Holiday Tipping Without Breaking the Bank

The holiday season is barreling down upon us, and along with the time for the yearly holiday gratuity. Everyone seems to expect some sort of gratuity during the holiday season. It seems that etiquette dictates that you give, and do it graciously, despite your depleting bank balance.

Contrary to popular belief, holiday tipping is a practice that is reserved only for the select few service providers on your list. There is a method to the giving that can preserve your cash stores, while recognizing those who helped you most throughout the year.

First, you must know your holiday budget. This will help in all areas of your gift-giving. Figure out just how much money that you will have available for for holiday tipping. This number--no matter how large or small--will be key to deciding just who is to be tipped. This leads us to the list.

You will need to set aside time for this. Get out a piece of paper, and write down all of the people who aid you in your daily life all year. This should include your dog walker, the housekeeper, the babysitter, etc. Don't just write down every name, but concentrate on those that you have come to depend on--whose consistent service has made your daily life run smoothly. Think of the ones with whom you have become familiar; like the babysitter who didn't mind doing things like watching the kids that extra hour so that you could have those late meetings, or the housekeeper who didn't mind helping set up for birthday parties and those special business dinners. The people who fit all of these criteria are the ones who warrant a gratuity this holiday season.

Next, now that you know who to tip, it's time to figure out how much. A good rule of thumb is: anyone that you pay for a personalized service (the babysitter, hairdresser, personal trainer, housekeeper, dog walker, etc.), you should pay somewhere between one and two days wages. A day's fee for dog walking, a typical night's babysitting wages, or the rate of a training session are examples. Less personalized service--that of a doorman, garbage collector, or a paperboy-- warrants a tip of $20-$50. Letter carriers and teachers have limitations on the amount and type of gifts that they can receive. Be sure to research these restrictions if one of these made it on your holiday tipping short list. With everyone else, use your judgment based on the relationship and your budget.

Lastly, before you fork over the cash, dress it up in an envelope, accompanied by a card or a note written on plain paper. Your note can range from a simple "Thank you" to a page long description of all the reasons for your appreciation. A kind word will soften the cash gift.

This season, use a little preparation to make just one more part of your holiday stress-free. Just remember that the holiday tip is a gift that is given with care and consideration--for all the service people out there, and your pocket!