According to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the two months of pension including January and February 2025 will be paid in January 2025 to create conditions for policy beneficiaries to enjoy spring and celebrate Tet.
According to records, the majority of the elderly feel happy because although they are no longer burdened with children and money like young people, they still have to spend a lot of money when Tet comes.
With a pension of 4.5 million VND, Mr. Tran Van Bien (80 years old, Thai Binh) said that after receiving 2 months of pension, he spends 1 month on Tet shopping, and the remaining month on food and drink.
Mr. Bien also plans to repaint the house he has lived in for more than 50 years in mid-lunar December to celebrate Tet. With limited funds, he only dared to spend 1.3 million VND to buy 3 buckets of cheap paint, and asked his children to help him paint to save money.
Not stopping there, Mr. Bien said that not having new clothes to wear during Tet is also a disadvantage. Therefore, he and his wife will set aside 500,000 VND to buy new clothes.
With candy bought for Tet and eaten at home, Mr. Bien shared that it also costs at least 2 million VND.
According to Mr. Bien, the pension consolidation of 2 months to be paid before Tet is completely practical, suitable for the actual needs of the elderly.
"Receiving two months of pension at a time is like getting a Tet bonus, and borrowing without interest" - Mr. Bien expressed.
Ms. Nguyen Thi The (75 years old, Nam Dinh) said that her current pension is nearly 4.7 million VND. If she does not receive 2 months of pension, she is afraid that she will have to use her savings.
“With a monthly pension of 4.7 million VND, I cannot both ensure my life and prepare for Tet,” said Ms. The.
During Tet, when children and grandchildren come to visit, they will definitely need lucky money. For this, Mrs. The said she needs to set aside at least 2 million VND to have enough.
The cost of candy, tea and water, according to Mrs. The, is simple, but if you buy expensive boxes of cakes, it will cost 2 million VND. In addition, Mrs. The shared that she has to spend an additional 1 million VND to make offerings on New Year's Eve, the first day of the lunar month and the day of burning votive papers.
“A rough estimate is 4 million VND, not including altar decorations, house, nice clothes and transportation. One month’s pension is not enough to cover Tet expenses,” said Ms. The.
Therefore, with two months of pension received before Tet, Ms. The expressed her joy: "Receiving two months of pension helps me feel more secure when spending during Tet, but I always tell myself to eat and drink frugally so as not to lose money next month."
