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Shanghai office manager Xu Bin felt forced to feign illness when he told his family he couldn't return home for Chinese New Year. He was actually sick of being required to give out "Hong Bao" - red envelopes stuffed with cash.

The traditional custom of giving "Hong Bao" used to be cute, fun and good for a family laugh. Now there's an expectation the little red envelopes will get thicker and thicker each year, forcing those with good jobs to give away more and more of their hard earned wages.

Most Chinese remember with delight receiving little red envelopes from their grandparents and parents during Chinese New Year. In return for kneeling at the feet of grandpa and offering three quick kowtows, which were accompanied by an often witty New Year's wish for good health and happiness, a youngster would received a red envelope containing candy money.

The roles have been reversed for 25-year-old Xu, who works for an advertising company and makes about 4,000 yuan (516 US dollars) a month.

Now he is supposed to present "red envelopes" to both younger and older relatives when he returns home at New Years.

In the first three days of last year's festival he delivered red envelopes stuffed with between 500 yuan (64 US dollars) and 1,000 yuan (128 US dollars).

"It has cost me more than one-month's income. It's really too much," Xu complained.

He's not the only one stressed by the required cash giving. Many urban professionals, especially those born in the 1980's and just starting their careers, are finding they have to give away their entire year-end bonuses.

Young netizens have been discussing their shared dilemma, with many saying relatives have to lower their expectations.

"I'd rather stay at home than visit relatives. I spent 5,000 yuan on red envelopes," wrote an office worker who used only her surname Liu.

Many netizens say they're certainly willing to share and the red envelopes are a way of repaying the generosity of the older generation which often helped the younger people get them where they are today.

"Red envelopes are supposed to be for fun; 500 or 1000 yuan is too much, make it 100 or 200 yuan," wrote another netizen while others said it should be a symbolic gesture and envelopes should contain no more than a yuan or two.

"Giving red envelopes is a symbol of good luck, and people should do it only according to their financial ability. It's not necessary to put 500 yuan in every red envelop," said psychologist Gu Yihong.

Gu said many young urban professionals aren't used to the role reversal and he thinks giving red envelops will help nurture a better sense of responsibility among young people.

Gu also suggests middle-income professionals might instead give a gift that has a special meaning to show their love and care for their relatives.

Editor: Wing