It’s that time of the year again to pause for a moment and reflect seriously on things. Things like, how much dough to tip the people who provide you with services all year. (KRLD’s got a poll up on tipping today.) So, for sure I know you’re supposed to give housekeepers an amount equal to the cost of one regular visit. But, how much do you tip your haircutter? And, do you still pony up if he or she owns the shop? And what about mail-delivery people and garbage collectors? If you work away from home, how do you get a tip into the garbage folks’ hands? Pinning something to your tied-off Hefty bag probably isn’t smart.
10 comments
Here’s my formula this season:
(Number of weeks you’ve been unemployed) x (days until your electricity is turned off) / (the national deficit) x (.000345) + (how much you just spent) x (0.00) = tip.
The wife tapes an envelope to the front of the garbage can. and its just a card, not anything else.
Not speaking for myself but others who talk… If you use someone’s service(s) heavily year-round and happen to only take on the task yourself during the couple of weeks around Christmas to avoid tipping, it’s noticed. And talked about amongst employees.
When I was in the service industry, I didn’t really care if I got a cash tip or just a thoughtful gift. Even if it was a box of cookies. (not gonna lie that cash was awesome) Acknowledgement that you appreciate the work someone does for you is sometimes a gift in itself, especially for a job that’s a complete beatdown. If you truly are strapped for cash, give a card with a note that times are tough and you can’t give them a gift you feel they deserve but tell them why you appreciate them.
Creativity and gratitude are free.
Glenn, you may recall that the highly controversial Marty Cortland tackled this topic last year.
@Tim Rogers:
That list was from December 2007, when the world was at its rosiest. I think we all took a year off from tipping (or buying Christmas gifts or paying our mortgages) last December. Not sure about Mr. Cortland, but my guess is that he got kicked in the pants as hard as the rest of us.
Glenn is probably wondering because he’s due for his six-week shearing tomorrow.
Question – just moved into our house about a month ago – do I tip the letter carrier and garbageman, or wait until next year?
@towski–sounds like the Friends episode where Ross had to pay up for the super in his building after only living there a few weeks. The lesson learned from that show–pay up!
@towski-wait until next year, see how the service is. This coming from a letter carrier.
Glenn: I buy gift baskets for the lawn men, wine for the guy who cleans the pool because I know my husband drives him crazy, and a gift for the postman. Starbucks cards are nice, too, and it boosts my SBUX stock which is kind of sucky right now. So everyone please buy Starbucks cards! Thank God we don’t have doormen and all that to deal with:
http://www.housingwatch.com/2009/12/17/a-recession-guide-to-holiday-tipping/