After being married for 3 months and 1 day to be exact, there are so much to update but I don't know where to start from. I'd thought I should start with something I feel like talking about.
Chinese Lunar New Year is around the corner. As a newly married couple, it might be seen as one of our worst fears as we have transited from recipients to givers of the Chinese Red Packet (Ang Pao 紅包).
I think one of the biggest headache would be figuring out how much to put for such an occasion, especially the first timers. How much is actually enough without being offensive at the same time, even with the understanding that such customary practices are for "good luck and wishes"?
I'd thought come up with a systematic way to judge how much is reasonably enough without breaking your bank.
Chinese Lunar New Year is around the corner. As a newly married couple, it might be seen as one of our worst fears as we have transited from recipients to givers of the Chinese Red Packet (Ang Pao 紅包).
I think one of the biggest headache would be figuring out how much to put for such an occasion, especially the first timers. How much is actually enough without being offensive at the same time, even with the understanding that such customary practices are for "good luck and wishes"?
I'd thought come up with a systematic way to judge how much is reasonably enough without breaking your bank.
- Count the number of red packets you may be giving
- Count the number of visits to whose house, where and when
- Estimate how many will be receiving red packets from you in those places - mostly the unmarried ones and children. And of course, filial children may give their parents red packets no matter.
- For the purpose of this exercise, let us assume that 2 sets of parents would have an average of 3 siblings (your uncles and aunties). And each of them would have 2 children each. Let us also assume one married and one isn't. And also that the married one has 2 children. Let's say you and your spouse have a sibling each, one is married with 2 kids and one is not married.
- This will add up to 4 parents, 1 sibiling, 3 unmarried cousins, 8 nieces and nephews to give red packets to.
- Apportion your salary for the occasion
- Depending on how generous you are and your current needs, a good estimate would be 1/4 to 1 full month's wages. (For the purpose of this exercise, we shall take a generous $1,000 to be the 1/2 of the average Singaporean's wages to be given away)
- Red Packet Quantums
- Amounts in red packets usually come in the following numbers - 2, 6, 8, 10, 12, 18, 20, 28, 40, 48, 68, 88, 100 (do note the "8"s and that even numbers are used only)
- Rank the importance of people whom you are giving red packets to and allocate
- Using the above:
--- Parents - $100 each ($400)
--- Sibling - $48
--- Cousins - $40 each ($120)
--- Nieces/Nephews - $8 (64)
This is a total of $632. Of course you can vary and increase the quantum for some.
- Pack the rest in various forms of $8 and $10, say 20 extra packets, for contingency cases as there may be surprise visitors or even your unmarried friends!
Packing red packets at the end of the day doesn't seem that hard after all if planning is done in advance. :)
