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Holiday Tipping Guide
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The spirit of the holidays is about spending time with family and friends, being thankful for the things that we’ve accomplished and the lives we’ve led, and showing appreciation to everyone who has made the year possible. Sometimes the year ends on a high note, as we celebrate the achievements. Sometimes we simply want to turn the page on an otherwise difficult twelve months. For many, this year will seem more like the latter but it’s important to remember that as difficult as it was for you, chances are there were scores facing much tougher challenges.
It’s on this more somber note that I present to you the 2009 Holiday Tipping Guide, which hopefully will give you an idea of what is considered customary when it comes to showing appreciation to those in the services industry who have gone above and beyond. These are merely guidelines, it’s up to you to decide what makes sense for both your area and your own finances.
All of the tip amounts listed are collated from a variety of sources. Remember, it’s up to you to decide what makes sense for you. In general, for most services you’ll want to tip the value of one session or visit. You can adjust that up if you have a familiar and good relationship with the individual, down if you don’t.
Also, just because something appears on this list doesn’t mean it’s necessarily customary to always give them a tip. According to a Consumer Reports’ survey, reprinted in this 2008 MSN Money tipping guide, no one on this list was universally tipped. The highest was a “cleaning person” at 65%. Only 29% of people tip their mail carriers.
Tipping At Home
These are for people who provide services in and around your home, be it a house or an apartment/condo:
- Babysitter – One night’s pay to as much as a week’s pay, plus a token gift from the children.
- Doorman: $10-$80, depending on your relationship; consider a bottle of wine too
- Garbage collector: $15 to $30 each
- Gardener: $20-$50, or a week’s pay depending on your relationship.
- Maid/Janitor: A week’s pay if you have a good relationship with the individual
- Full-time nanny: One week to a month’s pay, plus a token gift from the children.
- Au pair: One week’s pay, plus a token gift from the children.
- Daycare: $25-70, plus a token gift from the children
- Teacher: $25-100 gift certificate, check with school principal for guidelines.
Tipping for Personal Care
These are for people who provide personal care services to you, your family, your pets, etc.
- Dog walker: 1-2 week’s average pay.
- Haircare: About the cost of one session.
- Massage therapist: About the cost of one session.
- Nails: About the cost of one session.
- Personal trainer: About the cost of one session, depending on your relationship.
Tipping Deliveries & Mail
These are for your mail carriers and other delivery services. In general, this only applies if you regularly receive package deliveries and have a good relationship with the carrier.
- United States Post Office Mail carrier: Non-cash gifts (by law) no greater than $20 in value.
- UPS driver: UPS has no formal policy but driver’s don’t expect tips.
- FedEx: Non-cash gifts (by corporate policy) no greater than $75 in value.
- Newspaper: Around $25-50 for a daily delivery, $10 if weekends only
How Should You Tip?
You have the option of giving gifts in cash, gift cards, or in the form of a item. Cash, especially in these economic times, is probably the best option but don’t discount the effect of a small non-cash gift if it fits your budget better. Most people advise against gift cards because of fees and because it’s less flexible than giving cash.
What If Money Is Tight?
Write a thank you note. If you want to show your appreciation but your finances won’t permit it, consider writing a thoughtful thank you letter in lieu of a gift. The year’s been difficult for everyone so most people will appreciate the sentiment, over nothing at all.
The last idea I want to leave you with is that none of the tips could be considered exorbitant and only you know what you would feel comfortable with. There are two quotes from a 2006 CNN Money article on tipping that I think are worth remembering. First, Cindy Streit, president of Etiquette Training Services, said “Tipping is never required. It may be expected in many situations… [but] should be thought of as a reward for excellent service.” Second, New York doorman Gil Santiago states “Doormen are like elephants. We never forget.” 
(Photo: sis)
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It’s always tough to figure out how much to tip, especially during the holidays. What makes it even harder is that say you give the money to a mailmen that doesn’t do your mail every day? I guess it’s best to probably send it to the company instead.
I really do not understand holiday tipping. I do understand tipping at the time of service for those who make a living based on tips. However, I do not understand tipping people for DOING THEIR JOB such as garbage collectors, day care, teachers, newspaper delivery, etc. Where does this “expectation” come from?
