Well, I did it. This morning, I taped an envelope containing a thank you note and a $20 to the trash can lid. Being that it was my first time, it felt kind of strange. I mean, I didn’t see any of my neighbors out doing the same thing on this last trash collection day before Christmas. Hmmmm, maybe they mailed it.
I fear that I am behind on the current tipping curve. I’m fully versed on how to handle a valet, a stylist and of course, a waiter…but how about the UPS man? The mail carrier? Teachers? The babysitter? It seems as though we are expected to send an end of year gratuity to everyone we know these days. But what’s proper?
Luckily, I found an article that answered all of my burning tip questions and spurred me to jog out in my Uggs to scotch tape an Andrew Jackson to my can. I feel better now…just as long as a squirrel doesn’t run away with my cashola before trash time.
How do you feel about holiday tipping and who will you be tipping this year?
As a society, do you think we’ve all become just a tad too tipsy?
Cross posted @ DC Metro Moms Blog
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I gave my hair dresser a bottle of wine at my last visit, my son’s preschool teachers got gift cards to Panera, as did my mailman. I hadn’t thought of the garbage collector! It was you who inspired me to leave my mailman a box of chocolate last year, K!
I always send a check to the paper guy too. That’s pretty much it for me… I think tips/holiday gifts are a nice way to say thank you. But they shouldn’t be expected!
Marie’s last blog post..Santa needs his caffeine too
I am planning to leave my mailman a little gift tomorrow, but my garbage man? Eh…I don’t ever see him. Its easier to pretend he isn’t a real person (yes, I am filled with the spirit of Christmas) and just tip/gift the people I actually speak to!
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My youngest daughter’s teacher sent home a letter after Thanksgiving listing what she would accept as a gift. I thought this not only tacky but very rude. I know some people cannot afford gifts and her note read as if she expected the items in her letter. I normally give great teacher gifts. This year I sent NOTHING. Gift giving is not an obligation. Call me cheap but I don’t think every service person deserves a tip or gift because of the holidays. I have gone on strike in that department this year.
I always tip Sue the mail carrier a $10, but never have done the same thing for the garbage men. Don’t know why… maybe because I don’t have a personal relationship with them like I do with Sue.
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I’m really bad about the holiday tipping thing. Not because I don’t want to, but because I’m to unorganized!
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I am one of those crab apples who thinks that tipping has gotten completely out of hand. If a waitress/waiter has gone out of their way to give good service then tipping is appropriate. They usually make minimum wage and their tips are what help them to survive. The same goes for manicurist…
However…tipping the mail person or the trash people….these folks have jobs that pay more than mine does.(I’m a clerk at a university.) I work with the public, however, when I’m at work and I do my job correctly I don’t expect a tip. I also do not get a bonus at the end of the year. My bonus is the fact that I get to keep my job.
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People are very trusting where you live. If we taped money to a trash can in our neighborhood. Lets just say the garbage man wouldn’t stand a chance in hell of getting to it. The rats might have a fair shot. Most likely the homeless would zero in on it the fastest though.
We pay taxes lots and lots of taxes. I feel that’s enough.
Although I might tip my paper delivery boy. Our Sunday NY Times paper always comes dry even in a downpour. That’s worthy of a tip.
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Definitely, I think we’ve gotten too tipsy. I thought it interesting that in the article you linked to, the reason given for tipping is because it’s expected. Now there’s a good reason. Not because the person has gone out of his or her way to give exceptional service, or because you appreciate the service they provide — but because it’s expected. Um. No. I don’t happen to think that’s a good enough reason.
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Definitely, I think we’ve gotten too tipsy. I thought it interesting that in the article you linked to, the reason given for tipping is because it’s expected. Now there’s a good reason. Not because the person has gone out of his or her way to give exceptional service, or because you appreciate the service they provide — but because it’s expected. Um. No. I don’t happen to think mere social pressure is a good enough reason.
AuthorMomWithDogs’s last blog post..The Rest of the Story
Yep, tipped the trashman and postman, today and my husband Garth (not his real name) also included a couple of those scratch-off lottery tickets, saying:
“Wouldn’t it be a kick in the head, if one of them actually won 20 grand?”
I agreed and, if they did, certainly hope that his head feels better, soon.
Happy Holidays!
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Lemmee see, I would only have the trash man and the post man, I think. The post man changes every month, I swear, it used to always be you had the same post man for YEARS, I don’t know what is going on here!
And the trash-can gets picked up by a mechanical arm, so I don’t think of the poor trash man getting out and hauling cans around, so I don’t feel so guilty there.
No teacher or babysitters or hairdressers or paperboys, so no tips here…
(speaking or trash…I must be the “white” form of it, ha-ha!)
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That is so sweet!
I do tip during the holiday season. I usually get gift cards (from a restaurant, grocery store, Starbucks, etc., not the straight cash type). I tip the following: newspaper “boy” [who is 62 years old, delivers the Sun. paper inside my storm door no matter what the weather], the UPS Guy, who puts up with my many eBay pickups, my cleaning lady who comes in once a month, and the USPS mailperson.
But I also give them little gifts on other holidays or do special things like when it’s over 85 degrees I make sure that on the days that the UPS or USPS person stops by that I give them a frozen bottle of water to help keep them cool. Or if it’s freezing cold I know who likes tea, hot chocolate, or coffee and how they like it and I fix it for them. I only do this when the actually come to my door to deliver something … and since I track everything (OCD) I always know when they are coming.
I try to do what I can. And I know they appreciate it. And I guess that’s all that matters. It’s not the size of the gift or how much it costs, it’s just that they are remembered when it matters throughout the year.
Not that I would tip the postman, but here it is illegal to give them money. I give something to my hairdresser and manicurist. The tipping madness has got to get undercontrol.
You are so kind and I hope your trashman appreciates your generosity.
Merry Christmas!
Too bad that whomever wrote that story about tipping wasn’t in on the royalty — he coulda made millions, since his story went nationwide. So we’re all a few 20s light — it’s only money.
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hey great post!
mark’s last blog post..The Art of Flunking Exams
I’ve never tipped my garbage man, and this year when “Eric my G’Man” left me a Christmas card I asked my husband, “who is Eric????” I used to tip my newspaper carrier, but when we moved we got a carrier that sent out a Christmas Letter that said that their gas prices were up, the wages were down, bills were piling up, etc…. and we were so appalled at the way they were begging for a tip that we don’t tip them at all.
I’m sorry, but why should I gave these people a tip for doing their JOBS? I don’t get a tip from my customers for taking care of them at Christmas at my tool & die shop.
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My garbage, like Annie’s, is picked up by a truck with a mechanical arm. My post person is not the same post person month to month. I’ve seen my hair dresser three times this year and tip her generously for her service then. I barely get gifts bought for my family, much less teachers, coaches, etc. I think the fact that anyone that sends letters soliciting gifts, tips, etc. is just appalling. I also don’t like when coffee shops, cafes, etc. allow their employees to put out tip jars. They make an hourly wage. Regular restaurant wait people make $2.13 per hour STILL from back in the day when minimum wage was $4.25 per hour. All raises in the minimum wage have excluded raises in the minimum wage for restaurant personnel. I start at 20% for them, and then move down if service isn’t good. Most everyone else doesn’t get a tip from me.
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The garbage men? They make easily three times the money I do! And mine are quite rude. The mail carriers are really nice, but they didn’t do anything outside of their jobs, and they also make way more than I do.
I give homemade salsa to all my kid’s various teachers (school, piano, karate, etc) but I don’t know anyone else whose service to me this year merits a gift.
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