The topic of whether to keep your child's red-envelope money is always a hot topic during Tet. In fact, this isn't just about saving money, but also the first life lesson in finance that we can explore with our child.
Many people easily confuse saving for someone else and taking it themselves. In fact, red-envelope money is, in principle, the child's own asset. Therefore, at any age, keeping it on their behalf should come with transparency and respect. Instead of saying “let Mom and Dad keep it for you,” you can gently explain that keeping it helps the child avoid overspending and that later it can be used for something more important.
Guidelines for keeping your child's red-envelope money
First, we need to look at age to understand the rights and responsibilities of adults in managing red-envelope money. For children under 15, by law, parents have the right to manage their child's own assets. This means keeping the red-envelope money is reasonable, as long as it's used for the child's benefit.
Conversely, for children aged 15 and older, the child already has the right to manage their own assets. If parents arbitrarily seize or use the child's money for personal purposes, they could face administrative penalties of 20–30 million VND. At this point, whether to keep the child's red-envelope money should stem from mutual agreement, when the child actively asks you to hold it.
Should you keep your child's red-envelope money: a civilized approach
Instead of making the child feel like they've lost their lucky money, parents can turn the question of whether to keep their child's red-envelope money into a positive experience.
Raising a piggy bank or opening a savings account
Let's set up a cute piggy bank with your child or take them to the bank to open a savings account in their name. This helps the child feel excited because they know their money is growing every day.
Additionally, this is a 'golden moment' to teach your child money management using the 3-jar money formula:
- Savings jar: For big goals such as buying a new bicycle or a fancy Lego set at the end of the year.
- Spending jar: Allows the child to buy books and notebooks, study supplies, or small toys they like. Paying for things themselves will help them value money and think more carefully.
- Sharing jar: Teach the child to use some of their red-envelope money to fund a charitable piggy bank or buy a small gift for grandparents. The lesson in compassion will begin with these lucky coins.
Discuss and respect your child's opinions
Before putting the money away, sit down and ask if your child would like to buy any toy or book. When they are treated with respect, they will readily agree to have you hold the rest. This is also an opportunity to teach them gratitude for the well wishes from family members.
Transparency in spending
If parents use the red-envelope money to pay for tuition or to buy a bicycle for the child, tell them. When the child understands what their money is being used for, the question of whether to keep their red-envelope money will feel lighter, and there will be no longer a sense of unfairly “losing money.”
Thus, the answer to the question of whether to keep your child's red-envelope money is a balance between managing and respecting. Do not let money matters take away the joy of Tet for parents. Instead of "withholding," we should be devoted financial mentors, helping the child understand the value of money in a healthy and loving way.
Xem thêm:
- Detailed review: "Menu" red-envelope toy sets for 2026
- Tet care schedule for babies, scientifically sound
