Who do you Tip for the Holidays?

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2

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  • funjen1972
    funjen1972 Posts: 949 Member
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    -Hair stylist
    -kid that mows my lawn
    -servers and bartenders get extra tips at the places I frequent
    - spontaneous tips to anyone else that does something extra nice during December
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,742 Member
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    No one. We don't even know who our mail person or garbage collectors are, and have lived in our home for years but only vaguely know who are neighbors are. Cut our own hair. Would never tip professionals like accountant, doctor, dentist. That's just how it is for my household but I think it's nice so many people do this sort of holiday tipping.

    I do tip about 20% more than usual in restaurants and hotels over the Nov/Dec period though.
  • The_Devil_in_Miss_Jones
    The_Devil_in_Miss_Jones Posts: 684 Member
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    I always give good tips to servers whenever I go eat somewhere, not just during the holidays. They depend on those tips to make a living. During the holidays and mostly through the year, I try to buy mostly local stuff, those people are self employed and I rather give my money to them than big companies. I think it's very important to support local businesses.
  • glamorousAdvocate
    glamorousAdvocate Posts: 15 Member
    edited December 2018
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    The mail courier.
    The bus driver I see most often.
    My dentist.
    My family doctor.

    Mostly I just give handmade cards with customized messages on them and a Tim Hortons gift card with enough on it for a couple coffees or whatever, since I can't afford much, but I think making it personal makes up for that.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,742 Member
    edited December 2018
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    The_Devil_in_Miss_Jones wrote: »
    I always give good tips to servers whenever I go eat somewhere, not just during the holidays. They depend on those tips to make a living. During the holidays and mostly through the year, I try to buy mostly local stuff, those people are self employed and I rather give my money to them than big companies. I think it's very important to support local businesses.

    I agree with you about supporting local businesses. I also think it's a personal choice to tip more during the holidays. I always tip decently but give roughly 20% more, on average (on top of a decent tip). I doubt any servers are like, "oh man I'm so angry to get this $14 tip instead of the $11 tip I got in August". Who can't use a little more during the holidays? Even if you don't celebrate, it's nice to get a couple extra bucks for whatever reason.
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    edited December 2018
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    seltzermint555 wrote: »
    I am super confused by people tipping their dentist/doctor.
    Is this a custom for countries outside the US (which may make sense)?
    Or are people in the US tipping their dentists and doctors? I don't get it.

    My family have always gifted our doctors GP and specialists during the holidays. I am,uncertain if others do it in the US. I know some do send their doctors alcohol in my part of the USA. A Christmas card with a cheque has always been what we do (my family).

    Turkey, Ham and Champagne are also popular gifts in the Pacific. The same goes for lawyers, local Police Dept and Fire Dept. I just don't here.
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    edited December 2018
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    seltzermint555 wrote: »
    777Gemma888 wrote: »
    seltzermint555 wrote: »
    I am super confused by people tipping their dentist/doctor.
    Is this a custom for countries outside the US (which may make sense)?
    Or are people in the US tipping their dentists and doctors? I don't get it.

    My family have always gifted our doctors GP and specialists during the holidays. I am,uncertain if others do it in the US. I know some do send their doctors alcohol in my part of the USA. A Christmas card with a cheque has always been what we do (my family).

    Ahh, I think gifts (like alcohol) are a lot easier to imagine than tips. Or a check, although I don't quite get it myself.

    Generally, when I think of "tips" I imagine smallish amounts (let's say $100 or less) which to me would be strange for a person in a professional position. I think if I tried to tip my dentist a twenty dollar bill he would totally laugh, and probably not accept it, and that's kind of what I was imagining.

    5% of total value of yearly treatment. Certainly more than $100. If it was $100, I would certainly send alcohol.

    I know Beverly Hills doctors who don't balk at gifts from clients, be they $100 cheque, alcohol, chocolates etc.
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    edited December 2018
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    seltzermint555 wrote: »
    This thread is beyond weird to me. Everyone has their own idea of what's normal though, I realize that.

    When we were in SF, we ordered a lot of seafood from a fishmonger in Sausalito (family owned company) because of Pacific functions we'd order for ( my sister and I) - islanders eat a lot of seafood. Every Christmas and New Year's, this family would deliver 3 large esquees filled with giant whole crabs as a gift. They weren't foreigners, rather a white American family.
  • Tigg_er
    Tigg_er Posts: 22,001 Member
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    My Crew Chief,,For keeping my chute packed so it always works
    Mail Man -for bringing me all them goodies
    Trash Man - For hauling all my crap away
    UPS Gal -She is always smiling
    The Neighbor for keeping his brats out of my yard ,and for putting up with all kinds of noises at all hours
    The local cops ,,for not arresting me
    Oh The list goes on and on ,, now I'm broke
  • glamorousAdvocate
    glamorousAdvocate Posts: 15 Member
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    seltzermint555 wrote: »
    I am super confused by people tipping their dentist/doctor.
    Is this a custom for countries outside the US (which may make sense)?
    Or are people in the US tipping their dentists and doctors? I don't get it.

    Both my dentist and my doctor have been with my family for over 25 years, and I see them several times a year. A card is the least I can do to thank them for their work!
  • CaptainFantastic01
    CaptainFantastic01 Posts: 9,557 Member
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    my sanity starts to tip. does that count?
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
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    seltzermint555 wrote: »
    I am super confused by people tipping their dentist/doctor.
    Is this a custom for countries outside the US (which may make sense)?
    Or are people in the US tipping their dentists and doctors? I don't get it.

    Im in the us and have never heard of that either until now.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,742 Member
    edited December 2018
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    glamorousAdvocate wrote: »
    seltzermint555 wrote: »
    I am super confused by people tipping their dentist/doctor.
    Is this a custom for countries outside the US (which may make sense)?
    Or are people in the US tipping their dentists and doctors? I don't get it.

    Both my dentist and my doctor have been with my family for over 25 years, and I see them several times a year. A card is the least I can do to thank them for their work!

    So I guess they're almost like a family friend? That would make sense I suppose.

    Sorry this is just a completely new concept to me and I'd never heard of it until this thread.

    My husband and I go to the same GP and have for 5-6 years but we only see him once a year, twice at most, and generally deal with the NP for minor illnesses. I have a new women's doc just about every time I get a wellness check because of health system changes. I'm very loyal to my dentist, and like him a lot as a person, but at the rates the office charges I'm out quite a lot of money per year even after my insurance kicks in - so not inclined to tip him jack squat. haha

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