When a server goes out of their way, I am generous. I’ve given as much as a 50% tip
This summer I gave a tip to a soccer referee (a volunteer)because she also took the time to educate the kids.
When the guy driving the shuttle bus at the airport actually offers to help with bags, he gets a tip.
When someone goes out of their way, above and beyond, they deserve it.
The challenge of figuring out tipping is getting easier and easier because so few are providing exceptional service these days. A person should not be given extra for simply doing their job.
One item on your list is low however… If someone is taking care of my kids (daycare) all year long, and they do a good job, they deserve way more than 25-70. It should be at least a weeks worth of daycare expense.
Yikes! $25 – $50 for newspaper delivery? That’d be $500 or nearly half a year’s pay for a youth route. When I was a carrier (10 years ago), a good tip was a $0.99 box of chocolate covered cherries. (I also had one customer who left me halloween candy since she knew I was too old to trick or treat). I don’t think tip inflation has increased things that much. If you really want to be generous, consider one month’s subscription charge.
These aren’t weekly tips, these are annual tips.
Yes, I realized they were annual tips. Why did you think I was talking about weekly?
I think Jim mistakenly thought you were talking about the cost to the individual on the route, not the amount that the paper carrier would receive if they serviced 25 houses.
I am going to go work for Jim, he gives some solid tips.
Seriously though to JH, the garbage man does a lot of work you don’t want to do for a lot less than he probably deserves so $25 for his work isn’t that bad is it? Most of what you are paying for these people to do their jobs goes to the corporate bottom line, not the workers. Tipping a full time Nanny I am not so sure about as they are pretty much making bank on you already.
Haha, this isn’t how *I* will be tipping, just some data pulled from various sources.
Thanks for providing your readers with some guidance in an area where many mistakes are made. But I think you’re way too high in many categories, especially in the current economy!
It does seem high but how should we know when to adjust it?
Of course, what seems high in one place is probably low in another, depending on wages, cost of living, etc.
I am a teacher. Clearly my students have not read this tipping guide…
My husband IS the garbage man. He mostly drives the truck, but occasionally labors on the back to get some overtime during busy times. He will get tips more often than not from elderly people because instead of just leaving the garbage cans at the end of the driveway he will walk them back to the garage for them or carry out something for that person if it’s very heavy. It’s usually $5 or $10 or so, or maybe a Dunkin Donuts gift card, which is ALWAYS appreciated on a cold winter morning. He has a few on his routes that bring him out some homemade holiday goodies that he has with his coffee during break time. Nothing extravagant by any means, but out of the tips he does receive it is usually from those on a “fixed income” who appreciate someone who works at a less than glamorous job.
I would gladly tip the mail carrier if I got my mail more than once or twice a week.
@JH – LOL. Your comment reminded me of Dwight Schrute from the TV Show The Office…
“Why tip someone for a job I’m capable of doing myself? I can deliver food. I can drive a taxi. I can, and do, cut my own hair. I did however, tip my urologist, because I am unable to pulverize my own kidney stones.” – Dwight Schrute
Tipping isn’t normal in Australia. Man I miss those days…
I don’t really get holiday tipping either. I understand the idea of a holiday GIFT for service providers you have a relationship with, but I do not understand doing it otherwise just for doing their job.
I would potentially tip:
Babysitter – If I used one often.
Gardener – If he had reasonable prices and did a good job
Maid – See gardener.
Nanny
Au-Pair
I would probably not tip:
Doorman
Garbage Collector – I rarely see them
Daycare – unless it was in-home daycare maybe
Teacher – feels like bribery
Dog walker
Haircare
Massage therapist
Nails
Personal Trainer
United States Post Office Mail carrier
UPS driver
FedEx
Newspaper
I still do not get tipping though. I tip at restaurants (because it is customary and makes me look cheap if I don’t, not because I think they deserve it. I also tip on my debit/credit card so there is a paper trail for them to need to claim it on their taxes. I know from experience that most do not claim cash tips.) and have been guilted into throwing an extra dollar at the hairdresser.
I agree with some of the comments, but i think some are missing the point–the act of giving is what makes a difference, not just to the giver but also to the receiver, whether it is a small gift or cash (regardless of amount) feeling appreciated always makes someone feel great!