wish fulfillment

It is a tradition in some Asian cultures to give children red envelopes filled with money for Lunar New Year. (Some unlucky ones get candy.) Kids treat this red envelope exchange very seriously, so do give well, but not too well as it can be taken as pompous.

It is also common for adults to give and receive red envelopes, but they usually contain only a single dollar. It doesn't mean they're cheap.  

Or broke.

It is a gesture to wish you wealth, luck and prosperity for the new year.

This set of 20 li xi is $1.75.