The Etiquette School of New York’s Holiday Tipping Guide 

 

The holidays are the traditional time of the year to show our gratitude to all who make our lives easier and more pleasant throughout the year and without whom we would not have such a nice life.  Although most appreciate receiving a monetary gift to help them buy their holiday gifts, some actually rely on these gifts of money to supplement their incomes; so keep this in mind when deciding how to show your gratitude.

Holiday tipping and gifting should not be about going into debt to pay for these expenditures. Determine what you can afford to spend on gifts and and tips, and then make a list of the people for whom you want to show your appreciation and put them into two columns: a cash column or gift column. Then prioritize your list according to the following points:

 

        1. The importance of their service to you.

        2. The quality of the service.

        3. The frequency of the service.

        4. How long you have used the service.

        5. How important your tip is to them.

        6. Regional tipping/gifting guidelines

        7. The amount you gave last year.

 

Following is our for holiday tipping guide for this year: 

• Hairstylist/Colorist: Cost of one session

• Barber: Cost of one session

• Manicurist: $25 to $50 or gift

• Personal trainer: Up to the cost of one session and a gift

• Housekeeper: Up to the cost of one visit; or one-or-two week’s pay, full-time

• Au-pair or live-in nanny: One- or-two week’s pay, and a gift from your child

• Teacher: Gift card or gift certificate for up to $25, or pitch in with some of the other parents and
  buy a more expensive gift certificate

• Coaches, Tutors, Music Teachers: A small gift from your child

• Day care provider: $20 to $70 each, plus a small gift from your child

• Babysitter: An evening’s pay, plus a gift from your child

• Massage therapist: Up to the cost of one session

• Superintendent: $75 to $175; broad range $50 to $500

• Doorman: $25 to $150; broad range $10 to $1,000

• Handyman: $25 to $50; broad range $10 to $75

• Parking garage attendant: $25 to $75 each: or ½ month’s rent divided

• Country club staff: $50 for someone you see regularly

• Pool cleaner: Cost of one session

• Mail carrier: Small gift or gift card up to $20: gifts of cash not permitted

• Fedex: Can accept gifts valued at $75 or less; gifts of cash not permitted

• UPS: Advised to politely decline; but no firm policy about not accepting

  cash gifts

• Newspaper carrier: $10 to $30

• Personal assistant: Small gift and a holiday bonus based on performance

• Senior Care Aide: $25 to $100 depending upon frequency

• Trash collector (house): $20 to $30

• Sanitation worker: $10 to $30 each for private service; check your local municipality for regulations, as some areas may not allow tipping

• Gardener: $20 to $50 or a gift card or cost or cost of one week’s service

• Pool cleaner: Up to the cost of one cleaning or a gift card

• Dog walker: Up to one week’s pay or a gift

• Pet Groomer: Up to the cost of one session or a gift

 

Do: 

•  Use crisp bills to tip with.

•  Put them in a tasteful envelope marked with the person’s name on it.

•  Add a short personal note thanking them for helping you throughout the   year.

•  Give cash gifts early in December so that they can use the money to buy   their holiday gifts.

 

 

By: Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick

December 2018