A "Tipping" Guide...Just in time for the holidays...

That list is insane. Who would EVER give someone a $100 tip unless you just had a great $400 dinner?!

Tip a mailman $20? There are over 600 houses in my subdivison, if 10% of those houses gave that tip they mailman would get $1,200! That's just my neighborhood. I think a good rule of thumb is don't ever tip a government worker. Ever.

What, no mention on the list of how much to put in the tip jar at Starbucks?!

Mtn Dew wrote:

Tip a mailman $20? There are over 600 houses in my subdivison, if 10% of those houses gave that tip they mailman would get $1,200! That's just my neighborhood. I think a good rule of thumb is don't ever tip a government worker. Ever.

Federal law prohibits postal workers from accepting cash (or checks, etc.).

This list doesn't mention the neighborhood prostitute. I typically give her a Christmas bonus on the order of $500. I think this is fair as she works hard for the money, so hard for it honey, and I better treat her right!

i gotch'er tip for the holidays right here

Reality checker wrote:

Federal law prohibits postal workers from accepting cash (or checks, etc.).

Do you really thinking to postal workers turn down cash tips?

Good thing I live in the country and deal with literally none of these people. dropping off your own garbage, picking up your own mail, newspaper, and cleaning your own stuff ftw.

Also 20% as a standard tip is silly, its a percentage, no need to increase with time. That said I'll tip lots if it was exceptional service.

Reality checker wrote:

Federal law prohibits postal workers from accepting cash (or checks, etc.).

Incorrect, sir. Federal law prohibits postal workers from accepting more than $20 in cash as a gift.

To the guy who cited the 600 houses in your subdivision...that's probably about all your mailman does in a day. There might even be multiple mail carriers in your subdivision. Takes awhile to get mail to 600 houses, ya know. At one minute per house, that's 10 hours of mail delivery.

No jokes about a tip jar at the doctor's office yet?

I don't tip because society says I have to. Alright, I tip when somebody really deserves a tip. If they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something extra. But I mean, this tipping automatically, that's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned they're just doing their job.

The article says:

"People to skip: Here's some good news for your budget. There's no need to tip the owner of an establishment (such as a hair salon), salaried staff (such as salespeople), full-service gas attendants, furniture delivery people (charges are included), or a flower delivery person, says Bowman."

So we're not supposed to tip salaried staff, but we're supposed to tip postal workers? When did postal workers stop receiving salaries?

They note that furniture delivery people should not get a tip because service charges are included in the price of the good. Isn't this the case for most of the jobs listed? You pay more to live in a building with a doorman, right? Part of what you're paying for when you hand over the daycare check is the wage/salary of the teacher, isn't it?

Roughhouse Doyle wrote:

I don't tip because society says I have to. Alright, I tip when somebody really deserves a tip. If they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something extra. But I mean, this tipping automatically, that's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned they're just doing their job.

It isn't just society telling you to tip. At places where people work on tips (restaurants), the fact that they work on tips subsidizes your meal. If no one tipped, restaurants would have to pay more and what you order would cost more.

Not tipping is essentially the same thing as blowing your leaves into your neighbor's yard and letting him clean them up.

Bear of Bad News wrote:

They note that furniture delivery people should not get a tip because service charges are included in the price of the good. Isn't this the case for most of the jobs listed? You pay more to live in a building with a doorman, right? Part of what you're paying for when you hand over the daycare check is the wage/salary of the teacher, isn't it?

I was wondering about that. Seems like furniture delivery people are the ones most deserving of a tip - they're doing a tough job that would be a pain to do myself and probably aren't paid all that well.

roughhouse doyle,

the waiter that was just at your beck and call for an hour serving your meal only made 2 dollars in that hour without your tip.

In some places servers make real minimum wage which I have seen as high as $10.25/hr. The cooks, hostesses and bust boys make the same plus a small tip out. Also most tips are never claimed on income tax so tip %15 before sales tax and withhold %30 of that as if its not going to the government like it should you may as well keep it.

sorry am, that is just not true, anywhere. some bartenders may make min. wage (which is 7.55 nationally), but that is because they have managerial duties when it comes to the cash drawers and banks at closing.

and yes you are right, that server that makes 2 dollars an hour has to tip out the bartenders, the bus boys, and possibly the expeditor, so be kind.

Ontario for one. Maybe only at places that do not serve but it is true.

I have two women friends who are waitresses. One works at Chili's and the other at Olive Garden. On Friday and Saturday night they can make up to $300 a night. That is $600 for the weekend. That is pretty good money for two days work. Personally I would prefer restaurants put the tip into the price of the food and not expect me to tip that or give me the option to put my order in and go get my own drink and stuff. I really struggle to think that when I go out to eat with my family someone deserves $10-$15 to write my order down get some drinks and bring me my food. I would prefer to save that and just do it myself.

I also agree with others the people I think deserve the tip the most are the delivery people. They are doing something for me that I can't do on my own unlike most of the others. Oh as far as the mailman I think $20 bucks is outrageous. He gets paid a salary why does he need to get tipped. Why not tip a nurse or a dental assistant they are doing something I need more than delivering my junk mail.