You know how hectic the holidays can get. You'll soon find yourself swamped between the usual errands, finding gifts [1] for everyone in your family, and somehow baking entire platters of treats for work parties. Sure, you're putting in a ton of extra work, but none of the holiday craziness [2] would be possible without the help of those around you.
The busy bees that make your life easier throughout the year deserve a bit of TLC during the holidays, and you can show your postal worker, go-to hairstylist, or neighborhood barista a little extra love to show how much you appreciate them. Just follow the guide below for proper year-end tipping etiquette.
Postal Workers
"Federal regulations prohibit postal workers from accepting cash or gifts valued over $20," says Lena Koropey, owner of Gramercy Protocol [4]. "They can, however, accept retail gift cards up to $20. In this case, a heartfelt note and a $20 gift card to Amazon, for example, would make a great gift".
Dog Walker
The person in charge of your fur baby deserves a holiday treat too. Francesco Bilotto [5], design and entertaining expert, suggests gifting your regular dog walker a week's fee.
Doormen
Depending on your relationship with your doorman, you can tip between $25-$150.
Manicurists
A good holiday tip for a manicurist is the full cost of your usual service.
Baristas
Depending on the relationship you share with your favorite neighborhood barista, you can gift between $20-$40.
Hairstylist
Gift your beloved hairstylist the cost of one of your usual services.
Yoga Instructor
In addition to good vibes, Bilotto recommends you pass along $50-$100 to your yoga instructor.
Bartenders
If you're getting a drink around the holidays at your favorite bar, you can leave your local bartender a tip ranging from $10-$20. Hiring a bartender for a nighttime cocktail party? Sheila Dodson-Wright, owner and creative director of Tableau Events [6], recommends tipping 20 percent of their service fee.
Babysitters
Aim to give your babysitter or nanny a week's pay.
Parking Garage Attendant
Parking garage attendants can receive between $25 and $75 as a holiday tip.
Hotel Staff
If you're traveling during the holidays, your hotel attendants and room service waiters appreciate a $20-$50 tip.