We’re all for tipping for good service, but do you over-tip, just to be nice, or to avoid feeling guilty? Admittedly, a few of us Smart Cookies are currently enrolled in the over-tipper recovery program, especially those of us who once worked in the service industry and suffer from severe pangs of guilt if we don’t leave at least 20% on a bill. But now, while we ‘re very happy to pay people what they deserve, we also understand how important it is to hang on to as much of our hard earned money as possible.
Think of it like this; assuming you went out for two $20 meals a week at a casual restaurant and tipped 20% consistently, you would pay $416 in tips in a year, but if you paid the standard ( still generous) 15%, you would save $100 a year. The key is know what to tip in each situation and stick to a standard formula.
Etiquette expert Kimberly Law, helped us to create the Smart Cookies Guide to being a good tipper.
At the salon
Getting your locks washed, coloured, cut and styled at a salon often means having your hair handled by several different employees. It™s easiest to leave 15 to 20 per cent on the total and ask the receptionist to disperse it among the staff.
At a hotel
If a doorman carries your luggage to your room, tip $1 to $2 per bag. Ditto each time you ask him or her to hail a cab. To make things easy keep small change or bills on hand throughout your stay.
Housekeeping is another hotel service that’s often neglected. Because these members of staff turn over daily, leave $1 to $2 in a prominent place (with a note saying œThank you,” for example) each morning of your stay.
At a restaurant
Fifteen per cent is standard at family-style eateries, but the more formal the fare the fatter the tip “ 20 per cent or higher to cover multiple staff in a fine-dining establishment. If you don’t feel the service you’ve received warrants a tip, speak to the management. Don’t just leave zero. It’s tacky and doesn’t solve anything. Everyone can have an off day, and in the end you may receive compensation for a supper gone sour.
One last tip
Always base your tip on the subtotal before taxes. Your cellphone probably includes a calculator feature or a tip app that will quickly tell you how much money to leave on the table. Use it and you won’t be caught leaving too little or too much.
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