A Guide to Holiday Tipping

‘Tis the season for giving. That includes holiday tipping — a time to say thank you to those who make our lives a little bit easier year-round.

But who should be on that list? Should we tip the mailman? How much should we spend? How do we demonstrate our appreciation without blowing
our budget?

Many in the service industry emphasize they don’t expect a tip or a gift, but they appreciate the gesture.

“I don’t ever expect it,” said Zoe Luman, who owns Hair by Zoe based in the Shear Finesse salon on Hazard Avenue in Enfield. “But I’m appreciative and I send thank-you cards.”

If they are longtime clients, Luman says she usually gets a tip after services rendered. In addition, she often receives a holiday card with $25-$50 inside. Or, she may be given gift certificates or small presents, like mugs or candles.

“Our clients are very good to us over the holidays,” said Danielle Genovesi, owner of the pet grooming salon, Honey’s Haven on Park Road, in West Hartford. She said many clients tip throughout the year and still give holiday tips — which often is the cost of one grooming session — but tips can vary from $5 to $100. Her staff has also received gifts such as chocolate, popcorn, bottles of wine and candles. “We appreciate anything,” laughed Genovesi.

For teachers, the holiday gifts are “usually not monetary,” noted Joan Parks, director of Avon Nursery School on West Main Street in Avon.  Often, teachers receive homemade baked goods or a gift made by a child, but “we don’t expect anything,” said Parks.

There are no formal, hard and fast rules about holiday tipping. Averages and ranges vary depending on family budgets and the types of services. Etiquette expert Emily Post’s website, www.emilypost.com, offers tips on what to consider when deciding how much to spend:

* Consider homemade gifts if your budget doesn’t allow for tips. If you aren’t crafty or handy in the kitchen, a handwritten note is always appropriate.

* If you tip regularly at the time of service, you don’t have to tip at the end of the year. Or, you can select a small gift as a thank you.

In general, it is thoughtful at holiday time or the end of the year to tip those who serve us all year long, and those with whom we have a personal relationship. These tips are customarily delivered in December, prior to Christmas Day.

The table below has been culled from various sources as a guide to help plan for holiday tipping. (See www.emilypost.com and www.cnnmoney.com for more information.)