Tipping guidelines (if you can afford it)

[question everything]

Yes, I do try to do the right thing, tipping the newspaper carriers and the trash collector (at least, the ones that leave their name and address) $15.00 each.

Last year I also got a $10 Target gift certificate for the mail carrier.

I just decided to check with the mavens at http://money.cnn.com/2005/11/17/pf/holiday_tipping/

And found this note about mail carriers:

Civil servants are not allowed to receive cash tips. But if you wish to recognize your mail carrier, the U.S. Postal Service asks that your gratuity not exceed $20 in cash value.

Happy Holidays!

[SW FL Dem]

1. I've given my mail carrier 20 bucks for the past several years

He's never complained :) and he always goes out of his way for us. He sells stamps from his truck, takes my packages to the post office and brings me back the change.

[OneBlueSky]

2. this is ridiculous . . .

does everyone in the world deserve to be tipped? . . . hell, even my local Dunkin Donuts has a tip jar on the counter, as do any number of convenience stores . . . it's all getting to be just a little much, and for the most part I refuse to play the game . . .

take my newpaper carrier, for example . . . when the paper was delivered a young kid who delivered it into to my door every morning, I tipped him every week and generously at Christmas . . . but several years ago, the newspaper fired all of the kids and gave the routes to adults, who are no longer obligated to deliver the paper to the door . . . and I'm damned if I'm going to tip someone who simply drives by and tosses the paper from a moving car -- as often as not into a snow bank or a mud puddle . . . the fact that I don't cancel the damned paper is tip enough, imo . . .

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Given where our salary structure is

those tips can make the difference between affording heat or not... thought you'd like to know

[Booster]

7. I do wish kids were still delivering the paper, but my paper carrier

drives up and manages to throw the paper about 2 inches from my front door so I do send him $20 at Christmas.

[kineneb]

3. I only tip in resturants

because that is the only place I go where tips are considered appropriate. I don't get a newspaper, I pick up the mail at the PO and the trash guys are getting enough from me already. I don't mean to sound stingy, but when one lives at near the poverty level, one has to have priorities.

[question everything]

5. Indeed. And this is why I qualified my original post

But, as stated above. The restaurant and, yes, the Dunkin Donut type of shops have the Catch-22 where the pay is below minimum taking into account tipping. Yes, if people who work in the food industry be paid adequate wages there won't be a need for a tip except for really an exceptional service.

And for newspaper delivery - considering we do get the newspaper at least at the end of our driveway even during major snow storm and as long as we can afford it, we will tip. I brought this topic last year and several people who have been there commented what a difference the Christmas tips make.

[NNN0LHI]

6. For waiters or waitresses there is no such thing as "if you can afford it"

If someone can't afford to leave a decent tip in a restaurant they should eat at home. And I tip more around the holidays and on weekends too. The other guidelines in your post seem pretty fair.

Don

[Theres-a]

9. Thank you

We are forced to declare tips and are taxed on them,whether we receive them or not.

[uncle ray]

11. that's the same black and white attitude as the people

who say you should just get a job that pays a living wage if you don't like the meager tips.

neither is right.

[Squatch]

8. When I used to live in a military BOQ, I tipped my housekeeper

very handsomely each Christmas. All of my friends usually did the same...around $100 per. They make shit money cleaning up shit...so she really appreciated the gesture.

[gauguin57]

10. I have a friend who's a hairdresser, single parent, kids in college ...

... lives paycheck to paycheck ... gets no benefits ... has to buy her own health insurance. And she always waits to do her Christmas shopping till she gets her holiday tips. Couldn't afford to buy anything for her kids without them. Fortunately, she does hair in a relatively affluent retirement community, so she gets decent tips during the holidays.

The world of tipping does get ridiculous, and I'm not advocating that anyone who's having trouble making ends meet tip everyone at Christmas. Especially people who give bad service or little service during the year.

But if you can afford it, remember those who live largely on tips and who do a lot for you during the year.