Quick Guidelines for Holiday Etiquette Tipping
Many of us want to show our appreciation to those special
service people in our life at holiday time via etiquette
tipping. However, trying to figure out what we should tip them
is sometimes puzzling. No one wants to be a cheapskate, but over
tipping can put a dent in our budget. Then there's trying to
figure out who we should tip.
According to Peter Post, director of the Emily Post Institute
and author of Essential Manners for Couples, "You tip the people
who perform services for you year-round, who are there for you
when you need them and whom you have a valuable relationship
with."
Etiquette tipping experts generally agree that cash is the best
way to say thank you during the holidays. However, you don't
need to break the bank to show your generosity. "Forget about
what you ought to do. Do what you can, and do it in the nicest
way you possibly can," advices Post.
To make planning your tipping budget easier, here's a quick
holiday tipping guide:
CHILD CARE
Babysitter - 1 evening's pay and small gift from child Au Pair -
1 week's pay or a gift and small gift from child Nanny - 1
week's to 1 month's pay and small gift from child Daycare
Providers - $20-$70 each and small gift from child Child's
Teacher - Gift (but first check school's gift giving policy)
Coaches/Tutors/Music Teachers/Ballet Instructors, etc. - A small
gift from child
HOME/CAR CARE
Housekeeper - 1 week's pay or more (depending on length of
service) Trash Collectors/Snowplow Driver - $15-$20 each Parking
Attendants - $10-$35 each or up to half a month's parking bill
for the group if they regularly provide extra service Gardener -
$20-$50 (tip your gardener in the fall if the last job is a fall
clean up)
APARTMENT SERVICE
Doormen - $25-$100 each (those who provide the most service for
you should get more than those who you barely see)
Superintendent/Custodian - $50-$300 (tip if there's no doorman
and service has been very good, tip less if you tip throughout
the year) Porters/Handymen - $10-$50 each Elevator Operators -
$15-$40 each
PERSONAL CARE
Hairdresser - Cost of 1 haircut (or $20-$100); also small gift
if you're a regular Manicurist - Cost of 1 session (or $10-$50)
and small gift Personal Trainer - Cost of 1 session (or $25 to 1
week's pay) Massage Therapist - Cost of 1 session (or $50-$100)
PET CARE
Dog groomer -