GaryMrMets
11-25-2005, 01:28 AM
http://www.nydailynews.com/business/story/365957p-311614c.html
Tips on holiday tipping
By JEAN CHATZKY
DAILY NEWS PERSONAL FINANCE COLUMNIST
Last week, the Christmas tree rolled into Rockefeller Center, as sure a sign as any that the holidays are once again, upon us. And with that, of course, comes the annual debate: Who gets tipped? And how much do you give them?
I have, over the years, developed my own rules about this sort of thing, but every once in a while I like a little affirmation that I'm still on target. So, I spoke with "The Ethics Guy" Bruce Weinstock, author of "Life Principles: Feeling Good by Doing Good." Here's how the conversation went.
Q. Why is there so much confusion about tipping?
A. People feel they have an obligation to tip around the holidays. In fact, there is no ethical obligation to give cash. There is an ethical obligation to express our gratitude to people who clean our apartments, cut our hair, walk our animals. But we don't have to tip everyone who helps us. If we tipped everyone who helps us, we'd be broke.
Q. So, how do you figure out who gets tipped and who doesn't?
A. The hospitality industry - restaurants and hotels - is the only industry that counts on tips as an important part of employee compensation. If you don't tip, they don't make a living wage. In other cases, it's up to you. But you should really consider those people who provide you with a regular service.
Q. For example, housekeepers and baby-sitters, the parking attendant at your regular garage, your manicurist or massage therapist, the superintendent, doormen and porters in your apartment building, the newspaper delivery person?
A. Right.
Q. Are there people who should not be tipped?
A. It is illegal for postal employees to accept cash. (They are, however, allowed to accept noncash gifts of up to $20 in value.) School teachers, too, though they aren't often tipped, are sometimes restricted in how expensive a gift they're allowed to accept. Some schools impose rules like this to avoid favoritism in the classroom.
Q. Let's get down to the nitty gritty. How much should you give them? I always try to adhere to what I call "the rule of one or two," meaning you give the equivalent of one or two visits (if you're talking about a hairdresser or personal trainer) or one or two weeks pay (if you're talking about a baby-sitter or housekeeper).
A. It depends on so many variables including the going rate in your community. What you'd give a doorman on the upper East Side is different than what you'd give someone caring for your cat in the Midwest. The more someone has helped you, the more they deserve to be thanked.
Q. What if you're having a tough time financially this year? Should you explain it?
A. No, you don't owe it to your doorman to explain that you just lost your job or filed bankruptcy. Instead, try to say thank you in a way that you can afford. Maybe you can offer to tutor a child in math or chess. Maybe you can offer baby-sitting services. If the person who went above and beyond to help you works for a company, write a letter to his or her employer detailing their great effort. To some people, tips like these are even more meaningful than money because they show you took some extra care or thought.
Considering your budget...
Now is the time to budget for tip-giving, said Peggy Post of the Emily Post Institute. She is the great-granddaughter-in-law of fabled etiquette expert Emily Post.
Expect to spend hundreds of dollars in end-of-the-year gifts for the service providers who make your life a little easier.
Take special care in choosing gifts for the folks who care for your child, Post advises. For instance, when you buy a gift for your baby-sitter, "it's a nice idea to have your child pick it out," she said.
Remember to do some sleuthing before reaching into your wallet for the tips. If you live in an apartment building, "find out what the neighbors do," Post said. Who are the service providers most often overlooked, who deserve a tip? The newspaper delivery guy.
Who should you stiff this year? "The person who gives you service with a snarl," Post said.
Phyllis Furman
Making a list
•Au pair: A gift from your family, or one-week's pay, plus a small gift from your child.
•Baby-sitter: One evening's pay, plus a small gift from your child.
•Barber: Cost of one haircut, and/or gift.
•Beauty salon staffers: $10 to $60 each, giving most to those who provide the most service.
•Child's teacher: Check your school's policy first. Give a gift, not cash. Ideas: gift certificate to a coffee shop or book; fruit basket or picture frame.
•Dog walker: One week's pay and/or a gift.
•Garage attendants: $10 to $30 each.
•Housekeeper: One day's pay.
•Mail carrier: Government regulations permit carriers to accept gifts worth up to $20 each, but not cash.
•Nanny: One week's to one month's salary based on tenure, plus a small gift from your child.
•Newspaper deliverer: $10 to $30.
•Super: $25 to $100.
•Doorman: $10 to $80.
•Handyman: $15 to $40.
•Trash collector: $10 to $30 each (for private service); for municipal service, check local regulations.
Source: Emily Post Institute
E-mail me at personalfinance@nydailynews.com
Jean Chatzky is a columnist for Money magazine.
