Holiday tips: to whom and how much to give, so as not to be considered a miser

In gift season, good manners require you to give holiday tips to people who make your life easier throughout the year. CNBC.

Photo: IStock

But when you count the people who contribute to your well-being, you can realize that this is quite a large group. This may seem a little intimidating. After all, according to a recent survey by RetailMeNot, more than half of shoppers say they plan to cut their holiday budgets this year due to the impact inflation is having on their finances.

Stop panic! The first thing to know about holiday tips is to give as much as you can afford.

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"Tipping appropriately is good for everyone involved," says Daniel Post Senning, co-author of Emily Post Etiquette, The Centennial Edition. “Tipping more than your budget is never going to be fun.”

This means that if any of the recommended tip amounts are too high for you, they can be adjusted downwards to suit your budget. “It’s okay to give half. Or a quarter. Or a very nice postcard. Or maybe give them a gift instead,” says Diane Gottman, etiquette expert and owner of a Texas protocol school.

Below are Gottman's abbreviated year-end tips. Remember, these are not requirements, but suggestions meant to give you an idea of ​​who you could thank this holiday season.

At school

Teachers and assistants: make a gift from the class. For example, a gift certificate to a teacher's favorite restaurant or store. If your child has multiple teachers, give each one a small gift.

School Secretary: small gift or gift certificate.

School Nurse: if your child sees the nurse often, consider giving her a small gift, such as a gift card at a coffee shop.

Director: homemade baking and holiday card.

Bus driver: $20 each.

School lunch providers: $20 each.

Houses

doorman: from $20 to $100. Strive to give each doorman the same amount.

Handyman: $ 20 to $ 100.

Garage worker: $ 10 to $ 50.

Landlord or construction manager: $50 and up, depending on their level of support.

Daily or weekly housekeeper: the equivalent of one day (or week) of service.

Newspaper peddler: $ 10 to $ 30.

Pool cleaner, lawn care specialist: maintenance is equivalent to one week.

Garbage collector: check local regulations to see if they can accept cash. If yes, then from $10 to $25 per person.

Service providers

Nurse: cash or gift card equivalent to one night's payment.

Nanny: payment for one week (up to one month) and a gift from the child.

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Hairdresser, manicurist, personal trainer, massage therapist: cash or gift card equivalent to one visit.

Pet Groomer: monetary equivalent of one service.

Dog walker: the monetary equivalent of one day (or one week) of service.

Home health care: Check out our corporate gift policy. Unless there are restrictions, a gift or gift certificate is equivalent to one service. It can be one day or a whole week, depending on your budget.

Private Chef: the monetary equivalent of the cost of one week of service.

Out-of-school dance teacher, tutor, minor league coach: $25 or a gift certificate to your favorite coffee shop.

Ordinary couriers

UPS: UPS allows drivers to accept small gifts or token rewards. Postmen cannot accept cash gifts or their equivalents. They can accept a gift worth up to $20 dollars.

FedEx: FedEx employees can accept gifts up to $75, but not cash or gift cards.

How to narrow the circle

If you do not feel like Scrooge, you are unlikely to find the time or money to present a gift to all these people.

To narrow it down, focus on two categories of people who, according to Senning, provide services related to the most important things in your life: "Your body and your home - and, by extension, your family."

The people in the first category are the ones that make you look and feel your best: hairdressers, masseurs, personal trainers, and the like. “These are great candidates for annual tips,” says Senning.

People in the second category might include your doorman, your babysitter, your dog walker, or the person who cleans your driveway when the weather turns snowy. These people have a direct positive impact on the way you live and deserve your appreciation, says Senning.

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If you add it all up and it still feels like too much, at least give a heartfelt thank you to the people who help you throughout the year—in person, through a card, or both.

This interaction can be a good opportunity for you to explain why you may not be able to offer as substantial a tip as in years past, as Senning says: "Don't underestimate the power of your voice and a genuine, warm smile," he says.

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