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The Ultimate Holiday Tipping Guide
Who should you thank — and how much should you give?
Jon Krause
As the holiday lights go up and Mariah Carey’s voice echoes in the streets, we find ourselves once again pondering how much to tip the people who make our lives easier. Whether you're considering the house cleaner who keeps your home tidy or the dog walker who ensures Fido gets some exercise while you're on vacation, the holidays are a good time to show your appreciation.
But amid an increasingly baroque tipping culture, with more and more vendors and service providers asking for gratuities, knowing who and how much to tip during the holidays can be confusing and stressful. Many consumers are feeling tip fatigue.
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“Americans have a negative view of tipping,” says Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate, a consumer financial website. In a recent Bankrate survey, 40 percent of Gen Xers and 46 percent of boomers say they think tipping culture in the U.S. has spiraled out of control.
Still, etiquette expert Jodi R.R. Smith, founder of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting in Marblehead, Massachusetts, says the act of tipping for the holidays isn’t just a financial gesture — it’s an acknowledgement of the relationships we form with those who help us, from mail carriers to personal trainers to trash collectors.
“It’s a way of saying, ‘I see the work you do and I appreciate it,’” she says. “It’s an extension of the spirit of the season.”
While there are no hard-and-fast rules, and the "right" amount can vary based on the nature of the service and your relationship with the provider, there are some general guidelines to help navigate the minefield that is holiday tipping, according to etiquette experts. But keep your monthly budget in mind.
“Nothing is worse than making it through the holiday season with a huge pile of debt,” says Diane Gottsman, founder of The Protocol School of Texas.
While you shouldn’t overlook some people, you may opt to give others a handwritten note of appreciation and a loaf of your famous banana bread rather than a tip.”
So, who should you tip during this festive season, and how much is appropriate?
Trash and recycling collectors
Tip: $20
In some cities and counties, the people who pick up your garbage and recyclables are government workers and are prohibited from accepting tips, so check your jurisdiction’s website to find out the rules. If tips are allowed, Smith recommends $20 per person.
“If you can’t hand the tip to them personally because they come at hours when you are not at home, call [the company or local government agency] to find out their names and mail your tip as a check or drop it off in person,” she says.
Mail carriers and delivery drivers
Tip: $20
The U.S. Postal Service prohibits mail carriers from accepting cash tips, but you can give a noncash equivalent, such as a gift certificate to a local restaurant, of up to $20 in value.
Get a lot of packages from UPS, FedEx or Amazon? FedEx drivers are discouraged from accepting tips but can accept gifts worth up to $75; UPS and Amazon don’t have official tipping policies.
Still getting the newspaper delivered to your home? Tip the delivery person $10 to $30. Many newspaper deliverers will include an envelope with your paper around the holidays for this purpose.
Building and property services
Tip: $20-$100
If you live in a condo complex, apartment building or gated community, tips for doormen, front-desk attendants and gate attendants typically range from $20 to $100 per person. Small gifts such as homemade baked goods are also appropriate.
Pool cleaners, landscapers, leaf blowers and anyone else who helps maintain your property should get $20 to $50, Gottsman says. “This can be cash or gift cards to a local spot or coffee shop they frequent,” Smith suggests.
Barista
Tip: $10 to $20
For your regular coffee slinger, consider giving a small gift for the holidays, especially if your coffee order is complicated. (All that grinding, foaming and frothing takes time!)
Home and personal helpers
Tip: Equivalent of one week’s fee
If you employ a regular housekeeper, nanny, home health aide or dog walker, consider giving them an extra week's pay for the holidays if you can afford it, says Gottsman.
Alternatively, you could give a present tailored to the person’s interests or needs. “If your housekeeper is from a foreign country, a prepaid international phone card could be a good gift,” Smith says. “If you know your housekeeper is in need of a winter coat, give that along with the gift receipt should they want to exchange it."
Your children’s teachers, tutors or sports coaches
Tip: $20 contribution to group gift or equivalent gift card
Although they’re not “tips” in the traditional sense, many parent-teacher organizations collect donations from parents for group gifts to teachers and classroom aides, so consider making a contribution that’s in line with what other parents are giving. For tutors and coaches, a $25 tip or gift certificate to their favorite coffee shop is a nice way to show gratitude, Gottsman says.
Hairdressers, barbers and pet groomers
Tip: Equivalent of one service
If you have a hairstylist, barber or pet groomer that you use regularly, consider tipping them the cost of a single haircut or grooming service, says Smith. Also consider tipping frequently used dog walkers or pet sitters the cost of a walk or pet sitting.
Personal trainers and coaches
Tip: A thoughtful gift
For your fitness trainer, or sports pros who help you up your golf, tennis or pickleball game, choose a gift that fits their interests. This could be a new workout outfit for your trainer, a set of colorful pickleballs for your pickleball coach or a tennis ball-shaped bath bomb (a real thing!) for your tennis instructor.
Massage therapist
Tip: Up to the cost of one session
Those magic hands that help relax your muscles and achy joints deserve some gratitude around the holidays. Gottsman recommends tipping your massage therapist the equivalent of one massage in cash or a gift card.
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