Originally published on November 15, 2005
http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/75-cab.JPG
It's time for holiday tipping.
Tips on holiday tipping
By JEAN CHATZKY
DAILY NEWS PERSONAL FINANCE COLUMNIST
Last week, the Christmas tree rolled into Rockefeller Center, as sure a sign as any that the holidays are once again, upon us. And with that, of course, comes the annual debate: Who gets tipped? And how much do you give them?
I have, over the years, developed my own rules about this sort of thing, but every once in a while I like a little affirmation that I'm still on target. So, I spoke with "The Ethics Guy" Bruce Weinstock, author of "Life Principles: Feeling Good by Doing Good." Here's how the conversation went.
Q. Why is there so much confusion about tipping?
A. People feel they have an obligation to tip around the holidays. In fact, there is no ethical obligation to give cash. There is an ethical obligation to express our gratitude to people who clean our apartments, cut our hair, walk our animals. But we don't have to tip everyone who helps us. If we tipped everyone who helps us, we'd be broke.
Q. So, how do you figure out who gets tipped and who doesn't?
A. The hospitality industry - restaurants and hotels - is the only industry that counts on tips as an important part of employee compensation. If you don't tip, they don't make a living wage. In other cases, it's up to you. But you should really consider those people who provide you with a regular service.
Q. For example, housekeepers and baby-sitters, the parking attendant at your regular garage, your manicurist or massage therapist, the superintendent, doormen and porters in your apartment building, the newspaper delivery person?
A. Right.
Q. Are there people who should not be tipped?
A. It is illegal for postal employees to accept cash. (They are, however, allowed to accept noncash gifts of up to $20 in value.) School teachers, too, though they aren't often tipped, are sometimes restricted in how expensive a gift they're allowed to accept. Some schools impose rules like this to avoid favoritism in the classroom.
Q. Let's get down to the nitty gritty. How much should you give them? I always try to adhere to what I call "the rule of one or two," meaning you give the equivalent of one or two visits (if you're talking about a hairdresser or personal trainer) or one or two weeks pay (if you're talking about a baby-sitter or housekeeper).
A. It depends on so many variables including the going rate in your community. What you'd give a doorman on the upper East Side is different than what you'd give someone caring for your cat in the Midwest. The more someone has helped you, the more they deserve to be thanked.
Q. What if you're having a tough time financially this year? Should you explain it?
A. No, you don't owe it to your doorman to explain that you just lost your job or filed bankruptcy. Instead, try to say thank you in a way that you can afford. Maybe you can offer to tutor a child in math or chess. Maybe you can offer baby-sitting services. If the person who went above and beyond to help you works for a company, write a letter to his or her employer detailing their great effort. To some people, tips like these are even more meaningful than money because they show you took some extra care or thought.
Considering your budget...
Now is the time to budget for tip-giving, said Peggy Post of the Emily Post Institute. She is the great-granddaughter-in-law of fabled etiquette expert Emily Post.
Expect to spend hundreds of dollars in end-of-the-year gifts for the service providers who make your life a little easier.
Take special care in choosing gifts for the folks who care for your child, Post advises. For instance, when you buy a gift for your baby-sitter, "it's a nice idea to have your child pick it out," she said.
Remember to do some sleuthing before reaching into your wallet for the tips. If you live in an apartment building, "find out what the neighbors do," Post said. Who are the service providers most often overlooked, who deserve a tip? The newspaper delivery guy.
Who should you stiff this year? "The person who gives you service with a snarl," Post said.
Phyllis Furman
Making a list
•Au pair: A gift from your family, or one-week's pay, plus a small gift from your child.
•Baby-sitter: One evening's pay, plus a small gift from your child.
•Barber: Cost of one haircut, and/or gift.
•Beauty salon staffers: $10 to $60 each, giving most to those who provide the most service.
•Child's teacher: Check your school's policy first. Give a gift, not cash. Ideas: gift certificate to a coffee shop or book; fruit basket or picture frame.
•Dog walker: One week's pay and/or a gift.
•Garage attendants: $10 to $30 each.
•Housekeeper: One day's pay.
•Mail carrier: Government regulations permit carriers to accept gifts worth up to $20 each, but not cash.
•Nanny: One week's to one month's salary based on tenure, plus a small gift from your child.
•Newspaper deliverer: $10 to $30.
•Super: $25 to $100.
•Doorman: $10 to $80.
•Handyman: $15 to $40.
•Trash collector: $10 to $30 each (for private service); for municipal service, check local regulations.
Source: Emily Post Institute
E-mail me at personalfinance@nydailynews.com
Jean Chatzky is a columnist for Money magazine.
Originally published on November 15, 2005
http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/75-cab.JPG
It's time for holiday tipping.