A recent survey shows that less people are going home for the Spring Festival this year because of high costs their trips would entail.

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The online survey which was conducted by Yangcheng Evening News and Ycwb.com showed that 80 percent of the respondents said the money they need to make the trip back home is more than what they earn in a month.

The survey, which gathered the opinions of 611 netizens, also showed that 57 percent of respondents said their thoughts would just be occupied with financial concerns when they were in the company of their families.

Respondents who have made up their minds not to go home for the holiday make up 30 percent of the respondents while 25 percent gave cost as the main reason for their decision not to go home.

Respondents of the survey included migrant workers, white collar workers, public servants and workers in other fields from Beijing.

More than 50 percent of those who participated in the survey said that their budget for the Spring Festival is anywhere from 5,000 yuan ($827) to 10,000 yuan which is as much as or more than what they earn monthly.

The budget mainly includes cost of travel, gifts and cash they give to family members.

Giving presents in kind or in cash is a Spring Festival tradition and the costs involved may be high, according to Li Junfu, associate professor at the Beijing University of Technology.

Li said that the amount or the type of present that one gives didn't matter much before.

But now there seems to be some pressure felt by those who cannot give as much as those who give generous presents, Li added.

This pressure may cause people to decide not to go back home for the Spring Holiday, which can create a gap that negatively affects family ties.

Rather than giving in to pressure by trying to match what others give, people should just give what they can afford, Li advised.