Wise Ways to Give Eid Pocket Money While Keeping Finances Secure

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The tradition of giving angpau to relatives, especially children, is one aspect inseparable from the Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Indonesia. Although not obligatory, those wishing to give Eid angpau to family members should incorporate this expense into their holiday budget. Financial planner Rista Zwestika states that one must first determine the total amount of Eid angpau to be given. Once the total funds are set, individuals can decide who will receive it and how much. “Allocating money for Eid greetings money requires planning so as not to disrupt finances. Do not sacrifice primary needs,” she told Kompas.com. For example, she explains, if someone has a THR of Rp5 million, with a calculation of 10-15 percent, the allocation for Eid angpau would be Rp500,000-750,000. On the other hand, someone intending to give Eid angpau should also make a list of recipients and categorise them based on priority. Rista suggests that priorities for Eid angpau recipients can start with nephews and young children in the immediate family, followed by cousins and the extended family. After that, there are neighbours and children around the home, then household assistants or daily helpers. The amount of Eid angpau can also be adjusted according to the recipient’s priority. For instance, Rista mentions, nephews from the immediate family might receive Rp50,000, cousins from the extended family Rp30,000. Then, neighbours’ children could get Rp20,000, and household assistants Rp60,000. Furthermore, Rista adds that if funds are insufficient, adjustments can be made by reducing the amount per person or the number of recipients in broader categories. Meanwhile, if funds are excess, one can add more recipients or give larger amounts to the immediate family.