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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