Feature: Australians give cash to family members on special occasions

Australians find that giving cash instead of buying presents to younger family members is more welcomed on special occasions.

In China, giving young family members cash enclosed in a red envelope during the Spring Festival is a time-honored tradition. As Chinese New Year is more popular in Australia, the giving of cash to younger family members is not a unique Chinese custom -- Australian parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts also give cash to younger family members as a way of showing their love on special occasions such as birthday and Christmas.

May Colbourne, a 72-year-old Australian woman living in Sydney, has always given her grandchildren money as Christmas presents and the amount of money depends on each child's age.

Like many women her age, Colbourne inserts the money in a Christmas card.

"I give money depending on their age, for example Cynthia was turning 12, so I gave her 12 dollars. I have always done this with all my eight grandchildren," she said.

Colbourne spent some time choosing the right card, then put the money inside the card and put it all in an envelope and then write her grandchild's name on it.

"That is important. I think this is good way of giving presents because I have eight to give, and it makes it easier," she said.

Giving cash presents to family members is not just limited to grandparents.

Joe Blacksmith, who is a grandfather of three children, not only gave cash presents to his grandchildren, he also gave money to his two son, both aged in their mid-40s.

"Last Christmas I gave the grandchildren 100 Australian dollars each, and I gave my sons 50 Australian dollars each -- and put the money inside a card," he said.

He said it was convenient for him that he didn't have to spend a lot of time going to different shops and buying presents during the busy Christmas shopping period.

"I try to avoid the shops during Christmas, it's too hectic," said Blacksmith.

Another popular cash present is gift vouchers, which can be used at a major shopping center, or can even be used to see the latest movie at the cinemas.

Susan Lay, 62, gave her two sons, aged 35 and 42, gift vouchers. Her youngest son is single, so she gave him a gift voucher of 50 Australian dollars to a major shopping center, while her oldest son had children, so she gave him a voucher to the cinema.

"My oldest son Mark, took his three children to the movies on Boxing Day (public holiday after Christmas Day) to see the latest Hobbit movie with my voucher. It costs a lot for a family to go to the movies, so I thought a voucher would make a nice gift," she said.

"My youngest son lives alone, so a gift voucher to the supermarket was a practical gift. He can buy something useful, and not waste the cash I give him down the local bar with his friends, " said Lay. Endi