Ang Pow Issues...

[maki]

jnj0910:

Hi jnj0910,


Wah, got to explain the rationale behind all my numbers, ke...ke...ke! Anyway, I just go by heart-feel/gut-feel and I think I would like to be generous but do not want to give at a rate which I will feel \"heart-pain\" or reluctance. It all has to do with who I feel is worth-it for eg:

1. My maid helped me a lot and gives me almost zero problems hence the gratefulness is manifested through the ang pow rate of SGD100. This rate is on par with my PILs & Grandmother who does not look after my kid for me nor help me do housework. SGD100 x 2 for my PILs is enough and btw, they gave us back ang pows of SGD102 x 2 which means I got back more and seriously they don't need our money! Grandmother got SGD100 sign of my respect for her and I heard from my mother she has always commented I am one of the most generous among the grandchildren.

2. Why my son, niece & nephews got SGD 10 \"only\"? Simple lah, I am already paying my darling son's school fees, clothes and have a monthly savings plan for him so this SGD 10 is only a token from mummy. According to my rate, this is \"above market\" of the usual SGD4 & SGD6 so OK. As for my niece and nephew, same thinking, it is already above the normal market rate plus why give so much to them when their parents can provide?

3. My parents this year I gave \"only\" SGD60 ang pow, anything more I would really feel heart-pain so no more and is the lowest compared to the past. Why? Because each month I already give them their allowance plus one extra month for my mum to handle the CNY festivities/food. Also just hired a maid for them hence already a lot of expenses so....

4. As for SGD6 below market rate, really meh? No lah, I think it is still the market rate most common being SGD4 for children so I give a little bit more SGD6 sounds good - \"luck\"!

So just go by your gut feel think should be ok.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!
:celebrate:

Hi desertwind,

thanks for your interesting insight into your rationale behind the
ang-pows !

my rates are actually the same as Maki's, such a coincidence!
also excluding cny expenses for parents/in-laws etc...

and at least judging from our children's ang pows this year , their market rate is like that too...

first year i gave my nieces/nephew and fren's kids $10 only to realise everyone gave $20 to mine, so very paiseh, and upped accordingly after that.

My hubby rationale is that in our time, we were already receiving about $10 or even more, rarely single digit, so what more in our kid's generation, with so much inflation, anything less can't buy very much.

I suppose it really depends on our own circle of relatives/friends, and adjust the \"market rate\" accordingly lor...

But you are right, the most important is to go by gut feel and be happy giving :D[/quote]

Hi jnj0910,

Wah, didn't know our rates are same-same!

Yes, the amt to my PILs are in addition to the monthly & CNY expenses. They are one of the best in-laws I've came across, hardly ask us for any form of help (financially or physically) and yet always ever ready to render us help! Always decline our monthly allowance and got to really push hard for them to accept. They are extremely thriftly on themselves but splurge good food on us! I always tell my DH to appreciate them! BTW, this year, they gave our DDs ang pow of $200 each!

[maki]

DesertWind:

maki:

yes, am curious why helper gets so much too, perhaps that's her bonus too?

PILs - $400 x 2
our kids - $120
helper - $28 (she got her bonus in Dec. Usually give $50 but she's only with us <1 yr and her work is so-so only.)
nieces/nephews - $20
friends' kids - $10 - $12 (will give $20 if for 1-child).
others kids - $6

Hi maki,

Wow, your ang pow rates are certainly generous indeed! Its a lot of money you are giving your PILs and kids.

No, my maid's ang pow is not her bonus. Her bonus is one month and will have to wait until I got mine!
:celebrate:

Hi DesertWind,

Thanks for the \"insight\". Agree, just go with your own \"gut feel\" and comfort level!

恭喜发财！ :celebrate:

[atrecord]

Looks like I've really not been thinking much - am still stuck with the rates that my parents were giving 20 yrs ago... :oops: :oops:


Better up the rate to keep up with market - surely kanna labelled cheapskate...

[Funz]

This year, I decided to make things easier.


Parents $100
Granma, Unmarried siblings & my own kids $50
Nieces, nephews, unmarried cousins, my maid & close friend’s kids $20
other friend’s kids $10
unknowns, $8

[toddles]

DesertWind:

jnj0910:

hi, just curious... cos very confused about ang pow rates...

in your case desertwind, how come your maid get more than your son and niece/nephew, and SAME as your parents/in-laws? sgd 6 is really way below market rate leh.. like living in the past...no offence hor... really really...
Happy CNY!

Hi jnj0910,


4. As for SGD6 below market rate, really meh? No lah, I think it is still the market rate most common being SGD4 for children so I give a little bit more SGD6 sounds good - \"luck\"!

So just go by your gut feel think should be ok.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!
:celebrate:

No lah... I think $6 IS the market rate.... for those with both parents working at least. Still have ppl giving $4, usually they are not so well off... and $4 was the standard rate about 5-10 yrs ago, I remember receiving mainly $4...

jnj0910, I think your family and friends must be the more well off ones to give and receive mainly double digits!

I just feel sorry for those married without kids.... all output no input. If I were them I'd feel very incentivised to go for a holiday with the AP money.

[toddles]

DesertWind:

Hi,


Anybody give ang pows to the waitress who do the \"YUSHENG\" for your table? I was told by one ex-colleague some years ago that it is the right thing to do ie. when the waitress has finished doing the yusheng for you and saying all the nice words, you respond by giving one ang pow to her. I agree it is a nice gesture but I am not sure how prevalent it is, this practice.

Hmmm... I've never heard of this.... but my parents like to give security guards of the condos they visit a small AP....

[blitz]

Talking about angpows, does your boss give you all "kai gong" angpow? Is it a tradition? Coz most young bosses nowadays dont do it.

[Funz]

toddles:

DesertWind:

Hi,


Anybody give ang pows to the waitress who do the \"YUSHENG\" for your table? I was told by one ex-colleague some years ago that it is the right thing to do ie. when the waitress has finished doing the yusheng for you and saying all the nice words, you respond by giving one ang pow to her. I agree it is a nice gesture but I am not sure how prevalent it is, this practice.

Hmmm... I've never heard of this.... but my parents like to give security guards of the condos they visit a small AP....

We do, to the waitress who does the yusheng, who is usually the one assigned to serve that particular table.

We give the security guards and cleaners at my condo as well.

[Funz]

blitz:

Talking about angpows, does your boss give you all \"kai gong\" angpow? Is it a tradition? Coz most young bosses nowadays dont do it.

I do. Just went round giving all my staff. Those who have kids I will also give a small angpow for their kids.

I think it is done more by small business owners. You will seldom see this in the corporate world unless your boss is the traditional type who consults fengshui and stuff.

[blitz]

Funz:

blitz:

Talking about angpows, does your boss give you all \"kai gong\" angpow? Is it a tradition? Coz most young bosses nowadays dont do it.

I do. Just went round giving all my staff. Those who have kids I will also give a small angpow for their kids.

I think it is done more by small business owners. You will seldom see this in the corporate world unless your boss is the traditional type who consults fengshui and stuff.

My boss gave last year, only after he heard another dept colleague mention that giving kai gong angpow is good for the business. This year, that colleague isnt around, and so my boss conveniently forgot. This, despite the fact that I bai nian to him.