DECEMBER 19 • 2019 | 41

A Guide to
Holiday Tipping

D

ecember is a month
of celebrations and
giving — typically to
family and friends but often to
those who serve us through-
out the year. Traditionally,
a wide range of service per-
sonnel hope for holiday gifts
from their clients even if they
receive tips during the year.
Clients typically think of
their hair stylists, mail carriers,
cleaning people and newspa-
per carriers as people to thank
with a year-end gift. Other
possible recipients include
teachers, babysitters, dog walk-
ers and personal trainers.
Determining who should
receive gifts and how much
can depend on the frequency
and longevity of their service.
Clients may want to thank
people for great service or pro-
vide some extra compensation
for those whose wages are not
very high.
According to EmilyPost.
com and Realsimple.com,
most people give cash in the
amount of one visit or one
day’
s service to their hair styl-
ist or babysitter. Some people
give gift cards or other gifts,
but an unscientific local survey
indicates many clients believe

service people prefer cash.
One local housekeeper,
Bonnie Krystopowicz, says
her customers typically give
her the cash amount of one
visit. However, she has several
elderly clients who give her
cash plus a gift card to thank
her for the errands she also
does for them.
Emily Post and Real Simple
caution that postal carriers can
accept a maximum gift of $20.
Such limits may also apply to
teachers.
For nannies or au pairs,
these authorities recommend
one or two week’
s pay. In
group situations, such as nurs-
ing homes, they suggest a gift
that can be shared, such as a
food basket.
Don Ontart, a hair stylist
and owner of Don’
s Salon in
Southfield, has many Jewish
customers who usually give
him cash, gift cards or liquor
for Christmas.
“I don’
t expect anything. In
fact, I feel I should give my
customers presents but there
are too many for that to be
practical,
” he says. He and his
staff thank their clients on the
Saturday before Christmas
with a delicious hot buffet at
the salon.

SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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