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Home › Articles › General Family Finance › Here's a Tip

Here's a Tip

How to Tip Everyone from the Hair Dresser to the Bellman

By Lisa A. Goldstein

Pages:  1  2  3  

  • Barber – 15 percent

    • Restaurants

    • Server – 15 to 20 percent for good service, a bit higher in large cities like New York (if a server goes out of his or her way for you, be more generous
    • Lunch counter or self-service – 10 to 15 percent; even if you have a drink at a counter, tip $.25
    • Headwaiter, waiter – 15 to 20 percent
    • Bartender – 15 percent at the bar
    • Wine steward – 10 percent of the cost of the wine
    • Pianist – $1 to $2
    • Strolling musician – $1 to $2
    • Coatroom attendant – $1 per coat
    • Ladies' and men's room attendants – $.50 to $1

    Other Services

    • Massage therapist – 15 percent
    • Personal trainer at health club – 15 percent
    • Taxi/limousine driver – 15 percent
    • Car wash personnel who clean the inside of the car and wipe it dry – $2
    • Shoeshine person – $1 to $2
    • Red caps (trains), sky caps (planes) – $1 to $2 per bag
    • Dog groomer – $2 to $5

    Who Not to Tip

    To avoid confusion, Fleming Allaire, aka Dr. Manners, an etiquette expert, lists who shouldn't be tipped:

    • Professionals, such as health care workers (food for the nurses' station is acceptable), teachers, lawyers, accountants, decorators, realtors, travel agents, etc.
    • Owners and mangers of businesses
    • Airline stewards
    • Ships' officers
    • Train conductors
    • Municipal or long-distance drivers
    • Employees of the federal government, including postal workers
    • Ushers (theater, opera house, etc.); some European concert halls are the exception
    • Plumbers and other service employees, unless they come after hours as a favor
    • Busboys unless very efficient, then $2 to $5

    Pages:  1  2  3  


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