"Tip Me! Tip Me!"

Debbie Nigro — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:00:00 -0500

The "deserving people" I haven't tipped yet for the holidays are starting to cause me anxiety. Why? Every time I intend to hand over an envelope... I'm out of cash.

As a single mom, I still have guilt from past years when I completely ran out of money and some people just never got an envelope. There's this one guy who didn't make the cut, who I run into all the time. But of course. I know that's the only thing he thinks of when he looks at me.

So I'm sitting here trying to cover everyone and figure out how many ATM trips I need to make this week and I'm hyperventilating.

Consumer Reports took a survey that showed that we now have more people in our lives that need tipping and we also need to tip them more.

Here's an excerpt of last year's national tipping average:

Apartment Building caretaker (super/janitor/custodian) $10-$50
Barber $5-$20
Hairdresser/Stylist $10-$25
Child Care Provider $20-$50
Fitness Trainer/Instructor $ 10-$50
Sanitation/Recycling $10-$25
School Bus Driver $ $10-25
Housekeeper/Cleaning person $25 -$75

If there's someone who provides a weekly service, give them the equivalent of a weeks pay.

If you have someone in your life for a very long time — like an elder care provider — you should factor in rewarding them for long service as well as the past year.

Teachers, you might note, don't get cash because it might look like a bribe. A gift worth no more than $25 or a group gift works. Please note: I did see one teacher drive off in a Bentley. It's your call!

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"Tip Me! Tip Me!"