Holiday season is the time when Americans choose to thank the service providers who provide them with relentless year-round services. And they prefer to do it mostly with tipping. It is very important to remember that when you do the holiday tipping, it is truly about saying thank you and expressing your gratitude.
The way you tip those people on a regular basis, you can apply the same principle to tipping around the holidays. Your regular service providers traditionally expect to get tips around the holidays and in most of the cases, they largely rely on that extra cash amount. Plus, it helps to maintain good relationships mutually.
But how much are you supposed to tip during the holiday season to the folks you interact with on a regular basis? I am here for you with our holiday tipping guide! Apply a little creativity and you can accommodate everyone on your list for the holiday season. Read on to more!
Things You Should Consider Before Deciding on Holiday Tipping
No matter how good a relationship you have with your regular service workers, you must take a look at several things before you decide on tipping during the holiday season. So you can take a look at the below considerations when you decide on how to thank those people, whom you will spend money on, and how much you can afford to spend:
- Does your budget permit? First and foremost, you should check your budget for accommodating the tipping. Do not feel obligated at all to go beyond your personal budget in case you have a tight one.
- Consider homemade gifts if you see your budget is not at all supporting the holiday tipping. Even if you are not good with that, you should remember that your good and kind words are always a great way to express your gratitude for a year-round good service.
- If you consider providing any gift or tip, that should always be accompanied by a short handwritten note of appreciation.
- If you tip on a regular basis at the time of service, you may sometimes get the option of year-end tip secondary. Maybe just give a more modest holiday thank you. Above all, you may choose to give a small gift instead.
- How frequently do you receive the service? Is the quality of the service up to the mark? Consider these things as well..
- How good is your relationship with the service provider? Relationships are something you cannot overlook in terms of holiday tipping.
- Do you live in a larger city? Or a smaller one? Because tipping averages tend to be higher in larger cities than that of the smaller ones.
- Consider the length of the service you have been getting. The number of years matters.
- Follow and take note of the regional customs while tipping during the holiday season.
- In case you have any doubt about a particular company policy, just call the front desk and ask if the tipping is accepted by the company and it is a typical practice for other customers as well.
- Follow your common sense for specific circumstances. Your holiday spirit should always be your guide.
- Do not settle for the thought that you will not get a good service for the coming year if you do not tip for holidays. Under any circumstance, if you think you have had a bad service for this reason, just do not hesitate to consider changing companies or speak directly with the respective manager.
The Service Providers & Suggested Holiday Gift or Tip
Now let us get into our recommendations for holiday thanking, or particularly, tipping for the ones who regularly provide you year-round service. These are not rules. Just keep in mind that the average practice can vary based on the type of regional customs, and your own budget. Sometimes you may have to give cash, sometimes gifts. So you can practice the below recommendations as the go-to suggestions for your holiday tipping journey.
Hairdresser & Hairstylist
Recommended Options: Cash and/or a gift.
Suggested Amount or Gift: $50-100 and/or a small gift.
Learn more about the tipping guide for Hairdresser & Hairstylist.
Beauty Salon Staff
Recommended Options: Cash and/or a gift, depending on how you tip after getting the services.
Suggested Amount or Gift: Up to the cost of one salon visit that is to be divided for each salon staff member working with you. Also, you can give individual cards or a small gift to each of those.
Learn more about the tipping guide for Salon Service
Pet Groomer
Recommended Options: Cash or gift (if the same person grooms your pet all the year round).
Suggested Amount or Gift: Up to the cost of one session or a small gift.
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How Much to Tip A Dog Groomer? Things You Should Know!
Cleaner/Housekeeper
Recommended Options: Cash or gift.
Suggested Amount or Gift: The amount of one week’s pay and/or a small gift.
Learn more about the tipping guide for House Cleaner.
Barber
Recommended Options: Cash or gift.
Suggested Amount or Gift: $40-$50 or up to the cost of one haircut or a gift.
Learn more about the tipping guide for Barber.
Personal Trainer
Recommended Options: Cash or gift.
Suggested Amount or Gift: Up to the cost of one session or a small gift.
Learn more about the tipping guide for Personal Trainer.
Package Deliverer
Recommended Options: Only a small gift, no cash required. (Applies for the person who visits you for your regular deliveries.)
Suggested Amount or Gift: Small gift ranging up to $20. Cash gifts are discouraged by most delivery companies.
Teacher/Tutor
Recommended Options: Cash or small gift (Cash applies for after-school tutors only, not the regular teachers at school.)
Suggested Amount or Gift: $25 or the cost of one after-school session or a small gift.
Learn more about the tipping guide for Tutor on holiday
Massage Therapist
Recommended Options: Cash or gift.
Suggested Amount or Gift: Up to the cost of one session or a small gift.
Learn more about the tipping guide for Massage envy.
Handyman
Recommended Options: Cash or gift.
Suggested Amount or Gift: $15-$40 or a small gift.
Learn more about the tipping guide for Handyman.
Yard/Garden Worker
Recommended Options: Cash or gift.
Suggested Amount or Gift: $20-$50 each or a small gift per person.
read also
How Much to Tip Tree Removal Workers? Here’s An Essential Guide for You!
How Can You Give the Holiday Tip?
Wondering how you can give the holiday tip? It is ideal to put a holiday tip to place in a card with a thank you note for the person’s service. According to etiquette experts, it is ideal to tip in the holidays in the form of holiday presents. You can also tip the worker at the same time as their normal payment. Since this is not always possible, you can leave the card in the envelope as well.
Moreover, if you do not have the time to buy a card or write a note, just don’t stress. You can put cash in a plain envelope with a note, and it is acceptable as well. While handing them the cash in the envelope, you can wish them “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas”.
Final Remarks:
You should take note of the fact that holiday tipping is certainly not an obligation, but it is a really nice gesture of you having the financial means. At the end of a year, things become very difficult for many households; and a holiday tip can actually provide a much-needed boost for the service worker to meet both ends.
