Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you still 'tip' the postie, bin men, etc at Christmas?

239 replies

kitnkaboodle · 20/12/2016 23:16

I say 'still', because it is kind of an older generation thing to do. Having not done it before, I gave our postie a box of chocs last Christmas Eve as I work at home and have quite a lot of chats with him. My mum would leave whisky for the milkman, etc, and I think some people used to leave money in the dustbin lids for the bin men. Now wondering if I've started a new tradition and I should get him something this year too.

It's obviously not anything that anyone would get offended by, and no-one's going to say it's a bad idea. Just wondering how many people did it these days.

OP posts:
Elendon · 21/12/2016 19:07

I tip my window cleaners, I give them double at Christmas. They deserve it. Lovely blokes and I also let them take new water from my outside tap during the year. Their rates have never gone up in the 7 years I've had them.

Tip my hairdresser too, extra at Christmas, because she cuts my son's hair just the way he likes it. He's autistic and he loves going to her. She deserves it.

SheldonCRules · 21/12/2016 19:43

No to the postman and bin men as they vary and they get paid for the job anyway. I do give some beers to the window cleaners as they do extra jobs on top.

We do gift teachers, volunteers etc who play a part in the life of the children. I'd rather spend on them.

Livelovebehappy · 21/12/2016 21:25

I don't tip as I feel it's a bit patronising; like I don't think of them as an equal. That's why I don't tip my hair dresser as I look upon her as a professional person in her own trade, and would feel like I was treating her as a lesser person than myself. I might be wrong in thinking that way, but it just embarrasses me. The only people I ever tip are waitresses, only because I used to be one myself in my teens, and I know how some really rely on their tips as the pay is so rubbish.

NoAprilFool · 21/12/2016 21:57

Postman - yes. He's fab and always has a chat and tries his best to avoid packages going back to the sorting office.
Bin men -no. I live in a flat so it's communal bins, they drive past with a big lorry and don't get out of it so I wouldn't be able to anyway.

Bauble16 · 21/12/2016 21:59

I wouldn't tip our bin men. Leave rubbish all-over and forget bins often. Plus twice monthly collections annoy me!

dudsville · 21/12/2016 22:04

Our main postie is someone we've come to know well-ish. She knows the losses we've sustained and when we celebrate birthdays (cards and presents in the post), so we give a card and tip. We also do the same for the bin collectors, and although I do see them as they enter my street as I head to my bus I wouldn't recognise them, don't know them. They do impress me though, they takle the job like a sport or exercise.

Topnotes · 21/12/2016 22:05

I always tip the cleaner, gardener, milkman and paper boy. But the postmen and bin men I don't really know and they change often.

ladyjadey · 21/12/2016 22:21

I leave a big tin of chops for milkmen that we have never ever met. Never tipped bin men or postie. Always tip hairdresser and waitresses. And leave wine and chocs for cleaners. I don't do presents for teachers but do for childminders and after school club.

ladyjadey · 21/12/2016 22:22

Chocs not chops Grin

ElaineVintage · 21/12/2016 22:24

No, and in no way should it be expected!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 22/12/2016 07:26

Why not teachers lady

NancyJoan · 22/12/2016 19:07

I tip the milkman, he is lovely, very chatty. Bin men come at 6am, no way I'm going to catch them! Postman is different every day, it seems.

Oldraver · 22/12/2016 19:22

No coz the bastard stomps over my garden making a worn bit...plus he revealed one of my presents. Absolutely nothing to do with him where the post has come from....

pipsqueak25 · 22/12/2016 19:22

i don't spread the love, i'm faithful to my husband ! Grin

Mrsmadevans · 22/12/2016 19:23

I tip everyone who provides me with a service even the local chippie I put money in their box. I think it is naice to show our appreciation it also ensures they remain helpful iywim

ClashCityRocker · 22/12/2016 19:24

Quick question, should I tip the morrisons delivery driver for my Christmas order?

daisypond · 22/12/2016 19:25

Milkmen? Paper boy? Window cleaner? Not come across these since I was a child! I'm 50. I didn't realise milkmen and paper boys still existed.

awesomeness · 22/12/2016 19:27

i give the bin men a crate of beer or two usually, there's a whole crew and their not always out. i don't have a milk man but i tip the free paper delivery boy and most do round here

chocolateworshipper · 22/12/2016 19:33

I tip the postman £5 because he goes above and beyond his job description and is always very friendly

amispartacus · 22/12/2016 19:35

didn't realise milkmen and paper boys still existed

Paper boys still exist. Rare to see paper girls though. Haven't seen a milk man for ages.

People are doing their jobs. They get paid reasonably well round here to do their job. Not sure why they need extra money though.

SecondaryQuandary · 22/12/2016 19:35

My parents always tipped so not sure it's a recent thing! I'm 50....

I gave the window cleaner a big box of chocs as he came last week, gave the cleaner a weeks wages, a tenner in a card for the lovely bin men.

I don't give anything to the postie as I did one year and got the impression he was a bit offended by it.

I bought a Kate Spade journal for my hairdresser. We know each other pretty well and I know she will love it.

MudCity · 22/12/2016 19:38

If we had regular bin men and a regular postie I might consider it. However, they seem to change all the time and I very rarely see them so no, I don't tip.

Weetoonmum · 22/12/2016 19:39

I have worked in a supermarket in a small town for 30 years now 😳 And years ago people did hand in boxes of biscuits and chocolates for the staff to have at their tea breaks. But not anymore. So think it's an older generation thing. But my postman is never the same and I don't see the bin men so don't bother 😀

1horatio · 22/12/2016 19:39

We aren't home for Christmas.

But the house woman and the nightnanny both got something for Christmas. so, yeah. Idk...

PoohBearsHole · 22/12/2016 19:40

as the ben men frwuently forget us i won't be tipping but the postiewill get a bottle if something :)