Tipping and/or Gift Giving During the Holidays

[nw6675]

I know we always have tipping threads going, but I don't recall this one specifically - who do you generally tip and/or give a gift to at the holidays? I am channeling Slo by making it a poll

I was prompted because DD11 takes private swimming lessons and when I mentioned I would get her coach something for Christmas DH thought I was crazy.

I know it all gets out of hand, so I'm curious what others do. Thanks!

 

[nw6675]

PS. I hit the choices capacity - so if you give nothing at all, feel free to put in the comments. HA HA!

 

[disneychrista]

I don't give anyone holiday gifts or tips.

 

[Galactic Reversal]

Other: regular babysitter

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Don't typically tip delivery drivers, garbage collectors, sports coaches, church pastors
Edited to say paper delivery guy gets a tip at Christmas
Barber gets tips when service is rendered
Don't have a pet groomer (but when I did, I didn't tip them)
Teachers, troop leaders get a gift, if we're on a "friend" level, not just because they work with my kids.

 

[tvguy]

None of the above.
I never see Fedex, UPS or Amazon drivers, and we have their trucks on our street 3 or 4 times a day, so which driver is the one that delivered the rare package I get?
It's against the law to give a Mail Carrier a tip.
I tip the Barber through the year.
Garbage is picked up by government works, against the law for them to take a tip.
No to the rest except a church Pastor. I belonged to a small church where the pastor was the only employee and typically a member of the congregation took a collection for a cash Christmas gift. My mom moved to another, bigger church because they offered more programs for members. That church has seven Pastors and 20 full time support staff, who do you tip, and who do you exclude?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Mail carrier, newspaper delivery and trash collector get Christmas tip (money) .

If your daughter has private coach/teacher for a long time, I'd give a GC at Christmas.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

I try to tip my mail carrier and the garbage crew because ours are really pretty awesome.

I babysit weekly and am a bit surprised the parents don't do something at the holidays. I am super flexible with their schedule (they are always running late for pick up and I don't charge extra or they cancel last minute and don't pay for the day. They also often delay payments for a day or 2 because of their budget and I work with them) so I think something would be appropriate. Even if was just some artwork the kiddo did in a frame, it would be nice to be acknowledged. It's not the end of the world but I do find it not very thoughtful.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

None of the above for either a tip or a gift. Some not applicable as we don't use that service.

We don't have the same mail carrier day to day plus they deliver to a cluster mailbox and for the trash collection they just use a mechanical arm and only get out when they have to. ETA: and I should add there's 3 different trucks that come one for trash, one for recycling and one for yard waste. Yard waste is the only one where the drivers have a higher likelihood of getting out of the vehicle since it's not free for a yard waste bin and most just use bags.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Other: building staff. No one else in my life to tip on a regular basis. I should point out that my hairstylist owns his shop and tradition says he doesn’t receive an additional financial reward.

 

[amcnj]

Right now there isn’t anyone I tip at holiday time as I don’t have personal contact with any individuals on an ongoing basis throughout the year.

Many years ago when I had newspaper delivery I did used to tip. They used to leave a a holiday card with their address with the paper around that time. And I noticed that right after the holidays is also when delivery personnel might change!

 

[CynBeth]

For the newspaper delivery person I always add a tip on the bill year round. For the hairdresser I give a tip every visit but around holiday time also give her a gift card.

 

[_19disnA]

We pay a fee for our trash service and I never interact with them and often not home when they pickup why would I tip them? For all of the other listed items, don't see a need to tip any of them for doing a job they are being paid to do. Doubt we have ever talked to our mail carrier since moving into a new home a couple of years ago. Not even sure if it's the same person each day, just never noticed. Occasion package deliveries are left by the front door since there is virtually nothing we buy that requires a signature.

 

[Disneylover99]

We used to give gift cards to our kids teachers/daycare providers when they were little. But it’s been many years now.

 

[pinkxray]

My kids are still in elementary school so I give the teachers a little gift or gift card.

I also give the bus driver a gift card. It used to be a small Dunkin donuts card when just one kid took the bus. Now, we are on the 4th year of having the same driver. He is a nice guy and showed up everyday throughout covid so I have started giving him a Target gift card last year and will do the same this year.

 

[john7994]

I think if you feel moved to tip/gift for services, where you have a more direct interaction (beyond the typical dining, hospitality, salon, spa and the like ), it’s up to you and those relationships (with Teachers, Coaches, Pastors and others)

However, I have never tipped for package/mail delivery, garbage, or other services where I have never directly interacted with the individuals. I know people that do tip or provide a gift for these types of things - so it’s not like it’s unheard of.

 

[ronandannette]

Nobody to gift/tip here either. My hair stylist and the dog groomer get tipped as the services are rendered and I may not even see either of them near Christmas. There’s no direct contact with any delivery or garbage people and I’m a decade past having to worry about teachers/coaches/group leaders. It’s never occurred to me to “tip” the leadership at my church; most of them we consider personal friends and that would just feel weird.

 

[QueenIsabella]

I always tip my hairdresser and dog groomer, not just at the holidays. I do throw in extra (cash) in December.

My kids would help me make gifts for their teachers--one year, it was cloth stockings with a cookie mix (in a bag) inside, just as an example.

My DD(now)20 had an amazing cello teacher for years. He was tricky, because he was Jewish and kept kosher--no food gifts. One year I got him a book about teaching (he said it was the best teacher gift he'd ever gotten--maybe he was a good liar!). Another year, I got him a clock with the "circle of fifths" as the numbers.

 

[DisneyHardin]

Our cleaning lady is the only person I currently give a cash tip to at Christmas.

Years ago, when I still lived in a small town, I always did Carrier Pickup for my online sales packages and my carrier was so fantastic about getting them, so I would tip him. I know USPS employees aren't supposed to take tips, but I put cash in a Christmas card with the carriers name on it and put it out with my packages. It wasn't returned to me, so I assume he pocked the cash and was appreciative.

 

[easyas123]

I tip the woman who does my nails $100 for the holiday, the woman who does my hair ownes the studio so I usually take her a physical gift - something simple like a flower arrangement or food item.
I leave a little something for the mail carrier, usually a gift card.
Gift card to the UPS guy & FEDEX kid - we live/work in a rural area and they are usually the same drivers that also service our office (I tip them seperately on behalf of the office) and they will often leave work stuff at the house for me if the office is closed and I appreciate that a lot.
I also leave a gift basket & gift cards for the the cleaning ladies at our house, as well as the people who clean the office.