The Spring Festival is the most important traditional festival of the Chinese nation, and it is also a time for families to reunite and reunite with relatives and friends. On such days, the elders give the younger generations New Year's money, which is a kind of New Year's custom that carries good wishes. However, with the changes in society, the New Year's money has become more and more "heavy", and many people feel pressure and trouble. What is the reason for the "involution" of New Year's money? How should we treat New Year's money correctly, so that it can return to its roots and become a warm emotional exchange?
Recently, a news about New Year's money has aroused heated discussions among netizens. Zhao Lei from Shaoyang, Hunan Province, returned to her hometown during the Spring Festival this year and gave a total of 16 children New Year's money, 500 yuan per person, a total of 8,000 yuan. And her year-end bonus last year was only 7,200 yuan, which means that her year-end bonus was all used to give New Year's money. Zhao Lei said that in recent years, the New Year's money in rural hometowns has risen, and it is difficult to take it if there is less, and it is distressing to pay for the New Year, and it has become a big burden for the New Year.
Zhao Lei's experience is not unique. According to a survey, during the Spring Festival in 2024, the average amount of New Year's money per person in the country is1186 yuan, an increase from last year。Among them, the average amount in first-tier cities is:1789 yuan, second-tier cities1327 yuan, third-tier cities are1012 yuan, for rural areas857 yuan。It is not difficult to see that the amount of New Year's money has a certain positive correlation with the level of the city and the economic level. Moreover, as you get older, the number and amount of money you give will also increase, especially for young people who are married and have children, and the expenditure of New Year's money is a big expense.
So, why does the New Year's money rise higher and higher? On the one hand, it is affected by objective factors such as prices, income increases, and consumption levels. With the development of society, people's living standards are also improving, and the amount of New Year's money must also keep up with the pace of the times, otherwise it will appear out of place. On the other hand, it is also affected by some bad social atmospheres, such as comparison psychology, face consumption, vanity, etc. In order to show their wealth and status, or to please relatives and friends, some people do not hesitate to give high New Year's money, even beyond their means. This practice not only brings economic pressure to oneself, but also creates a psychological burden on others, destroying the original intention of pressing the New Year's money.
New Year's money, as the name suggests, is a gift for children to "suppress" evil spirits and pray for peace and health. It is a traditional cultural symbol and a warm expression of emotion. Its value does not lie in the number of numbers, but in the blessings of sustenance. Therefore, we should treat New Year's money correctly, not to make it a heavy burden, but to return it to a light fun.
First of all, we must establish a rational outlook on consumption, according to our own economic ability and actual situation, reasonably arrange the budget for the New Year's money, do not blindly follow the trend, and do not overdraft for the sake of face. At the same time, we must also respect the choices of others, do not force others to give how much New Year's money, do not compare our own New Year's money with others, and do not use the amount of New Year's money to measure the depth of family affection. New Year's money is not a transaction, nor is it a competition, but a kind of heart, a kind of etiquette.
Secondly, we must cultivate a healthy value, don't let the New Year's money become the only expectation of the child, and do not let the child get in touch with money too early. We should teach our children that the New Year's money is the love and blessing of the elders to them, not their income or reward. We should guide our children to use New Year's money reasonably, not to squander it, not to save it, but to learn to manage money, learn to share, and learn to be grateful.
The year-end bonus of 7,200 yuan is not enough for the Spring Festival?