As we approach the end of the year, this is a perfect time to show appreciation for those who provide necessary services and little luxuries in our daily lives.
This year, the increased cost of goods and services means you may need to pay extra attention to your tipping budget. Even if you are limited in what you can give, there’s no need to feel uncomfortable. Whether you provide a tip, a gift or a homemade item, a little extra thoughtfulness can go a long way.
Determining who to tip and how much to give can be confusing. To avoid extra holiday stress, BBB recommends the following tips to help you tip confidently while staying within your budget.
Tips for holiday tipping
Consider your budget. Begin planning your tips by looking over your holiday budget or creating one if you haven’t already. Tips aren’t obligatory, so if you don’t have the extra cash, consider other ways to show your gratitude. According to the Emily Post Institute, homemade gifts or a simple thank you note are perfectly acceptable ways to say “thank you” when funds are short.
Start planning tips early. You don’t want to scramble through your wallet to find extra cash when you see your regular delivery driver pull up. Once you set your tipping budget, list who you plan to tip and how much. Do this as early as possible, remembering that tipping before the holidays are officially here means the recipient will have extra cash for holiday spending.
Tip with cash when possible. Cash is usually the best way to give a tip. It means the recipient can access the funds immediately and won’t have to pay any fees to use the money. That said, if you regularly pay someone via an app and want to tip that way, you can. Just make sure you include a brief note letting them know the extra money is a tip for their excellent service. Depending on the depth of the relationship, a gift could also be a good alternative.
Make the tip attractive. For a classic tip, The Wall Street Journal says crisp bills in an envelope that reads “Thank You” on the outside is ideal. You can even write a brief thank you note to express your gratitude when appropriate.
Tip according to the depth of your relationship. Match your tip to the quality and quantity of work the person does for you. If you hire a babysitter occasionally, an appropriate tip might be the equivalent of one evening’s pay. On the other hand, if you have a live-in housekeeper, an entire week’s pay would be suitable.
Write a thank you note. A personal, handwritten note expressing your appreciation can enhance the gesture, especially if the tip or gift is more modest.
Know whom not to tip. Some professionals can’t accept tips because of ethical reasons, including doctors, lawyers and government officials. Some companies don’t allow their employees to accept tips. Don’t be afraid to ask up front if a professional or company employee can accept tips if you aren’t sure. When appropriate, a gift is a good alternative.
Here are some guidelines to consider as you look at tipping contacts in a variety of professions:
Personal service providers. For hairdressers, massage therapists or any other personal-service provider you regularly tip, consider upping your tip amount during the holiday season. If you usually tip 20%, consider making it 40%. Depending on your budget, you may decide to tip them the cost of an entire visit. The same goes for other service providers, like your dog walker or groomer. The equivalent of one service makes for a generous end-of-the-year tip.
Nannies, babysitters and caregivers. A similar rule applies to tipping child care, home health aides and similar professions. Tipping the cost of a session, such as an evening’s pay for a regular sitter, is considered standard. For a live-in nanny, consider a bonus of up to a week’s wages. For those hired through a service, make sure you check that they are allowed to accept tips before giving.
Housekeepers and cleaning services. If you have a regular cleaner, a tip equal to one week’s pay is typical, particularly if they provide regular, long-term service. This amount can vary based on your relationship with the housekeeper, how frequently they work and your budget. In some cases, giving a thoughtful gift in addition to a smaller tip can also be appropriate.
Building staff. If you live in an apartment building, consider tipping cleaners, superintendents, security and concierges. Somewhere between $25 to $100 each is a good range for this kind of service, depending on what your budget allows.
Mail and delivery service providers. U.S. Postal Service workers may not accept gifts of cash or gift cards, but they can accept small gifts worth $20 or less. FedEx employees are encouraged to decline cash gifts, but they can accept small personal gifts when making a delivery. UPS indicates they leave tipping up to a customer’s discretion.
Professional service providers. Most professionals, such as teachers, doctors, lawyers, etc., won’t accept cash gifts, so consider giving them a gift card or present instead, with a note of thanks.
Gift cards are a classic way to show your appreciation, but hopefully you saw our information from last week outlining our tips on how to be sure you’re purchasing cards that haven’t been tampered with.
You can find related tips to help keep your holidays safe and joyful on BBB’s holiday HQ page.
You can contact BBB serving Southeast Tennessee & Northwest Georgia’s team for assistance at 423-266-6144 or by email at tngabbb@chattanooga.bbb.org.
Michele Mason is president of the Better Business Bureau in Chattanooga.
