[FromNY]

Dollar Tree sells sealed packages of 2 facemaks.
One package along with 5 or ten dollars or more if desired would make a simple tip to wait staff, gate attendants, trash, mail or just someone you want to extend a kindness to. May you always have heart to do something for someone.

[coconutmama]

Originally Posted by riley2011

I think tipping all these people is way over the top. They are all getting paid to do a job excluding waiters and waitresses.

Bah Humbug!

We tip mail person, paper delivery person $25 each & pest control man a bit more, since he does some extra stuff for us each quarter which we appreciate.

Refuse guys come about 6AM so they are hard to catch but I will try harder this year. They do a good job & this year has been a struggle for many families

We do our own yard work

[photo1902]

We do $50 for postal station worker, $50 for our lawn guy, and $20 to each of the guys on the trash truck

[BoatRatKat]

Only tip the ones I actually have knowledge of who they are. Lawn guy gets 2 month's worth of pay because he is a hard worker, does a great job and never, ever fails to show up. Hair person gets what I usually pay for my hair service because she does a good job. Dog Groomer, same thing because she is dependable and has been with me through 2 dogs and does a great job. My long time handyman will get extra if he happens to be here in Dec, which he will be. Waitress's will get a little extra around Christmas time. That's about it.

[charlie1]

we usually give gift cards each year. Mainly because some companies (I worked for a couple) have rules regarding cash gifts and the size of gifts employees can accept. I am copying an article on the US Postal service explanation of THEIR rules for your info.

"According to the Postal Service, federal regulations allow all postal employees—including carriers—to accept a gift worth $20 or less from a customer per occasion, such as a holiday or a birthday. However, cash and cash equivalents, such as checks or gift cards that can be exchanged for cash, may never be accepted in any amount. In addition, no USPS employee may accept more than $50 worth of gifts from one customer in a calendar year period.

If you decide to ignore the rule when you give, your mail carrier must reimburse you for the cost of any gifts exceeding the $20 limit, or for gifts where the value of the item cannot be easily determined. This is done in two ways: either by returning the gift itself or by sending financial reimbursement.

Here's an example of the second option: If you were to give your mail carrier a bouquet of flowers worth more than $20, they would then have to figure out the actual value and send you a reimbursement for the full value. Your intentions may have been kind, but now your mailman has to make an extra effort to research the cost of your gift and then pay you the full amount out of their own pocket. That doesn't seem like much of a gift, does it? That's why it's important to understand—and follow—the rules of gifts for postal workers.

Unacceptable Gifts for Postal Workers
Postal workers are prohibited from accepting the following items:

Cash
Checks
Stocks
Liquor
Anything that can be exchanged for cash
Anything of monetary value more than $20
Acceptable Gifts for Postal Workers
Some acceptable gifts for your mail delivery person include:

Modest refreshments such as coffee, doughnuts, cookies, or soda
Plaques, trophies, and other items intended for presentation
Perishable items such as food, candy, fruit, or flowers, so long as they are to be shared with other postal workers
Retail gifts cards with a value of less than $20 that cannot be converted to cash"

[Rsenholzi]

In Sumter, we changed garbage companies. These guys have only been doing it a month. It’s the past guys that should have received a tip since they did it all year. As for the others , it really depends on how hard they work for you. Have they done anything out of their normal routine for you? If so, tip more. My lawn person is great and always keeps my lawn looking good so I give him more. However, I’m constantly having to check or call back my weed guy, probably not as much because he causes me more work and time . He also only come once a month. Paper person will get a bigger tip because it is every day. I need to check the regs on the mail people because I always gave them more than the post I read. Frankly , I kind of resented that one because they are salaried and well paid much like a teacher and teachers aren’t rewarded for their work. Neither are the police and these are all federal/state employees. If the regs are right , that someone posted they definitely will be getting less from me this year. I do , however, lean to gift cards now rather than cash. My tips are between $25 and $75 depending on who it is.

[tvbound]

Given that we, unlike millions of others, are very fortunate that the pandemic has not affected us financially, will be increasing our holiday tips this year. Our lawn crew will get $50 per person, refuse workers and paper deliverer the same, mail woman $60 (in spite of supposed USPS rules), hair folks $50 and I am now keeping a few hundred in $20 bills in my wallet at all times, for those we run across and might not have thought of ahead of time. After all, it's not like there are any rewards for those who die with the most money and since it will make no difference in our lifestyle (or children's inheritance), but may help someone buy a nicer X-mas present for their children, or pay a long overdue bill, or ?? - we feel it's the least we can do.

[Rickanvic]

My husband is a retired UPS driver. When he retired 11 years ago, he was making $30 an hour with about 10 hours of overtime at time and a half every week. Along with that, UPS paid 100% of our family of 4 benefits which included health, dental, vision, life and disability. He also received 7 weeks of vacation time. He would feel bad accepting tips as a lot of his customers had less than we did. He did enjoy receiving cards thanking him for doing a great job. He also loved getting cookies. So I try to focus on the people I know a tip will make a difference for.

[Gray lady of the sea]

Don’t forget our garbage collectors that work so hard. I’m giving each of the 3 men on the truck $25
As others have said - whatever your budget allows will be appreciated

[photo1902]

Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t the workers at our local postal stations contract workers, not USPS employees? If so, the rules posted earlier are moot. And to the person who posted that they are well paid...well, I think that’s debatable

[Rsenholzi]

According to CNN money proper etiquette is the following
Housekeeper - 1 weeks pay
Trash $15-20 each
Gardener - $20-50
Hairdresser cost of 1 cut + small gift
Manicurist - cost of 1 session +small gift
Personal trainer- $25 or up to 1 weeks pay
Massage therapist- $50-$100 or cost of 1 session
Groomer - small gift + 1/4 to 1/2 cost of 1 session
Dog walker- cost of 1 session
Mail carrier - gifts under $20
If you get regular deliveries:
UPS- $15
FedEx - $25
Paper carrier - $15-25 for weekly ; $5-15 for weekend only
Hope this helps

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Rsenholzi

According to CNN money proper etiquette is the following
Housekeeper - 1 weeks pay
Trash $15-20 each
Gardener - $20-50
Hairdresser cost of 1 cut + small gift
Manicurist - cost of 1 session +small gift
Personal trainer- $25 or up to 1 weeks pay
Massage therapist- $50-$100 or cost of 1 session
Groomer - small gift + 1/4 to 1/2 cost of 1 session
Dog walker- cost of 1 session
Mail carrier - gifts under $20
If you get regular deliveries:
UPS- $15
FedEx - $25
Paper carrier - $15-25 for weekly ; $5-15 for weekend only
Hope this helps

Why does the fedex guy get more than the ups guy?

Does the same crew do our trash pickups all year long?

[JSR22]

Newspaper $50
Pool Guy $50
Dog Groomer cost of one grooming
Mail $25
Garbage $25 each
Hairdresser $50

[Mikeodonnell73]

I also agree with 123, I give to the mailman, garbagemen and anyone who provide me a service that I received during the year. I stopped all newspapers delivery's and get my news from the TV, Alexa or on line.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Why does the fedex guy get more than the ups guy?

Union vs Non-union.