Tipping and Gifting at Holiday Time: Survey Results

Tipping at holiday time can be joyous, stressful and even confusing. It's hard to know whom to tip and how much to tip or whether it would be more appropriate to give a gift. If so, is a small or big gift in order, or is a gift plus cash the right combination? We did a survey of 101 people in Scarsdale and surrounding areas to help determine what people like you are doing at holiday time for those who help to make our lives a little bit easier. Highlights are listed below and the table of results follows:

• Nannies and housekeepers are gifted the most (in dollars) at holiday time. Almost all respondents gave their nannies one week's pay, if not more. (A couple of people give their nannies 2-4 weeks pay.) Housekeepers most often receive a week's pay. Babysitters, as expected, are given less: 12% give a week of pay, 8% give between $10-$50, 7% give a small (<$25) gift, and 8% don't give anything beyond their regular rate.
• Most in Scarsdale are not tipping their gardeners, but those that do tend to tip very well, upwards of $76.
• Hairdressers are tipped well during the holidays in Scarsdale. After all, we all want to look our best at annual parties. Although 1/3 of people don't tip extra at holiday time, 7% tip between $10-25, 22% tip between $26-50, and 10% tip between $51-$150. Another 10% give a gift to their hairdresser.
• Garbage collectors receive generous gifts during the holidays. Really, who doesn't love those mini golf cart gizmos that speed down our driveways to rid the sides of our houses of trash? Only 11% of people don't do anything for garbage collectors. Almost half of people give between $10-$50, although it is unclear if this is per person or per truck. Another 11% give a small gift (<$25), 11% give $51-$75, 11% give $76-$100, and 4% give $101-$150.
• It pays to be a mail carrier. Although the U.S. Postal Service has a policy against mail carriers accepting any cash gifts, cash equivalents, or gifts over $20 in value, we in Scarsdale either don't know about it or choose to ignore it. 33% gave $10-$25, 28% gave $26-$50, and 6% gave $51-$100. Another 19% gave their mail carriers a small gift and 11% give nothing. Some people responded that they also tip their UPS/FedEx driver, and the amounts varied from $15-$50. Most people tip their newspaper delivery person with either a small gift or cash between $10-$50.
• Teachers most often received small gifts (<$25) from Scarsdale respondents. 13% gave cash gifts of $10-25 while $15% gave cash gifts between $26-50. 4% gave between $51-$75. If your child takes the bus, it's certainly appropriate to recognize the hard work of the bus driver and bus monitor. Gifts or gift cards are most appreciated and a range of $10-$50 per child is considered appropriate.
• Doctors are the least likely to receive cash gifts, understandable given their salaries compared to nannies and housekeepers. However, if your doctor has gone above and beyond for you or if you see them regularly, it's certainly appropriate to bring in a small gift of appreciation for the doctor or his/her office staff.
• The equivalent of one session or one week's pay is standard for a dog groomer, dog walker, personal trainer, music teacher, tutor, and regular aesthetician. Cash is the reigning wish from people in these professions.

Sarah White of Quaker Ridge enjoys tipping and gifting. She added, "I feel like gift giving around the holidays is somewhat obligatory and I am always worried that I am forgetting someone. She says, "I am approaching it more as a 'to-do' list." In fact, etiquette books often recommend making a list of people you wish to give to at holiday time so as not to forget anyone. Emily Weston of Fox Meadow said, "I do tip the garbage men and recycling men as well as the mail carrier, but as government employees, sometimes I wonder if it's appropriate to tip." And she's right, according to the postal service. She adds that there are some people who depend on it and build it into their yearly budget, so those are the people she prioritizes. "The dry cleaning delivery guy is always so kind and friendly when he sees me. The simple act of just being nice means a lot these days and I want to recognize that." Emily will be tipping him generously this year for his kindness and understanding.

Along with cash or other gifts at holiday time, it is important to remember to include a note thanking the recipient for their service. Kind words of appreciation mean a lot. If the person you are gifting interacts with your children on a regular basis, it is a nice gesture to include a little something from the child/children like a homemade card or art project. Sarah White believes teachers should receive the most, "...but that is often tempered by district policies," she said. So adding a special note from a child can make a teacher feel special and appreciated at holiday time.

Sources outside this survey suggest that a gift or cash in December is appropriate for service people who you interact with at least once a month. If you get your hair cut 2-3 times a year, it is unnecessary to make a special trip in to give a gift to a hairdresser. Likewise, some people responded that they tip their tailors, dry cleaners, launderers, and restaurant hostesses, but again, this is unnecessary unless you interact with these people regularly or they have recently gone above and beyond for you. There is also no "right" amount to gift, and the table below simply serves as a guideline. Sarah White cautioned, "It's hard to know what the 'right' amount is. It really does and should depend on how much you have in your holiday budget and this can vary tremendously family to family."

Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey. We hope that you got answers to your "What is appropriate to tip and who do I tip?" questions. Let us know in the comments if there are other people you tip during the holidays and what you tip them.