Moonlight clan

In Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, the Moonlight Clan (Chinese: 月光族; pinyin: Yuèguāng Zú) is a name given to people (particularly young people) who expend their entire salary before the end of each month.^[1] The term is derived from a lunar cycle.^[2] While yue guang translates directly to "moonlight", it is also a pun derived from the combination of its individual words, yue (月; month or moon) and guang (光; 'empty, used up, or light'). In the United States, a comparable notion is referred to as "living paycheck to paycheck".

"Moonlight clan" is a relatively new Chinese neologism.^[3][4] It generally refers to wealthier individuals who could be saving but choose not to, rather than those with a low income.

Causes of the increase in this population include low income and a relatively high cost of living. The median monthly income of Hong Kongers aged 15-24 remained unchanged at HKD $8,000 between 2001 and 2011, though the median monthly income of the whole population had increased to HKD$9,000.^[5] The Consumer Price Index of Hong Kong increased by thirteen percent, from 96 to 109 index points, in that same period.^{[citation needed]} It also relates to a broader shift towards a consumer culture in China, such as an increase in the use of credit cards.^[6][7][8]