TOKEN OF THANKS
Gifts for those who do the little things you depend on,
They hem our pants, scrub our stovetops, walk our dogs and yell, I mean encourage, us to do that one last horrible sit-up. They are the people who help run our lives, and most of us would be lost without them. Because they work so hard, and because the point of the holidays is to bring happiness to others, they certainly should be on our Christmas shopping lists.
Toronto-based etiquette expert and coach Louise Fox, owner of Etiquette Ladies, says anyone in the service industry is deserving of a token of thanks.
“The holiday season is the time to adopt an attitude of gratitude,” says Fox.
“Show appreciation for a job well done to those who make life easier. It improves their morale, supplements their income and generally pays off with better service.” Where to begin? “How much to tip or pay for a gift can be a real conundrum,” Fox admits. “It depends on the type of establishment (modest or upscale), how long and how often you have used the service, your relationship with the provider, and your own personal . . . ability to spend.”
Here are some suggestions for the people who may be helping you keep your crazy life together. Condo or apartment concierge Do they do little extras, take messages, receive parcels, and help with your luggage? If you have regular interaction, give them a personal gift such as a book they might like, says Fox.
Otherwise, consider a gift card along with a holiday card. If your condo is high-end, expect to spend $50 to $100. Gift idea: The novel The Elegance of
the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. Set in Paris, the story follows the life of a female concierge named Renée who works in a high-end apartment building and bears witness to the lives of its wealthy inhabitants. $14, amazon.ca. Parking lot attendant If you have a special relationship and know them relatively well, a coffee gift certificate along with a card would be appropriate.
Gift idea: Pick up a gift card to a local coffee shop — such as the Brickyard Grounds in Leslieville — along with a treat, such as a bag of coffee or a baked good. Package it all nicely in a basket or gift bag. $25, brickyardgrounds.com. Hair stylist/barber If this is a person you use on a regular basis and they have become a friend and confidant (albeit a paid one), you might give them a gift that is a reflection of your relationship. Otherwise, consider a slightly larger tip and put it in a holiday card.
Gift idea: If you know your stylist drinks, you probably can’t go wrong with a bottle of wine or some great local craft beer, such as a six pack of Left Field Brewery’s Eephus Oatmeal Brown Ale, $30 for four 650 ml bottles, available at the LCBO or at the east-end brewery, leftfieldbrewery.ca. Housekeeper Your housekeeper is pretty intimate with the grubbier aspects of your life. As thanks for doing your dirty work, Fox suggests giving him or her a holiday card with the cost of a regular cleaning visit tucked inside.
If you don’t want to give cash, something personal or homemade such as cookies might be appreciated.
Gift idea: Cookie mix in a jar. This is a pretty straightforward gift to make yourself (if you’re on Pinterest, you already know this).
But if you’re short on time, the Mason Jar Cookie Company sells cookie mixes in mason jars. Varieties include Berries ‘n’ Chocolate, Chocolate Mint Candy Cane and Apple Pie Spice among others, $12.99 to $17.99, masonjarcookiecompany.com. Crossing guard, school bus driver or teacher
Because this person helps you with your children, Fox suggests a holiday card made by the kids along with a homemade treat.
If you know they have a family, you could also make them a gift basket with indulgences such as sweets, travel board games or things to do with loved ones over the holidays.
Gift idea: Movie night gift basket. You can easily put one together with a quick shop at Walmart — grab a copy of Home Alone or a Netflix gift card, some Junior Mints, a pack of microwave popcorn and put it in a gift bag or basket.
Or, if you’re short on time, you can order a pre-made movie night gift basket from Grenville Station. $2060, grenvillestation.com. Daycare provider or nanny If you have a live-in nanny, a holiday card along with two weeks’ to one month’s pay, depending on how long she’s been with your family is ideal, says Fox.
Extra vacation time is also appropriate. For a daycare provider, a gift card along with a homemade card from the kids is a great idea.
Gift idea: A gift certificate for a manicure, $22, and/or pedicure, $38, at the Ten Spot Beauty Bar, The10spot.com.