Tips for Tipping

by Deb West (RSS feed)
Dec 16th 2009 at 9:01AM

It is unfortunate that holiday tipping causes so many people anxiety. We all want to be generous but need help figuring out who to tip and how much or what to give.

The golden rule seems to be that cash is king. That being said, a small gift demonstrating that you know people's likes and dislikes is a nice touch, usually best appreciated when given in addition to cash inside a card. Don't give liquor or chocolates unless you know it is a favorite item of the recipient. If you don't like to give cash there are now gift cards for everything under the sun including, Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, gas stations, local restaurants, town parking meters and more.

There are people like your nanny, housekeeper, driver or dog walker that you may depend on everyday. In this instance a holiday tip more closely resembles a corporate bonus. Depending on their length of service, cash or a gift equal to one or two weeks of salary is the minimum and can be significantly more if they are a long term employee.

For your secretary or assistant it is up to the corporation to decide whether or not the company is handing out a cash bonus. Even if they do, you should be purchasing a thoughtful gift. If not this would be an an excellent person to give a gift certificate to a high end department store.

For those with whom you, or your children, have regular appointments such as a personal trainer, manicurist, tutors, music teachers, other after school activity instructors or hair stylist often the tip is equal to the cost of one session or appointment. If your child is involved a small hand made item from them is a nice accompaniment.

What you give the people in your life who help take care of your home varies a bit on where you live. If you live in a city or in a building with staff, plan on tipping the doormen, the superintendent and the garage attendant. Some people like to give more to those who they see the most or are especially helpful. It can be useful to ask any neighbors you are friendly with what they give to get an idea of the average tip in your building. The amount will vary greatly depending on where you live and the size of your building.

For those who live in a home in the suburbs you will probably have the garbage collector, snow removal person, lawn service or gardener on your list. Think about whether these people are the same every week or a rotating group who don't know who you are and tip accordingly.

The US mail, UPS, and FedEx delivery people all have restrictions about what gifts they are allowed to receive. For example, civil servants are not allowed to receive cash tips. The details can be found on the specific web-sites.

Think outside the box as there are many who deserve a show of appreciation at the holidays. For example, an often over looked group would be the staff at your veterinarian's office or pediatrician. If you have a child with chronic ear infections and you are always wrangling a last-minute appointment, a basket of fruit or holiday goodies that can be shared by everyone in the office with a thank you note, will be both much appreciated and remembered the next time you call and ask if you can be squeezed into the doctor's busy schedule. Others that might fall into this category would be your dry cleaner, deli employees or local gas station attendant. If you like to bake this selection of people are perfect recipients for your home made treats.

Tags: gift cards, GiftCards, holiday tipping, HolidayTipping, tips

Filed under: Services, Holiday Guides

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

tigurinn Dec 17th 2009 4:48AM

I love countries where you don't tip - the wages are more than enough for the people working

moeberry5150 Dec 18th 2009 8:36AM

Do remember your Holiday Party DJ, when tipping. They more than likely work for a company that pays them

Sherry Dec 18th 2009 10:29AM

I refuse to tip a DJ who charges $1500 and insists on cash only.

ardflower Dec 18th 2009 2:16PM

No one tips me for what I do and especially now that times are hard, I don't have the extra cash to tip. I am thinking that knowing the times people will have to be more understanding and expect to not get what they had in the past years

Dave Blough Dec 18th 2009 6:54PM

No Tips this year-bills first!

dasenner1 Dec 20th 2009 9:04AM

Public schools disallow the of tipping teachers and staff!!

dasenner1 Dec 20th 2009 9:07AM

Public schools generally disallow the tipping of teachers and staff.

ehousecalls Dec 20th 2009 3:42PM

I am a newspaper delivery person. I deliver sometimes 3 to 4 publications to one address. I get 6 cents per paper, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I get tips of close to $20. But suppose if you went to diner and spent $1000, thats the cost of 3 to 4 publications a year, what would you tip? $20?

Pat B Dec 20th 2009 9:33PM

If my math is correct, you get 6 cents a paper for 7 days a week, or 42 cents a week times 52 weeks or $21.84 per year. Are you compalining that you receive $20 tips?
My dad delivered newspapers when I was growing up many years ago and really provided service to his customers, always a dry and readable paper. Now I get mine soggy, in the gutter and sometimes not at all. I still do tip though.

bjredmond64 Dec 20th 2009 2:20PM

i hate having to tip when things are so darned expensive now days. i can barely cover a dinner, let alone having to tip 20%. i think we need to change our ideas and businesses need to pay their help out of their own profits, not depend on customers to do it for them.

Joyce Dec 20th 2009 1:54PM

I see my hairstylist every six weeks for coloring of roots and face-framing highlights and a trim. That's about 7 or 8 times a year. Each visit costs between $130 to $170, depending upon which products she might use to enhance hair color or texture. Are you implying that I should give her at least $130 as a tip at Christmas? I give her tips of between $25 and $35 each time I use her services. Isn't that enough?

jim Dec 20th 2009 5:14PM

Totally useless article. Why would someone waste their time and mine to write such dribble. Either give me information or hush.
'Ask my neighbor what they're giving'? That was really inspirational. Stop blogging the cyberways, sorry clogging the cyberways with this useless "I've got an office in my spareroom" stuff.
Jim