Society

Festival reunions too costly for young people

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-08 07:28

The cost of returning home for the Spring Festival has become such a burden for young workers that many are choosing not to make the trip.

"The high costs of the Spring Festival are a real financial burden for me," Song Pingyang, who works in Chongqing, said during an interview with Chongqing Evening News.

Due to the economic recession, Song has not made a lot of money recently, with his monthly salary dropping from 5,000 yuan ($732) to 3,000 yuan, squeezing his already tight budget. But according to local tradition, Song has to distribute gift money to children and old people in his big family.

"I've got more than 6,000 yuan, yet the gift money alone would cost me more than 4,000," Song said.

The young man's worries were echoed by many of his friends online, who then decided to tour Yunnan province together during the holidays.

"Not heading back home for the festival relieves me of the financial, as well as psychological burden," he said.

"There are more and more urban residents who don't dare go back home for the festival as they face increasing pressure and competition," said Zhu Wanli, a psychologist with the municipality's Life Aid hotline, adding that many people are calling the hotline for help.

Li Yong, who comes from Wushan county and has worked in the city for two years, is in a similar situation. He said the expenses of returning home and celebrating the Spring Festival are too much for him, although he misses his family a lot.

Liu Yali, a native of Anhui province who works in Chongqing, said she would just tell her parents that the company requires them to work during the holidays.

An online survey, cited by the Chongqing Evening News, shows that 43 percent of interviewees will give up heading back home for the festival because they cannot afford it. Among them, 80 percent are single and 90 percent have a monthly income below 5,000 yuan.

Another survey, conducted by ChinaHR.com, the leading human resource recruitment service provider in China, shows average expenses for the festival are 4,000 yuan.

However, some people still insist on going back home for the vacation despite the expenses and a tight budget.

Wu Yi, director of the plastic surgery department in the Chongqing Emergency Medical Center, said family matters most and people should think more of their parents.

"Affection between family members always comes first," he said, "We should think of our parents more, rather than how much we will spend."

China Daily