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

[Lambzig]

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.

I posted up thread on this and have been thinking about this more - I've been finding this thread really fascinating.

DH is a dentist and he gets loads and loads of presents from patients each year at Christmas - mostly biscuits and sweets and whisky or wine. He has also been given lots of pairs of gloves too.....He gives all of the stuff to the practice staff or donates them to a local homeless charity.

It's obviously very, very kind and generous of patients to do this and it is basically like a tip too. However, it would never occur to me give my dentist a present at Christmas (apart from now as obviously he is my DH!).

80sMum "We all work hard and do the best job we can. Why on earth should some receive tips and not others? Do they not all get paid?"

Bah Humbug I say to you

I think my rule of thumb on it is if someone regularly comes to my house to perform a service then I tip them. I also tip people that have helped my children throughout the year.

But why??? Why give a tip? What's different about those people whose jobs happen to mean that they need to visit your house that motivates you to give them a tip? Why don't you tip all the other peole who've worked to provide a service for you?

essential,
That was my whole point, by tipping someone who normally gets paid through PAYE, you are actually creating hassle for them as they will have to then declare it themselves.
And I do not need to present arguement as to why I do not tip. I do not tip because the service charge is included when I pay for the initial service either through tax, or direct payment. i do not expect to have to pay for a service twice. If I go to a shop, I pay for my goods and I do not tip the person behind the till, nor anyone else connected with the goods as I have already paid for that. If their employer wishes to give them a Christmas bonus they are free to do so.
The only people I generally tip are people who go beyond their job to help you, or are trainees and do not get paid properly.

kelly2000 "essential,That was my whole point, by tipping someone who normally gets paid through PAYE, you are actually creating hassle for them as they will have to then declare it themselves." Seriously Kelly, come on - why would you decide on someone else's behalf if taking money from you was more trouble than it was worth - how patronizing is that? Do you refuse to ever pay for anything at all in cash since presumably this too is an inducement to commit tax crime?

I agree with your premise that only those who go beyond the everyday performance of duties are the ones that i would tip at christmas. At other times of the year I tip wherever it is customary to, provided the service is OK.

I think huge numbers of folk go above and beyond their job requirements in terms of service and thus if they help me and I come into contact with them around christmas I often tip them or give them a gift.

80sMum The argument that if you tip the postman you should also tip everyone in the sorting offices UK wide is really a great excuse not to tip anyone at all. Well done with that one, a license to keep your purse closed if ever I heard one!

Apologies, as I haven't read the whole thread, but our binmen were knocking on doors asking for spare change for a tip? I thought that was really strange