Should I Tip The Mailman?

Every year, as it gets closer to Christmas, I see more and more stories about holiday tipping etiquette and who I should tip. I understand tipping in the hospitality industry. For example, waiters make most of their money on tips, and they have an established custom on what to tip. I don’t always agree, and if the service was poor, I tip less, and if the service was great, I tip more.

I’m a firm believer that a tip should be given for going above and beyond. That’s why I have a problem with holiday tipping – what am I tipping for? For someone who is doing their job? I have no doubt that the person receiving the tip would be grateful – I would be if I received a tip. But really, should I tip the mailman? I don’t know this person, they have never done anything extra for me, although they do their job everyday by delivering my mail.

What about these others? This is the list I found online and what they recommend you should tip:

• Baby Sitter – One to two nights pay
• Cleaning Person – Cost of one visit
• Dog Walker – A week’s pay
• Hairstylist – Cost of one visit
• Mailman – Can’t accept money, but something less than $20
• Newspaper Delivery Person – $10 – $30
• Nursing Home Worker – Personal Gift
• Personal Trainer – $50 to the cost of one session
• Teacher – Small Gift
• Trash Collector – $10 – $30

I have a couple issues with this list. One, for places such as the hairstylist, I tip when I go based on how I like my cut. Same would go for the babysitter – I would just tip that night. Why would I pay a special tip for the holidays? Two, some of these people do a horrible job – my trash collector, for instance, was too lazy to pick up a trash can of ours, and I had to call his supervisor to come get it. His supervisor said he didn’t know what happened, and I told him that I watched him from my window, he just didn’t want to lift it.

Before you think I’m a Grinch, I do agree with several of these. I would definitely tip my cleaning person, since they would put up with a lot of junk around my house. I would also tip a nursing home worker – same reason. Finally, I would definitely tip my child’s teacher, as I would want them to know I value the work they do, and I normally don’t directly pay them.

So, in the end, I wouldn’t tip the mailman. Should I? Readers, do you have any holiday tipping advice?

This post was written by...

Robert – who has written 317 posts on The College Investor.

Robert is the founder and editor of The College Investor, a personal finance site dedicated to young adult and college student finances. You can learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter or Facebook.

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