True to the adage “it takes money to make money”, the Monetary Authority of Singapore in January began to issue “good-as-new” two dollar bills for the traditional “hong bao” red envelopes handed out during Chinese New Year. Why “good as new” you may ask. Because ahead of the lunar new year festivities, the Singaporean authorities print 100 million two dollar notes annually – much more than is needed in everyday circulation – and retrieve them again after the holidays are over. But reprinting the polymer money each year is costly, not only in terms of electricity but also in terms of ink.

That is why this year the island-nation is encouraging its citizens to hand out the “new-old” bills as part of the holiday tradition. It may seem like funny money to some, but then again who really would look a gifted horse in the mouth…