How To Follow Proper Holiday Tipping Etiquette
- November 3, 2009
- 2,178 Views
Contributor
Rosemarie_Lennon
Music
James Panepinto
Voice Over Artist
Samia Mounts
’Tis the season to be … tipping everyone. Use these guidelines to figure out who you need to give to, and how much.
You Will Need
- General tipping guidelines
- Your own judgment
Step 1: Consider a few things
When making a list of who to thank at holiday time – and how much – ask yourself a few questions: Do you tip this person all year? In that case, the gratuity needn’t be extravagant. How long have you been receiving this person’s service? What is the quality of that service?
Step 2: Reward employees
Give people you employ year-round, like a nanny or a house cleaner, one week’s pay and a gift. Give those that you pay per service, like a hairstylist or fitness trainer, the equivalent of one visit or session. If you have a regular babysitter, give them one evening’s pay.
You should always include a short handwritten note with any gift or tip. Two or three sentences are plenty.
Step 3: Tip apartment staff
If you live in an apartment complex, give the superintendent $20 to $80. The amount depends on where you live – big-city dwellers usually pay more – and how upscale the property. Doormen get $15 to $80 each; elevator operators, $15 to $40 each; garage attendants, $10 to $30 each.
Step 4: Thank your child's teacher
Give your child’s teacher a small gift. Better yet, get a group of parents to pool their resources so you can buy one substantial gift. Give the school bus driver $15.
Step 5: Deliver to the deliverers
Don’t forget delivery workers. Offer mail carriers, who cannot accept money, baked goods or a small gift. The newspaper delivery person may accept cash; give them $10 to $20.
Though mail carriers are not allowed to accept cash, a survey found that the average American slips them 20 bucks.
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Comments (1)
Your advise to give money to school bus drivers puts them in the postion of hurting a child's feelings or committing a fire able offense.
If someone wants to give a school employee a tip - write a letter to the person's supervisor saying what a good job s/he is doing. If you want to give a teacher something concrete a GC to a book or office supply store will help them stretch their budgets.
over 2 years ago by Kimberly_Herbert
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