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Original poster

To not know about christmas tipping and want to know if you do

182 replies

Lambzig · 19/12/2011 08:21

Yesterday our milkman sent us a christmas card. Was going to send one back, but just got off the phone to my father who tells me it was a little hint for a christmas tip in a return card. DF tells me I should also be tipping the bin men, the postman, the grocery delivery man (we always get the same one) and anyone else like that, and is shocked I have never done this. We live in outer london suburbia (in case thats relevant)

Is this something everyone else does and all these people have been staring at our house in hatred at the meanies who live there for years or is Dad (who does live in a small more rural community and probably bumps into everyone) being old fashioned. Am also worried how I am going to afford it.

OP posts:
indicababy · 19/12/2011 17:16

Tips should be earnt, not expected. I would have to have had exceptional service to tip any of these people. The only one I see regularly is the postie and she has delivered my (correctly addressed) post to other houses and I have had to re deliver her mistakes! Also was made redundant this year so don't have funds to tip people with higher income than me.

pigletmania · 19/12/2011 17:32

hack its good if you have the money, but if you don't then you should not be made to feel guilty. Yes binmen get paid a lot of money so its worth their while to get up so early, what about tipping Police, Ambulence and Fire staff who work anti social hours, harsh conditions, at times with ungrateful violent people! They deserve it more.

EssentialFattyAcid · 19/12/2011 17:47

I think it's nice to tip anyone who gives good service but certainly wouldn't tip those I think don't provide good service.

From previous experience of working in a service industry, generosity more often comes from the poor than from the rich.

beckyboo232 · 19/12/2011 17:47

i tip everyone

Sillyoldelf · 19/12/2011 18:50

pigletmania again I'm with you on that one. Me and my DH fall into the categories you mentioned . Have we ever received tips - even though we work Christmas day and every day during that period ? Er no. Never. Not even a thankyou from those we come into contact with .

Sillyoldelf · 19/12/2011 18:58

Not giving tips is not mean spirited . Christmas isn't about giving extra money to people. It's about showing appreciation . That can be done in all sorts of ways .

BlissfulMistletoe · 19/12/2011 19:02

Surely you should tip because you want to, not just because everyone else do.

cheethaz · 19/12/2011 19:08

So where I am - S London, we must have about 6 different guys on the bin lorry and recycling truck. But there is one really smiley friendly guy who waves at the kids - they used to love to watch for the bin man (pre-pre school). Is it ok to just give him a little something and ignore the others - with whom I have never even made eye contact?....

mistressdipdop · 19/12/2011 20:26

I dont tip anyone, although I do bake them a nice batch of chocolate brownies! My postman is a miserable old * but I still give him a brownie or two - depending if I am feeling full of Christmas cheer.

baublelugs82 · 19/12/2011 20:39

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn due to privacy concerns.

JugglingWithGoldandMyrhh · 19/12/2011 20:50

Hi cheethaz - That's nice you have one especially friendly bin man - how about giving him something he could share with the others if he wants to such as a box of chocolates/sweeties - maybe if the DCs are around they could hand it over to him ?

scottishmummy · 19/12/2011 20:50

don't feel meanin least,bemused you all lady bleedinbountiful to anyone who's
rang your bell

happybubblebrain · 19/12/2011 21:08

I never see any of them, I'm always at work. I think that excuses me.

Nobody tips me in my job, the best Christmas bonus I've ever had is one single (not nice) chocolate in a tiny little box.

justhavintheone · 19/12/2011 21:10

used to tip the bin men but find them a bit nobby these days, my pensioner mum phoned for uplift and they refused to move it as too heavy so my mum and 1o year old son moved it for them!!! milkboy lovely, tip him, never sure what to do regards delivery men, it is a minefield!

happybubblebrain · 19/12/2011 21:19

I had no idea that milkmen still existed - I haven't seen one for years. Or that binmen get paid so much. I thought all the horrible, tedious and smelly jobs paid the least, but maybe that's just the ones that women do.

Sillyoldelf · 19/12/2011 22:13

I honestly thought we were in the middle of a financial crisis. Reading this has made me think otherwise . Where do all these ladies who tip every man and his dog live ? Sandbanks ? Am wondering if in some way it makes people feel good knowing they have tipped . I think there are nicer ways of showing appreciation at Christmas .

scottishmummy · 19/12/2011 22:33

some of you must be minted or daft
to tip everyone who rings your bell,does a task

coronet · 19/12/2011 22:35

I always tip -£10 postman, £15 binmen, £10 recycling guys. have done it when I've been pretty broke - my mum always did it and it's the way I show appreciation for a good service. I don't tip my hairdresser though.

ForeverChangesNothing · 19/12/2011 22:39

I tip my hairdressers assistant because she entertains my DC whilst I have my haircut, which is the only way I manage to ever have a cut and not look like a yeti. I always tip in restaurants if the waiter/waitress has been good, but thats all, no one else.

I think that the bin men are well paid for their job and they aren't very good at it anyway - no tip.
I never get the same postman from one week to the next - no tip
Don't have a cleaner, window cleaner, regular delivery man, gardener or milk man. Frankly, I'm glad because I couldn't afford to tip them anyway.

If I had a paper boy/girl I would tip them, probably £5, but I think its different than tipping a fellow grown up who might well be on the same/better income as yourself.

tb · 19/12/2011 22:40

piglet we tip the firemen, they come round on a Sunday morning offering their calendar.....but it is tax deductible!

nagynolonger · 19/12/2011 22:50

No one as mentioned bank staffWink. Many years ago it was normal for business customers to take in chocs or biscuits for the cashiers and a bottle for the manager. I can't imagine this happens now.

In the past I have tipped those that work out in all weather. So postie, bin men, milk man, and paper boy/girl.

This year we gave the postman £10. We don't have milk or papers delivered anymore. The bins are emptied very early so we never see them.

I clean the downstairs windows and DH does upstairs 2 or 3 times a year.

MrsSeanBean · 19/12/2011 23:00

I used to have a lovely, friendly, smiley postman who had such a sunny manner (in all weather) it always cheered me up. I gave him some chocolates because he was such a star. Don't see him any more, get different people each day now, barely a grunt if there's any interaction, and the post arrives at all hours (always much later).

Clearly there's been some 'efficiency' reorganisation at Royal Mail which means we get now get late, erratic post and miserable service - sounds about right in today's world.

Needless to say, I would not tip now.

TroublesomeEx · 20/12/2011 00:41

scuttle yes all council employees get sickness pay but bin men are in a position to gain generous bonuses. If they are off sick, they are not in a position to do the extra to gain these bonuses. In this instance they receive a 'sickness bonus' on top of their sickness pay, to make their pay up to that which they might have been able to get had they not been off sick. Does that make sense?

That somebody suggested that was unfair and should be stopped was one of the things that caused much of the bin men striking last/earlier this (?) year.

TroublesomeEx · 20/12/2011 00:43

My point was, they don't need a tip. And, with few exceptions, don't seem to deserve one either.

funnyperson · 20/12/2011 01:37

I always give something to the secretaries.
Not sure if that counts. Also to the car park attendant. Also the postman.
Used to give a fiver in a card for the milkman but since DC left I get my milk from the supermarket.
Would give chocs to the binmen but there are a lot of them and they wear great thick gloves so I'm not sure.
Know what you mean about the bank staff. Perhaps I'll take some chocs in to HSBC!!