who you know you'll be giving the envelopes to. If you make too many envelopes you can get some change back ;)
After a quick Googling, you should avoid the $5 note (something about odd number being associated with funerals), and $4 should be avoided as well (due to it being similar to the spoken word of 'death' in Chinese)
I'd hate to be Chinese, superstitious, and avoid anything in life resembling 4s and odd numbers. That's like 3/4 of my birthdays.
It should be an even number, but not 4. However in Chinese luck arithmetic, $1 + 10c is also an even number, as is $10 + $1.
So, $2, $11, $20, etc would be ok. $20 would be especially good as it's a red note.
However if you are not Chinese, you are excused from this tradition.
It should be an even number, but not 4. However in Chinese luck arithmetic, $1 + 10c is also an even number, as is $10 + $1.
So, $2, $11, $20, etc would be ok. $20 would be especially good as it's a red note.
lol, it's like religious logic. Wouldn't it be easier to just not be superstitious?
It's like, sure buddy, $11 is an odd number and you know it.
It's like, sure buddy, the "14th" floor is really the 13th and you know it.
Sure, that's what superstition is. You know there are buildings in Asia where certain unlucky floor numbers are omitted?
And don't think Westerners are immune. Friday 13th and all that.
And don't think Westerners are immune. Friday 13th and all that.
I didn't, that's why I mentioned religion and 13th floors (a mainly Western phenomenon).
Yup. I Agree@greenpossum
Wtf - I would've thought it was the cost of the wedding per head (i.e. $100-200)?
Edit: Whoops I was thinking wedding red pockets… definitely $10-20 is fine.
Give according to ability and also on how close you are to those relatives, friends, etc. If they are a lot of kids to give, maybe $5-10 is sufficient. Otherwise, you could consider giving more.
You don't have to increase the amount over the years; it's alright to give the same amount over the years. This is just a gesture of good will and good luck.
$20 per child for friends children.
$20 per child for aunt and uncle's children.
$50 per child for niece and nephew.
Make romantic plans for the two of you and escape to a place with no kids in sight. That way you don't have to cough up anything :P
My parents always went with $20 for cousins and $10 for non-related people that came to visit. Of course, the amount given would change to match the amount my sister and I got if it was an exchange of red packets between families. For my sister and I, it was usually $20 in primary school which went up to $40-$50 in high school, but last year they totally forgot as it isn't even a public holiday here. It was just like any other day. I don't think I would celebrate CNY with my own kids because I don't believe in giving money as a gift for any reason unless it was for a house deposit.
My wife is Chinese Malaysian and the families usually give $5 or $10 for her cousins kids (there are a few of them) but for immediate family about $15 or $20. It's not so much about the amount but the gesture of good fortunes.
EDIT: Ps in your case as its friends children I think $5 is enough.
Yes agree, I'm Chinese and usually receive $5 from parents' friends or $10 from relatives, but closer relatives (grandmother or close aunts) give $20. Once a friend's dad gave $100 but he was really well-off. Should have gone to his place every year.
For kids, $1.10 was the standard, back in the day.
inc. GST?
Just empty your coin jar amongst how many red envelopes you require.
It depends how close you are, but most advice above is about right.
When you hand it over you should also say, "A gesture of good fortune from your Dai Lo".
since its CHINESE new yr give them chinese dollar (yuan)
Give them monopoly money