Gift for school bus driver - cash or gas gift card?

[Dawnlight]

Last year was the first year of any of my kids riding the bus, and I think I gave a $10 GC to Dunkin Donuts (kids knew he bought his coffee there). He was an awesome driver; throughout the entire craptastic winter here he would drop my girls in front of our house instead of at the bus stop. He knew there was so much snow and ice on the sidewalks that this was safer.

My girls' bus driver this year is a grumpy guy, but has stopped to pick up one twin in front of our house after the other twin got to the stop on time. He could have just kept to his schedule and drove on by, but he helped me out by stopping and waiting a few minutes while pokey-girl got her act together. I will give either a gift card or cash as a small gesture of my appreciation for getting my kids to and from school safely.

 

[anniemae]

Garbage men and mailman too!!!

and newspaper delivery person, teacher, teacher assistant...........

 

[NewRVLady]

I HAVE never hear of giving the bus driver a present-much less cash
it seems nowadays everyone wants to gift everyone for doing their JOB!
How is it a "thankless job"??
Our bus driver did it a few hours each day-then worked at her husbands small biz the rest of the time

 

[NAB]

I always got something for out bus driver too, chocolates, gift cards etc.

Also got our crossing guard at the school something too. She was a blessing there with all the crazy parent drivers. Usually got her mittens for the cold days

 

[Mizzoufan]

I HAVE never hear of giving the bus driver a present-much less cash
it seems nowadays everyone wants to gift everyone for doing their JOB!
How is it a "thankless job"??
Our bus driver did it a few hours each day-then worked at her husbands small biz the rest of the time

drive a bus for one week. Then we'll talk. Don't be so dismissive of a job you clearly know nothing about.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

We've been doing gifts for your children's teachers for years and years. It never once occurred to me to get a gift for the bus driver.

Why a gas card? Bus drivers don't buy their own gas. How about earplugs?

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

I HAVE never hear of giving the bus driver a present-much less cash
it seems nowadays everyone wants to gift everyone for doing their JOB!
How is it a "thankless job"??
Our bus driver did it a few hours each day-then worked at her husbands small biz the rest of the time

I don't think they want a gift or expect a gift. My kid's bus driver gets them safely to school and back each day. My kid once was bullied on the bus and he took care of it right that day.

I see nothing wrong with showing your appreciation for your bus driver. I gave ours 10 bucks with a note thanking him for keeping our kids safe and to have lunch on us.

I think it would be nice to know that you are appreciated, don't you?

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

We've been doing gifts for your children's teachers for years and years. It never once occurred to me to get a gift for the bus driver.

Why a gas card? Bus drivers don't buy their own gas. How about earplugs?

Yep, they have an important job too. Also my kid's bus driver gives all the kids on our route a small gift. He is a nice person.

 

[NewRVLady]

drive a bus for one week. Then we'll talk. Don't be so dismissive of a job you clearly know nothing about.

Honey-I was a room mother every year 1st-8th-besides the Teacher gift-Appreciation week-we ( 2 room Moms) had to plan a dance program at Thanksgiving Pageant-design and sometimes MAKE the costumes.....wish one of those parents had tipped ME!


my point is when does the gift giving/tipping end?
I hired people to do remodeling in my kitchen last week-did a great job-other ok job-neber considered tipping them-they made a high wage.
I keep seeing posts of tipping every person you come in contact with-just do not "get it"

 

[scoutie]

kids do not give gifts in middle and high school

I'm a middle school teacher, and I can assure you that many kids do give gifts. I've already gotten many lovely gifts and cards.

from each child that is way too much

Every child is not going to give the bus driver $20, though. Surely you realize that??

I give the bus drivers a $10 gift card and a note thanking them for all they do.

I did not realize you were supposed to give a gift to the bus driver! oops!

As with anybody, gifts are appreciated, but not required. They are not necessary. Give to whomever you feel has gone above and beyond--or don't! I don't know anybody in the school system who expects a gift.

 

[mamamary]

When my kids were in elem. school I always gave the bus driver a Christmas gift. It wasn't anything big - prob. around $10 or so. I didn't feel I needed to do it but I wanted to.

 

[sksjasams]

My DH is a special needs school bus driver. This is his 5th year. He gives a small gift to each of "his kids". He receives gifts from about 1/2 of the kids - always a gift card or treats.

 

[AppleDumpling]

You shouldn't feel obligated, however I think it's a nice gesture.

Most of the drivers around here are retired people. It's a stressful but low-paying job, and I'm sure they appreciate getting a little bonus around holiday time.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

from each child that is way too much

How is that too much? That is the minimum I would consider giving.

 

[Art 1]

A close family member is a kindergarden teacher. The average for Christmas is $500 in gift cards. Birthday in January averages $200. And there is also the end of the year.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

It's getting a little salty in here.

 

[Mizzoufan]

Honey-I was a room mother every year 1st-8th-besides the Teacher gift-Appreciation week-we ( 2 room Moms) had to plan a dance program at Thanksgiving Pageant-design and sometimes MAKE the costumes.....wish one of those parents had tipped ME!


my point is when does the gift giving/tipping end?
I hired people to do remodeling in my kitchen last week-did a great job-other ok job-neber considered tipping them-they made a high wage.
I keep seeing posts of tipping every person you come in contact with-just do not "get it"

Apple and oranges

 

[Dawnlight]

my point is when does the gift giving/tipping end?
I hired people to do remodeling in my kitchen last week-did a great job-other ok job-neber considered tipping them-they made a high wage.
I keep seeing posts of tipping every person you come in contact with-just do not "get it"

It ends where you want it to end. Don't want to tip? Don't. Don't want to give a gift? Don't.

Others do feel compelled to give, either from kindness or social pressure (or a combination of the two), but it doesn't mean you're required to just because they do.

In general I don't think that service-type jobs such as mail carrier, trash collector, UPS guy, etc are more deserving of a tip/gift at holiday time more than people in other professions, but some people establish above and beyond relationships with the people they serve, so a gift is a nice gesture.

 

[NewRVLady]

A close family member is a kindergarden teacher. The average for Christmas is $500 in gift cards. Birthday in January averages $200. And there is also the end of the year.

Wow- generous parents

 

[EMom]

If you don't want to give, don't. But my hat is off to anyone who drives a school bus. You could not pay me enough to do that job. Why begrudge the driver the few gifts he/she receives? I cannot believe the posters who say $20 per child is too much. It's not as if the driver is getting that from every child, just a few per bus. For a highly stressful job, I might add.