"The money earned in a month is gone in a few days; we need to work hard to make more!" The Spring Festival has not yet fully ended, and already many netizens have begun to post their expenditure lists online. Subsequently, the reporter interviewed some white-collar workers in Shanghai and found that Spring Festival expenses were as low as around 1000 yuan for some and as high as over 20,000 yuan for others. Many netizens lamented that the Spring Festival had practically turned into "Spring Plunder," vowing to work even harder in the coming year. However, some netizens expressed that the amount spent was not important; what mattered most was the continuation of familial bonds. This report by our correspondent Wang Jing and Fan Yanping.
To keep up appearances, "New Shanghai Residents" splurge during the Spring Festival
"Income is not high, but spending is immense, all because of vanity at the cost of personal suffering!" Netizen "qm_watcher" expressed on the Tianya Forum, drawing a string of replies. Subsequently, the reporter interviewed some new Shanghai residents originally from other provinces, who all stated that returning home for the Spring Festival involved significant expenses, often consuming one or even half a year's salary.
"Giving each set of parents 2000 yuan as holiday allowance, 1000 yuan to each grandparent on both sides, 300 yuan to each cousin’s child, plus the costs of purchasing cigarettes, alcohol, and gifts for visiting relatives, altogether it amounted to over 20,000 yuan." Mr. Xu, working for a foreign enterprise in Shanghai, got married last year, and this Spring Festival marked his first time celebrating with his wife's family in Anhui. He told the reporter that despite his monthly salary being slightly over 20,000 yuan, it was still insufficient for the seven-day Spring Festival holiday.
Mr. Wang, an outsider working as a sanitation worker in Shanghai, informed the reporter that his monthly wage was only over 1000 yuan, but he needed to spend 5000 yuan on gifts when returning home for the Spring Festival. Therefore, he could only go back every few years.
Fear of becoming "year-end paupers" prompts local white-collar workers to save during the festival
In comparison to new Shanghai residents, local Shanghai white-collar workers spent much less. "This Spring Festival was exhausting. We traveled to Hangzhou and Shaoxing, which was not only expensive but also very tiring." When the reporter contacted white-collar worker Li Hao yesterday, he was resting at home, planning to adjust his body properly. He told the reporter that the main expense this year was a family trip to nearby regions in Shanghai, costing over 1000 yuan, along with a new outfit worth over 1000 yuan. Including New Year goods, local specialties, etc., he spent nearly 3000 yuan. He said that afterward, he would not dare to be extravagant, reserving 1000 yuan for Valentine's Day to surprise his girlfriend.
Contrary to Li Hao's travel-based celebration, Mr. Cai, working in a public institution in the city, celebrated traditionally by visiting relatives and entertaining friends. He informed the reporter that due to his modest income, he kept his Spring Festival expenses within 2000-3000 yuan, primarily spent on purchasing New Year goods, food and drinks for guests, and giving red envelopes to children in relatives' homes.
Subsequently, the reporter randomly interviewed dozens of local Shanghai white-collar workers. For 50% of them, their holiday expenses ranged from 2000 to 3000 yuan, with the lowest being zero and the highest not exceeding 5000 to 6000 yuan. Many white-collar workers expressed that with the CPI rising significantly but wages stagnant, and limited bonuses from companies, extravagance would likely turn them into "year-end paupers."
Netizens offer advice: saving and earning more while emphasizing family bonds
"Originally a celebration, it has now become like going to war, greatly reducing the festive atmosphere." Netizen "jiangjiang" expressed on the Sina forum that giving red envelopes and lucky money, as a folk custom, mainly serves to strengthen emotional ties, where form outweighs content. The New Year should be rich in traditional flavor, but customs shouldn't become corrupted.
Other netizens suggested that folk habits cannot be changed overnight. "Only by earning more next year can we offset these expenses." Netizen "Tutu" noted that apart from saving, increasing income is crucial. "Inflation becomes increasingly severe every year, making money less durable. Only through hard work can we manage to cope."
"Perhaps, frequent visits home are far more important to elders than giving them money." Netizen "ChaobaWanwu" stated that although giving money to parents during the Spring Festival is appropriate, it should not become a burden. Whether large or small, the sentiment conveyed is sufficient. Most importantly, such affection must continue.