Your Ultimate Holiday Tipping Guide
Few rituals are more awkward than end-of-year tipping. How much do you give your trainer at the gym? What about your regular postal worker or newspaper deliverer? Or parking lot attendants? The list of potential recipients is probably longer than your holiday shopping list, but deciding how much to spend can be even more stressful because there's so much uncertainty about how much, and who, to tip.
Here's a guide to making sure that you tip well, but not wastefully - and that you still have a happy trainer, newspaper delivery person and parking lot attendant in the new year.
Postal workers: Postal Service official policy states that postal workers cannot receive cash, or cash equivalents like gift cards, in any amount. Gifts worth $20 or less are allowed, however, which makes baked goods or do-it-yourself presents ideal.
[Read: Why Gift Cards Make the Best Presents.]
Day care teachers and nannies: For day care teachers, cash gifts are definitely appreciated and, in some cases, expected. Consider joining up with other parents to give each teacher $100 to $300. Think of it more as a holiday gift than a tip. Meanwhile, full-time nannies have salaries, and a standard tip would be to give an additional check equal to their weekly paycheck.
Doormen of residential buildings: Plan on giving each worker at least $20 and sometimes closer to $100, depending on the type of building and its traditions. Ask longtime residents or the building manager if you're unsure. Throughout the year, if the doorman provides extra service, like carrying up your groceries, tip between $5 and $10 per trip.
Cleaning service provider: Give the value of one visit. If you usually pay $100 per week, then give at least an extra $100 around the holidays.
Regular hairstylist, trainer, aesthetician and other service providers: Similar to the cleaning service recommendation, consider giving a tip equal to the value of one visit. This guideline only applies to people you see regularly (more than once a month). Otherwise, a 20 percent tip per visit without an additional holiday boost is standard.
Newspaper delivery person: A gift between $10 and $20 or more in an envelope will help show your appreciation for all those cold and rainy mornings you can pick up your paper without a coat.
Garbage collectors: This thankless job often gets overlooked at tipping time, but consider giving each worker at least $20. If you leave extra garbage any time throughout the year, then leave an additional $10 to $20 for their effort.
[Read: The Secret to Snagging the Best Discounts.]
Skycaps, porters and hotel doormen you meet along your holiday travels: The skycap at the airport typically gets $2 to $3 per bag, says Judith Bowman, founder of Protocol Consultants International, an etiquette consultancy. If you are running late and they are of particular assistance, then add $1 to $2 per bag. A flat $20 also goes a long way in saying "thank you." When in doubt, always tip up. As for doormen at hotels, tip anywhere from $2 to $5. For housekeeping services, tip $1 to $2 per night. There is usually a hotel provided envelope that you can use for this purpose.
Parking garage attendant: Bowman says that since you interact with parking garage attendants on a daily basis and they have a significant impact on your day, it's important to acknowledge their assistance. "They should be tipped $10 to $20, depending on their level of personal service and your personal rapport," she says. She adds that "presentation is everything," meaning that including a holiday card or personalized note, even with just a line or two, is key. The note can say something like, "Thank you for your help not only with my car, but for helping brighten my days throughout the year!" she suggests.
People to skip: Here's some good news for your budget. There's no need to tip the owner of an establishment (like a hair salon), salaried staff (like store clerks), full-service gas attendants, furniture delivery people (delivery charges are included) or a flower delivery person, Bowman says.
Final words of advice: Tipping 10 to 15 percent is old school, Bowman says. The new standard is 20 percent and up. And if you're a regular customer at a restaurant, you might want to consider leaving more to guarantee that you get good service on each visit. After all, Bowman says, "to tip" comes from the acronym "to insure promptness."
[Read: 7 Smart Ways to Budget for Holiday Gifts.]
If it seems like tipping rates keep rising, it's because they are - prices are rising. "The cost of living has gone up for people in the service industry, too," Bowman says. "If you want to 'play,' be prepared to 'pay,' especially for exceptional service and personalized attention."
More From US News & World Report
