Tips on tipping
The ins and outs of holiday tipping
Holiday tips are an easy way to thank the people who make your life easier. So why is it so hard to figure out?
Etiquette rules vary on the practice. And not everyone does it: about half of Americans give any holiday tips, according to a recent Consumer Reports survey.
Ideally, if you want to do it, your holiday tipping list would include everyone who makes your life easier by providing you with regular service throughout the year. But if you get a lot of help, that can get expensive. Here are some guidelines that may help you decide whom to tip, and how much:
1
Cash is best but not necessary If you can afford to give only a few dollars, a small gift or homemade item may be a better way of expressing appreciation.
2
Match the tip to the relationship The amount you give can reflect the quality and frequency of your interactions. You might tip a dogsitter the equivalent of a single visit, for example, while a live-in nanny could get a bonus equal to one week’s pay, or more. A small gift in addition to a tip is a nice touch when the relationship is more personal.
3
Not everyone should be tipped If you tip someone regularly throughout the year, a holiday tip may not be necessary. Cash tips also aren’t appropriate for certain people, such as professionals (doctors, lawyers or accountants) and anyone who works for an entity that prohibits them. For government workers, for example, a tip can look like a bribe.
Check with nursing homes, home health care providers, package delivery companies and day care centers before tipping individual workers.
4
Make it pretty Fresh, crisp bills tucked into a card with a handwritten note? Classy. Wadded bills thrust at the service provider on your way out the door? Not so much. Ditto leaving an extra-large tip on a credit card receipt. Something’s certainly better than nothing, but putting some care into your presentation can demonstrate that you really do appreciate them.
5
Tip early Tipping as early as possible in the holiday season means the people you’re trying to reward have extra cash for their holiday spending — which may include giving out their own holiday tips.
This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet.