Like Christmas, Chinese New Year is a wondrous and joyous season of family reunions and celebrations. Unfortunately, it also means reaching deep into your pockets to pull out gifts and money for your loved ones.
Ang bao-giving is a must for married couples, but newbies who just crossed over to the giving side need not fret: use this cheat sheet to learn all the Dos and Don’ts of this sacred tradition, as well as get some recommendations on 2023 Ang bao rates.
Firstly, who gives and who receives?
Traditionally, red packets are given by elders including parents, grandparents, in-laws, and married couples to their unmarried younger relations — which are usually children. But with the advent of late marriages, adults choosing single-hood and higher divorce rates, it is no longer uncommon for one’s unmarried siblings, cousins, aunts and/or uncles to be over the age of 35. Those falling into this category may feel uncomfortable being given an Ang bao, so more sensitivity on the part of the giver is required in these circumstances.
Unlucky numbers to avoid
Chinese New Year is an auspicious season and red packets are red for luck, so don’t ruin all that good fortune with inauspicious amounts of money inside! For some reason odd numbers are considered unlucky, so stay away from odd-numbered amounts like $3, $5, $7 etc. Also avoid the number 4 at all costs, because it sounds like death in Chinese pronunciations.
How much does each family member expect to receive?
The general rule is this: the closer they are to you in the family tree, the more money you should give them.
To make life easier for the Ang bao-giver, we’ve tiered all the family members you’re likely to visit, and recommendations of how much to gift.
| Tier | Who | How Much |
| Tier 1 | Immediate family members older than you: your parents, in-laws, and grandparents. | $88 - 188 |
| Tier 2 | Immediate family members younger than you: your unmarried siblings, children and grandchildren. | $20 - 80 |
| Tier 3 | Extended family members: your unmarried aunts and uncles, unmarried cousins, nieces and nephews. | $20 -60 |
| Tier 4 | Those unrelated to you by blood: children of friends, random children you might meet, your domestic helper, gardener, etc. | $6 - 50 |
