The 8 Most Important People to Tip Around the Holidays, According to Etiquette Experts
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While it’s generous to tip people for their services year-round, most of us rely on the holidays to give out bigger cash bonuses. “Generally, I look at holiday tipping as a way to give out my end-of-year thank you’s,” says Lizzie Post, co-president at the Emily Post Institute. “When you look at it in that way, it’s natural to do it in December, when the year is almost coming to an end. it helps you reflect on all the services you’ve received throughout the year that you just couldn’t have lived without.”
And while there’s a whole host of people you could possibly tip this season, Post wants to first stress that you shouldn’t worry too much about the dollar amount, especially if it’s been a rough year financially for you.
“You can always give a thank-you card instead, and if you do have to give less, you can always preface that before you tip,” she explains. “You can say you know it’s not as much as past years and you apologize due to the circumstances, but you still wanted to express your gratitude in the best way you could this year.” Even giving just a little bit is better than nothing and will be met with appreciation, says Post.
Whether you’re on a budget or can give freely, both the etiquette experts we spoke to stressed that there are a few important people one should never forget to tip. Below is the consolidated list of the eight most important people to tip around the holidays, as well as a tip guide explaining how much to give them if you’re able.
Who to Tip During the Holidays
Your Doorman
“Most people often forget their doorman, and many times, this is somebody who they see every day,” says Post. “They often hold packages for them, announce their guests, and help them with heavy bags when traveling. They should be remembered during the holidays.”
Depending on how many doormen you have, $20 to $100 is fine. If there are multiple doormen, $20 or more for each is sufficient, and if you have only one, then the higher end of that range is more appropriate, according to Post. If they're friendly or do a lot for you, you can give some doormen more money than others, and you should also consider tipping on the higher end of the spectrum if you live in a luxury building.
Your Babysitter
“If you have a reliable babysitter whom your child loves, I highly suggest tipping them,” says etiquette expert Diane Gottsman. If they’ve been around a significantly long time, you could even give them a gift too. But if you insist on cash, Gottsman says to give them the cash equivalent of one night’s pay in an envelope, along with a card written by your child.
Your Housekeeper
As is the case with your babysitter, if your housekeeper is incredibly trustworthy and reliable, you may want to consider giving a gift, according to Gottsman. However, if you want to give cash, a thank-you note and the equivalent of one day’s worth of service is encouraged. You can simply leave it in the home for them to pick up when they come to clean.
Abd El Kader Classic Candle, Moroccan Mint Tea
https://www.neimanmarcus.com
$125.00
Your Landlord or Building Manager
“If you have a friendly relationship with your super or building manager, I would say to give on the higher side—especially if they are incredibly responsive to your needs,” says Gottsman. If not, $25 is more than enough, but you could go up as high as $200.
Your Pool Cleaner or Gardener
“People who help with general maintenance around the house should definitely be tipped around the holiday season, but things can get tricky when it comes to your pool cleaner or lawn mowers,” says Post.
She adds, “If it’s just one person who shows up often, the cost of one service or up to a week’s pay is sufficient.” If it’s a different person who shows up each time, or a crew of people show up to clean your pool, for example, you should aim to give between $20 to $50 to each of them.
Your Pet Groomer or Dog Walker
“Chances are, your groomer or dog walker loves your pet just as much as you do,” says Gottsman. You could give them a small gift—especially if you’ve been using their services for a long time. But if you want to give cash, you should give your dog walker a week's worth of pay, and your groomer should get the cash equivalent of the cost of one session.
The Original Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark
williams-sonoma.com
$29.95
Your Hairstylist, Aesthetician or Massage Therapist
If you often give generous tips every time you see these beauty service professionals, Post says that you don’t necessarily have to tip around the holidays: In this case, a small gift or gift certificate to a favorite store or bakery will do. However, if you really do want to tip them for their services even more so around the holiday season, Post recommends giving them the cash equivalent of the cost of one service or salon visit.
K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Damage Control Duo Set
Sephora
$80.00
Your Personal Trainer
If your personal trainer is someone you see often, or has been instrumental in helping you achieve your goals, you should think about tipping them, advises Post.
“You could give them the cash equivalent of one session, and I would highly recommend a card that explains to them how they have helped you this year,” she says. As many professionals in the healthcare space have started in the business due to their desire to help people, it’ll mean a lot for them to know how they’ve positively affected your life this year.
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