red envelopes

[not rich]

Who are the receipients of red envelopes at Chinese New Year?? Do we "gift" the garbage men, the school-bus driver, the manicurists, the grocery deliverers, the pest-control guy, the ahma, the admin assistant at the office, the trustworthy man at the favorite stall in the wet market, the kids??? how much?
I seem to have an entire alt. culture that I (in)directly employ. I need to start budgeting for the hoiday!  Can I get some advice??

[Eric]

Not rich :
             You dont need to give 'ang pow' to all the people u know.  For starter, u start to give 'ang pow' when u are married. Nephews and nieces would be some of them u should give. Next come your parents  and relatives.  It is customary to give 'ang pow'  to someone who come to visit with two mandarin orange. It loosely means may the wealth be with u .  It is optional to give 'ang pow' to your workers although it seems most of the bosses, esp. Chinese bosses , give with pleasure. I guess it means trying to spread the walth with  your workers since workers are considered ' tools of wealth' ( as far as I know )  

[Chichi]

Not Rich:  
In the first place, are you Chinese?
If you're not, you don't need to give anything.... unless you choose to make a token to your maid or driver during the Chinese New Year rather than Christmas.
In Singapore, unless you are of a certain race you generally don't have to follow the practice of that race.  
Of course, you could choose to do so anytime.
No one refuses a stuffed ang-pow  

[GermanGuy]

I like the idea to pass some of these red pakets to my staff, although I am not a Chinese.
What would be a reasonable amount for a department of 5 people?
Would I have to take 'seniority' into consideration, i.e. give more money to the 'old hands'?

[evehow]

No need lah, but if you do give "differing" amounts, imagine the fracas!

"Why he give you more and give me less?"
"He don't like me issit?  Give me less than others."
"Your angpow so big, are you having an affair with him?"

As for amount, sorry I can't help you there.  I think $10 is a bit too little and $1,000 too much.  Probably $50 - $100, MORE if there has been NO bonus, har har!

[Eric]

Actually , it starts from $2 to an amount which is reasonable to you. Adult chinese dont normally squeak about the amount they received. As fo the kids, it's up to the education of the family, or parents to be exact,  to respect other poeple's kind gesture like giving the kids anything with no question asked.
As far as I know, the kids will not  embarass you in front of the crowd about the amount u give to them. Probably , they will show disappointment but that is normal.
About the amount u give to your colleagues , it probably means like $2 upwards but if u are a boss, somehow u have to give more.
That is the mentality here. Noone will say anything but their expressions say it all.

ps. The act of giving 'ang pow'  is not       because u  are rich or  what but it is a       kind gesture to spread wealth around.       It is always a' give and take'  situation if      u were to visit any chinese family       during the celebrations.