In this casual, live-recorded studio episode, Travis is joined by his producer Eric for an unfiltered conversation sparked by a clip from The Iced Coffee Hour and host Graham Stephan. What starts as light banter quickly turns into a surprisingly thoughtful breakdown of tipping culture, customer experience, and how social pressure has quietly reshaped the way we spend money.

On this episode of Travis Makes Money, Travis shares his honest opinions on when tipping makes sense, when it feels forced, and why “optional” tips are starting to feel more like hidden taxes. From self-serve frozen yogurt shops to high-end restaurants, this episode dives into the psychology of tipping—and how entrepreneurs and consumers alike should think about value, service, and expectations.

If you’ve ever felt awkward staring at an iPad tip screen or wondered where the line should be drawn, this one’s for you.

On this episode we talk about:

Why tipping expectations have exploded over the last few years

The difference between genuine service and automated tip prompts

When Travis happily tips big—and when he refuses on principle

How social pressure influences spending decisions

Why tipping before service creates terrible customer experiences

The personal rule Travis uses to decide whether he can “afford” a restaurant

How businesses are quietly shifting labor costs onto customers

Top 3 Takeaways

A tip should reward great service—not replace fair wages.

If you’re doing all the work yourself, you shouldn’t feel obligated to tip.

If you can’t afford to tip generously at a nice place, you probably can’t afford to eat there yet.

Notable Quotes

“If I can’t afford to tip generously, then I don’t deserve to be eating at that place yet.”

“That’s not a tip anymore—that’s just a tax.”

“Tipping before the service is completed is one of the worst customer experiences there is.”

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