Spring Festival a costly affair, microbloggers say

(CNS)- With Spring Festival soon coming to an end, Internet users across China are busy posting about their holiday experiences on their weibos (microblogs), covering everything from holiday expenses to folk customs.

The cost of the festival has been the hottest topic so far, as web users tally up the balance of their year-end bonuses and holiday bills.

One user named Liushuizhang detailed his holiday expenses like this: 1,500 yuan for holiday goods, 2,000 yuan for new clothes, 2,000 yuan given to parents, 1,000 yuan to relatives, 500 yuan for parties with friends, and 1,000 yuan as gift money for the younger generation.

Liushuizhang's expenses totaled 8,000 yuan, but his year-end bonus was only 5,000 yuan, forcing him to shell out an extra 3,000 to cover everything.

Many young Internet users agree that Spring Festival always empties their pockets, while children have been happy to demonstrate the gifts and money they received from senior family members. The elderly have been more likely to post about traditional customs and New Year's Eve dinners.