The theme this week on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast is: Holiday tipping etiquette

Today, I’m sharing with you some final thoughts on tipping for the holidays. 

As I’ve mentioned several times this week, tipping is a nice gesture of gratitude, but if you can’t afford it, don’t sweat it. You shouldn’t feel guilty if you don’t tip. And a handwritten and thoughtful thank you card showing your appreciation will mean much more than them to cash anyways. 

These days, I think many of us tip because we feel guilty and we see tip jars everywhere. I used to feel guilty anytime I bypassed a tip jar, but my philosophy when it comes to tipping is that it should be a reward for exceptional service or when someone is attending to you, like a waiter at a restaurant. Unless the service is terrible, they deserve a tip, and even if the service is sub-par, I stil think it’s necessary to tip them for bringing your drinks and food and the ketchup when you asked for it. But I also think iit’s not necessary to tip the barista for a cup of black coffee or the kid at the fast food joint handing you a bag of food. 

So I encourage you to not feel guilty if you don’t tip. And when it comes to your hair stylist or the dog groomer, I think it’s best to use the opportunity to show your appreciation during the holidays to those service providers who make your life easier throughout the year. But it doesn’t always have to be with cash or a gift. 

This year for our nanny’s birthday, I gave her a small gift, some cash and a handwritten card. In the card, I was very specific about how I appreciate how reliable she is, how good she is with the kids, and how it’s obvious how much she cares about them. She told me later that she really enjoyed the gift and the cash, but it was the thoughtful card that meant the most to her. 

So whether you can afford to give generously in cash, or can just give a thoughtful card this year, I encourage you to do something to help those regular service providers in your life to feel appreciated. 

That’s it for today. Thanks for listening! My name is Ashley Micciche and this is the Retirement Quick Tips podcast.  

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