Holiday tips have been reduced to empty transactions, says hairstylist Allen Ruiz of Austin, Tex. “I truly believe a gift should come from the heart, rather than the pressure that I must tip this person.”
Mr. Ruiz was so disenchanted with all tipping culture that he opened a gratuity-free salon in 1998. One of the reasons was to bust the myth that you have to tip to get good service. At his salon, he says, “You don’t have that thing where, ‘Here comes the big tipper, let’s treat her special.’ ”
Ah, what a wonderful world that would be, if everyone thought like Allen Ruiz.
Alas, the world has not turned to his way of thinking, yet. Especially at this time of year. After spending 15 to 20 per cent extra in addition to the regular fee for everything from a massage to personal training, you now have to gift your service people at holiday time … and some etiquette specialists insist you write a thank-you note as well.
In addition to personal care, we now outsource everything from laundry to child care, so our wallets take a major hit when we cave in to societal pressures to tip during the holidays. It used to be a nice gesture to tip your newspaper delivery guy or your mail carrier. Now, you might have 15 to 20 people to look after (in addition to your loved ones). At what point do you just say stop?
“There’s an assumption that you have to tip everybody,” says Jacqueline Whitmore, founder of EtiquetteExpert.com, but she says many people are scaling back on their holiday tipping, especially because of the economy. “People are being more selective.”
Amanda Mills, a Toronto financial therapist and founder of Loose Change Inc., adds: “Going into debt for this is not an act of integrity. You can go overboard by spending what you don’t have.”
Ms. Mills says that if you don't have the money, you can still offer some kind of gesture. “The problem with money is that it's the easiest gift to give. You don't have to go home and bake. But if you really don't have the money, you should go home and bake.”
Julie Blais Comeau, an etiquette expert in Ottawa, suggests you shouldn’t skip tips entirely – or cough up a measly $5 for the dozen people on your list. Instead, focus on the ones you see the most often and the ones who have the greatest impact on your life.
Some experts on financial advice sites (such as smartmoney.com) suggest prioritizing your list, with the most important people being those who care for your family members – nannies, babysitters, daycare supervisors – “because those people will take good care of your children, your most precious asset,” Ms. Whitmore says. Elder-caregivers such as private nurses are equally important. Nursing home employees usually aren’t allowed to receive cash, so consider a gift instead.
Further down the line would be your pet carers, home carers, those who provide personal grooming, and all those delivery people (poor newspaper carrier – now last on the list).
However, in a self-interested world, you may want to consider expanding your list or rethinking it. Need the windows in your apartment replaced? Your tip might help soften the request you make to your landlord. Want to be at the top of your yard worker’s list for spring planting? Send him a crisp $20 this year. Some even recommend ensuring you get good curb service with a $10 tip to your garbage collector. And don’t forget the FedEx man.
Making the payment
When you’re handing someone cash, look them in the eye and slip them the bill with a handshake, says Steve Dublanica of Rutherford, N.J., author of Keep the Change: A Clueless Tipper’s Quest to Become the Guru of the Gratuity. Think Roger Moore’s smooth moves in James Bond films.
