A fulfilling Tet holiday is one where we know contentment.

Instead of spending large sums of money on things that satisfy their ego, many have chosen to embrace the idea of "a fulfilling Tet when we know when we have enough."

Those who work for a salary and spend frugally all year round may overspend during the three days of the Lunar New Year, only to fall into a vicious cycle of financial hardship afterward.

"Try to keep up with your peers."

In fact, many young people have a habit of spending lavishly every spring partly because of the traditional Vietnamese belief that Tet (Lunar New Year) is highly valued. The folk saying, "Hungry on the anniversary of your father's death, but full for three days of Tet," shows that Tet is always a priority. Each Tet celebration involves many expenses: travel, gifts, shopping, lucky money... Some people work hard all year just to withdraw their savings in the twelfth lunar month to spend during Tet.

On the other hand, the rapid development of social media has also created a modern way of celebrating Tet: "Tet online." People's personal pages are flooded with posts updating how they are celebrating Tet, what they are doing, what they are wearing, and how they are enjoying Tet...

Online, anything flashy, luxurious, or trendy easily attracts attention. Therefore, even with limited budgets, many young people chase after luxury trends, as long as they don't feel outdated or unfashionable.

Some young people spend large sums of money buying many sparkling and beautiful decorations just to create a spectacular photo spot for check-ins. Their posts showcasing their stunning "Instagrammable" spots receive effusive comments and enthusiastic interactions, making the homeowners very excited. But after the three days of Tet (Lunar New Year) are over, when they start cleaning up, they realize they've created a large amount of waste for the environment because most of these items are only for short-term use and not all are recyclable. There are also young people who, to show off, create lavish feasts with excessive food and drinks...

All the extravagant spending, even contrary to usual spending habits, is justified by the phrase "It's Tet (Lunar New Year)." The consequence of this is excess and waste.

Not to mention, gifts and lucky money are also categories where many people spend a large portion of their income to "show off" to others. A fast-paced lifestyle, prioritizing material possessions... easily pushes people into a cycle of competition and comparison. Tet, from its beautiful meaning of reunion, connection, and reflection on the past and future... sometimes becomes an occasion for "showing off," becoming an invisible but extremely heavy pressure.

Having witnessed some of her peers fall into debt due to overspending and buying designer items to show off during Tet (Lunar New Year) despite their limited financial means, Chau Ha Linh (30 years old, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City) has become even more mindful of her spending habits. This young woman chooses to buy new clothes in moderation, mostly opting for versatile items that are easy to wear and style for various occasions, not just for the holiday season.

It's still fun even without any fuss.

For Chau Ha Linh, a major concern when preparing for the New Year is gifts for family and loved ones. Last year, the economy was volatile, affecting her income, so she had to be more frugal. Instead of choosing pre-packaged and brightly decorated gift baskets with a variety of items, she personally selected each product to truly suit the needs of the people she wanted to give gifts to.

Tran Dinh Nguyen Phuc (32 years old, from Phu Yen province) also prioritizes giving money as New Year's gifts and wishes to his grandparents and parents. Having been away from his hometown for 13 years, he doesn't place too much emphasis on formalities when visiting home, believing that the true value of Tet lies in the joyful, warm atmosphere of family reunion. Phuc doesn't want to overspend on unnecessary expenses and create unnecessary pressure for himself when returning to work after a long holiday.

Le Van Lap (28 years old, from Dong Nai province) believes that the meaning of creating a positive image and projecting an impression of success for those returning home for Tet varies depending on individual perspectives. However, as he matures, he realizes that everyone should simply live true to their own values, without comparing themselves to anyone else, but rather strive to be a better version of themselves than they were yesterday. With this mindset, young people can freely express their individuality, live according to their desires, and avoid putting on a facade or trying to create an unrealistic image of themselves.

As for Mai The Hoang (37 years old, from Hai Phong), depending on his financial situation each year, he will have a suitable spending plan for Tet. Among these, there are some items he doesn't hesitate to spend money on, such as buying flowers and ornamental plants to decorate for Tet, creating a festive atmosphere while also supporting flower farmers.

Lam Ngoc Anh (26 years old, from Can Tho) believes that creating a beautiful image is important.

The success of young people is extremely important because it also demonstrates their efforts and journey of development, especially for those who leave their hometowns to establish themselves in big cities. However, this is not synonymous with extravagant spending or trying to appear generous. Even now, the box of artificial apricot blossoms that Ngoc Anh's mother has kept since 2020 is still cherished by the family.

They are reused every new year. The Gen Z girl herself feels that the image of bringing these flowers out to decorate is a sign of the coming Tet holiday, and it's very cute, commemorative, and brings the whole family together.

Don't break the rules of income and expenditure.

Nowadays, there are many tools and applications that help young people plan their finances effectively... Of course, there's no need to be overly rigid when using these technological "assistants" to find solutions to the income and expenditure problem; the core still lies in the principles each person sets for themselves. Chasing after material values, "living virtually, and having false pride" has never been the foundation for stable, long-term development. Even though Tet (Lunar New Year) only comes once a year, one should not break the principles of spending uncontrollably; one must know when enough is enough for one's needs. Even when having a high income, one should not be complacent because no one knows what tomorrow will bring.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/tet-day-khi-ta-biet-du-196250121153934659.htm