Every situation is different, so let common sense, specific circumstances, and holiday spirit be your guides. The tip amounts in this chart are merely guidelines. What to give is always an individual decision.
Au pair
A gift from your family (or one-week’s pay), plus a small gift from your child
Au pair
A gift from your family (or one-week’s pay), plus a small gift from your child
Babysitter, regular
One evening’s pay, plus a small gift from your child
Barber
Cost of one haircut or a gift
Beauty salon staff
The cost of one salon visit, split among the staff
Child’s teacher
Check your school’s policy first, as gift giving may be prohibited. If allowed, then give a gift that is a token of appreciation from your child, not cash. Possibilities: a homemade gift made by your child, a book or a picture frame. Or, consider participating in a joint gift from the class as a whole. Possibilities: a gift certificate to a restaurant or bookstore.
Day care providers
$25 to $70 each, plus a small gift from your child for the providers who give direct care to your child(ren)
Dog walker
One week’s pay or a gift
Fitness trainer, personal
Up to the cost of one session
Up to the cost of one session
Garage attendants
$10 to $30 each
Home health employees
A gift, but check with the agency first, as most agencies have a no gifts or no tips policy. If this is the case, consider giving a donation to the agency.
Housekeeper/cleaner
Up to one week’s pay or a gift
Letter carriers
U.S. government regulations permit carriers to accept gifts worth up to $20 per occasion, not cash
Live-in help (Nanny, Housekeeper, Cook, Butler)
One week’s to one month’s salary based on tenure and customs in your area, plus a personal gift
Massage therapist
Up to one session’s fee or a gift
Newspaper deliverer
$10 to $30
Nurse, private
A gift, not cash
Nursing home employees
A gift, not cash, but check the company policy first. Consider giving a gift that could be enjoyed by or shared among the floor staff: flowers, chocolates or food items.
Package deliverer
A small gift if you receive deliveries regularly; most delivery companies discourage or prohibit cash gifts
Personal caregiver
Up to one week’s salary or a small gift
Pet Groomer
If the same person grooms your pet all year, up to one session’s fee or a gift
Pool cleaner
Cost of one cleaning, to be split among crew
4 comments:
I get stuck on the "plus a small gift from your child". I mean, what is the traditional gift from a 17-month-old? Fingerpainting? Headbutt?
And are we seriously supposed to gift our POOL GUY?
The kid gift this year will be an ornament with some sort of meaning (the Christmas Nail, the Christmas pickle, etc). But we have the luxury of knowing the religious background of such people. After all, they do only see her four hours a week, but I do appreciate them enough to give them more than say, a booger collage.
Yeah, the fucking pool guy. Since our pool is the neighborhood association pool, I suppose we're off the hook on that one!
Although, there are several positions I omitted from the post, most dealing with property supervisors and maintenance people. Since I live in a townhome community, I get to do something for them too. I'm thinking poinsettias. Oi!
Emily Post is clearly has a lot more disposable income than I do.
I clean my own pool, hardly ever get a haircut and never get a massage.
I'm all for pushing for no gift policies.(not really, but it would be easier!)
As for the gift from the 17 month old - do not give a picture frame with a picture of your kid in it, because I've seen people do that and it's a little weird. :-)
lorid: Yeah, Emily Post can kiss my patootie. I'd kill to have the money to have a massage therapist, let alone one I should tip. Tessie has a pool guy, so I won't go there. HA HA HA!!!
I'm with you on the kid picture. Of course, the exception is the grandparents. They're suckers for that shit.
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