农历年初一到初三，是春节期间人们走亲访友的"黄金时间"。而在网上，晒春节"账单[1]"的人也逐渐增多。在天涯社区[2]，一条关于"８０后[3]春节回家要带多少钱才够"的帖子点击超过了３０万，近两千条回复中大量年轻人晒出的春节账单让他们感到负担很重。

春节是中国人举家团圆的最为重要的传统节日。如今春节回家越来越高昂的花费让人们负担很大，对于他们来说，为了"人情[4]"和"面子[5]"，只能苦了自己。

据网友[6]刘昕介绍，他大学毕业后留在长春工作，每个月不到２０００元的工资也仅够维持自己租房子、吃穿之用，根本攒不下什么钱。他说："一直在省会工作，手里不拿着几千元回家不仅给父母丢人，自己心里也过意不去。"

 家住吉林省的杨恩泽，大学毕业后一直留在四川省工作，今年春节也不打算回老家了。他说，春节假期本身也不太宽裕，成本也确实很高，和女朋友两个人光是往返路费就得２０００元左右，加上回去的各种开销，没有５０００元根本不够用。

对此，有关社会学专家认为，春节作为中国传统的一种文化和习俗，一家人聚在一起"团圆"的意义是最重要的。作为父母，并不在乎子女买多少年货[7]，给他们多少钱，他们只希望团聚；作为子女，总希望回到老家应该在父母面前有所表现，所以经常导致一些不理性消费，给自己增加了很大压力。

The first until third day of the new lunar year, time of the Spring Festival, is the golden hour to visit relatives and friends. Yet, on the internet, peope who expose their Spring Festival expense list are gradually increasing. In the Tianya community, a post concerning "For the 80's generation: Bringing how much money when returning home is enough?", has exceeded 300,000 views, and almost 2000 replies, mostly by youngsters, who feel a heavy burden of due to their Spring Festival expense list.

Spring Festival is the most important traditional holiday in terms of the whole family reunion. Nowadays, the higher and higher expenses one has, when returning home for the Spring Festival, result in a heavy burden on people. Such people find that for the sake of gifts and 'face', one could only make it difficult for him or herself.

According to netizen Liu Xin, after graduating from university he stayed in Changchun (capital of Jilin Province). The less than 2000RMB monthly salary is barely enough to maintain the apartment he rents, food and clothing and he simply cannot save any money. He wrote: "Working in the government of the provincial capital all along, if I don't bring several thousands RMB when returning home, it will not only be disgraceful towards my parents, but will also make my heart feel sorry.

Yang Enze, whom parents live in Jilin Province, has stayed in Sichuan to work after graduating from university. In this Spring Festival he still doesn't plan to return to his 'old home'. He wrote that he himself isn't comfortably-off during the Spring Festival vacation, as cost is indeed high. Travel expenses alone, going and returning with his girlfriend, are about 2000RMB, adding to that the various expenses when returning home, then less than 5000RMB is simply insufficient.

Concerning this matter, relevant sociology experts believe that Spring Festival is regarded as China's traditional culture and custom, and the significance of a household united together is very high. As for parents, they by no means care how many special New Year purchases or how much money their children give them, and only wish for a reunion. As for children, the only wish to have somewhat of a 'face' in front of their parents when returning home, hence this often leads to some irrational expenses, adding plenty of pressure on oneself.

[1]账单 zhàngdān - Expense list; here mentioned to the context of one's expenses during the Spring Festival.

[2] 天涯社区 tiān yá shèqū - 'Tianya Community'; Tianya.cn, a popular Chinese internet portal, including numerous blog, forums, games, etc.

[3] ８０后 hòu - 'After 80', generation of Chinese born in the 1980's.

[4]人情 rénqíng - 'Human sentiments', here in meaning of 'gift' that are a custom, maintaining or developing inter-personal relation.

[5]面子 miànzi - 'Face', 'prestige', 'reputation'.

[6] 网友 wǎng yǒu - Internet user or member, 'netizen'.

[7] 年货 nián huò - Special Chinese New Year goods.