I am always (although I have been doing this for years) unsure how much to tip people at the holidays. Last year I looked to the (always dependable) Emily Post for Tipping Guidelines – Go here for that great resource and this year I found Oprah’s Guide to Tipping – and it’s printable, too.
Here is an excerpt…
Gratuity Advice for the Holidays
Nanny: A week’s salary plus a small gift from your child.
Babysitter: An evening’s pay plus a gift from your child.
Newspaper carrier: $5 to $15.
Mail carrier: Postal workers can accept gifts worth up to $20.
Housekeeper: A week’s salary.
Garbage collectors: $10 to $20 each.
Doorman: $25 to $100.
Super: $30 to $100.
Elevator operator: $20 to $50.
Personal trainer: Price of one session.
Parking-garage attendant: One third of monthly bill.
Dog walker: A week’s salary.
Hairdresser: $25 to $100.
Manicurist: $10 to $50.
12 Days of Shopping
Dec 1: Make Your Own Gifts Granola, Pragmatic Mom and Capability Mom.
Dec 2: Kids Make Gifts CRAFT (ModPodge versus Clove Fruit)
Dec 3: Personalized Gifts (Fancy Address Stampers versus Pretty Papers)
Dec 4: Father-in-Law/Dad and Mother-in-Law/Mom
Dec 5: Tutors/Teachers
Dec 6: High Tech/Low Tech
Dec 7: Hostess/Gifts That Give Back
Dec 8: Sanitation Engineers, Mail Carriers, Hairdresser, Delivery People, Babysitter, Cleaning People, Dog Walker/Dog Trainer, etc. (a.k.a. who else did I forget?) and Emily Post’s Etiquette on this subject.
Dec 9: Husband, Me (Our Own Wacko List); Capability:Mom Husband/Wife
Dec 10: Dog/Cat
Dec 11: Quick Gifts from Whole Foods versus Gourmet Food Store
Dec 12: ‘Cause I Am So Together, Last Minute Home Made Gifts: Pragmatic Mom and Capability : Mom
Thanks for the helpful range of what to spend! I needed that!