Holiday Tipping Hell
I don't mean to sound like a miser, but does it seem like the suggested tips that I keep hearing so much about on the news consume a month's salary for the common man? It could be because 1) I'm cheap, 2) I don't make gobs of money, 3) I live in the midwest and not NYC, or a combination of the three... but seriously now.
Let me first say that a very large percentage of the work force is employed in the service sector (me included), and it benefits everyone to reward outstanding service with a token gift over the holidays. Especially since most service employees don't make the most robust salary and tips put food on the table. However, some of the "suggested" tip amounts that I have heard recently are a little rich for my blood. Below are the suggested tips to give various service professionals that recently ran on CNN.
| CHILD CARE | |||
| Nanny | 1 week's to 1 month's pay + small gift from child | ||
| Daycare providers | $20-$70/each + small gift from child | ||
| Child's teacher | Gift (but check school's policy to see if it's allowed) | ||
| Coaches, tutors, music teachers, ballet instructors, etc: | A small gift from the child | ||
| HOME/CAR CARE | |||||||||||||
| Housekeeper | 1 week's pay or more (depending on length of service) | ||||||||||||
Trash collectors | $15-$20 each | ||||||||||||
| Parking attendants | $10-$35 each or up to half a month's parking bill for the group if they regularly provide extra service | ||||||||||||
| Gardener | $20-$50. If the gardener's last job before spring is a fall clean up, it's best to tip in the fall | ||||||||||||
| APARTMENT SERVICE | ||
| Doormen | $25-$100 each (those who provide the most service for you should get more than those whom you barely see) | |
| Superintendent/custodian | $50-$300 (tip more if there's no doorman and the service has been particularly attentive, but tip less if you tip throughout the year) | |
| Porters/handymen | $10-$50 each | |
| Elevator operators | $15-$40 each | |
| PERSONAL CARE | ||||||||||||||
| Hairdresser | Cost of 1 cut (or $20-$100) if you go frequently + small gift | |||||||||||||
| Manicurist | Cost of 1 session (or $10-$50) + small gift | |||||||||||||
| Personal trainer | $25 up to 1 week's pay (or cost of 1 session) | |||||||||||||
| Massage therapist | $50-$100 or cost of 1 session | |||||||||||||
| PET CARE | ||||||||||
| Dog groomer | Small gift + 1/4 to 1/2 the cost of 1 session | |||||||||
| Dog walker/regular dog sitter | Cost of 1-2 week's pay (as with a nanny, a small gift is optional) | |||||||||
| DELIVERY SERVICES | |||||||||||||||||
U.S. mail carrier | Gifts under $20* (civil servants can't accept gifts exceeding $20. | ||||||||||||||||
| UPS | Company policy discourages drivers from accepting tips, but they can accept something of nominal value. Tipping guides offer $15 as a guideline, but the amount and choice of gift are up to you. | ||||||||||||||||
| FedEx | Company policy does not permit cash tips, but a gift worth up to $25 is okay. | ||||||||||||||||
| Paper carrier | $15-$25 for daily delivery ($5-$15 for weekend delivery) | ||||||||||||||||
Does anyone actually tip the FedEx guy or the Dog Groomer? The thought never crossed my mind. Anyone out there that thinks the same way as I do, or am I alone in being cheap?
