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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask who/if you tip at Christmas?

116 replies

womannotcis · 21/12/2017 14:54

First world issue - Aibu to ask you to share if you tip the following people, and how much if so?...

  • Postal delivery person (we have the same regular postman)
  • Ocado Christmas delivery person (someone different each week, big Christmas order tomorrow, will ask for it to be brought in to kitchen)
  • Council refused collectors
Thanks!
OP posts:
hmcAsWas · 21/12/2017 18:41

I don't ever see my postman - letters go in the box on the outside of our gates.

Ditto the bin men who arrive around 7 in the morning (I'm not that motivated I am afraid - especially since their Christmas collection takes place this Saturday )

I would tip them if it was easier.

I once left money in an envelope sellotaped to the inside lid of my wheelie bin for the bin men. They didn't spot it!

hmcAsWas · 21/12/2017 18:41

Overthehills - it is neither patronising or inappropriate and yes you are just mean

whyayepetal · 21/12/2017 18:45

DD works in a bar, but is instructed to put tips in the charity box. She is usually unable to take up the offer of "one for yourself", and has to politely decline as her shift finishes long after the bar closes. Her favourite customers are those who pretend to take their change, but actually put it back in her hand and say "this is for you - put it in your pocket"! Second favourites are any customers who smile, order clearly and are polite. It always astonishes me that these seem to be in the minority.

takemycounty · 21/12/2017 18:49

Postman
Bin men
Cleaner

Hadn't thought about Waitrose delivery people, they do a good job. Is that the done thing?

Cantspell2 · 21/12/2017 18:58

Tipping is weird. You tip the servers in a restaurant but they have the easy job of smiling, taking your order and delivering a plate. But who tips the pot man who is doing the shitty job of cleaning the Pans, mustard pots and roasting trays often for minimum wage?
You tip the delivery driver but what about those working overnight to unload the delivery and get it packed and ready?
You tip the postman but what about the sorters who work all night so the post is ready to go out in the morning?
The bin men who tip your bin into a large truck but what about the men back at the depot who have to unload all that rubbish?
I can understand tipping a cleaner, hairdresser or even the local lollipop lady but why the others? As the bulk of the work is done by others behind the scenes.

NorksAreMessy · 21/12/2017 19:04

I tip our lovely paper lad £5 who sometimes has to deal with the dogs yelling at him, and is always lovely and good humoured
I did tip the binmen today, because we have just moved in and have created 1000000% more crap than normal. £10
Am considering whether the postie who also has to deal with mad dog yapping and chasing needs a fiver...I think he might do!

No cleaner, but the odd job man was her today and it didn’t occur to me to tip him....possibly because he invoices, rather than is paid.

Good question, and makes you think,

GrapesAreMyJam · 21/12/2017 19:11

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

MsJuniper · 21/12/2017 19:15

Cleaner but couldn't afford an extra week so just made her money up to £50 plus some naice M&S biscuits in a jar. She left us a card and choc for DS.

Tiredtomybones · 21/12/2017 19:44

I wish I had any spare money to tip anyone.

FitBitFanClub · 21/12/2017 19:55

We tipped the binmen a tenner this morning and, as last year, they merrily told us they'd take away any extra stuff we want to leave out over Christmas. Interestingly, as I drove down the road later, I noticed there were quite a few "extra" bits from other houses that had been left beside the emptied bins!

We'll give the paperboy a fiver tomorrow, although he comes very early, so we'll have to find a way of attaching an envelope to the letterbox. We're quite secluded, so can't imagine anyone nicking it.

I think dh gave the window cleaner a bit extra this week, too.

No one else. I had my car valeted yesterday, but didn't tip them as they're not very friendly, have just put their prices up and often try to charge me extra if the carpets are dirtier than normal (why? They need vacuuming just the same). They also didn't do a particularly good job this time.

AlessandroVasectomi · 21/12/2017 20:00

When I was growing up my parents tipped the postman, milkman, paper boy, dustmen and the butcher. But they were the same individuals (apart from the paper boy) year in, year out. My Dad knew their names and had been at school with the milkman and the postman. We have services from the postman and refuse collectors but they change every few months, so how do I know the right individuals to tip? We have a new postman this week, but wouldn’t it be a bit of a windfall for him to get the tip earned by his predecessor?

Bourdic · 21/12/2017 20:05

Different posties so no tip
Regular 3 binmen so £30 between them
Paper boy £15
No cleaner or delivery men
Tip in restaurants, hairdresser throughout year and rarely go near to Christmas anyway

Tuttytoffee · 21/12/2017 20:11

cantspell2 I am a waitress and i can assure you we do not just serve food and have a smile. I've done a lot of jobs in my time, and out if all my jobs this has been one of the hardest and most demanding job of all. So tiring being on your feet for over 8 hours without food or a break. All whilst having people shout at you and be rude (customers) so when we do get a tip of any kind we are very grateful. Plus we give a percentage to kitchen and bar staff the end of each shift. So that pot wash person is not left without.

I don't earn a lot at all, bit working in the service industry, especially at this time of year, I know how hard it can be. I always give my window cleaner £10 and my postie £10. I tip every time I eat out which isn't often and always tip hairdressers.

Bayleaf25 · 21/12/2017 20:16

Paperboy/girl £10 because I think it's great young people learning about earning their own money. And no doubt they really don't get paid very much.

Soyalatteforme · 21/12/2017 20:20

I feel I should tip my hairdresser, but, she works for a huge chain and my hair costs a lot. If it was a small business who rented our chairs I'd have no hesitation. Is it more appropriate to just get her a bottle of wine??

Jedbartletforpresident · 21/12/2017 20:22

This thread is quite funny considering the amount of threads filled with people saying you shouldn't ever buy gifts for teachers because they're paid to do their job!

(For what it's worth I have bought gifts for DD's teachers (not for DS's teachers in secondary because I don't know any of them.), the lollypop man, netball coach, speech & drama teacher, brownie leaders & guide leaders so I am clearly not of that opinion!)

As far as tipping goes - I buy a gift for my hairdresser rather than tipping her because she cuts my whole family's hair so it's easier to do a big gift basket on behalf of us all. She has also become a friend over the year so I know her well enough and we buy wee treats for her DC too.

We don't have any specific services like a cleaner or gardener, our postie changes regularly and I have no clue who our refuse men are because they come either very early or when I'm out on the school run so I never see them!

We do however give extra tips to restaurant staff over the Christmas period and taxi drivers on the rare occasion we use taxis.

YellowMakesMeSmile · 21/12/2017 20:25

Jed, it is funny. People willing to tip for services they pay for yet so many begrudge a teacher a gift as they already get a salary! Teachers play such a huge part in the life of children yet more are happy to gift the people who does their hair or nails.

Jedbartletforpresident · 21/12/2017 20:46

It is really is Yellow - I don't get it at all!

Soyalatteforme · 21/12/2017 20:51

I get gifts for teachers Wink

SilverySurfer · 21/12/2017 20:52

Cleaner: £50

Man who delivers my tablets from the chemist: £10

Tesco delivery driver: £10

If I see the postman will give him £10

Ditto bin men

Crumbs1 · 21/12/2017 21:01

Postman
Logboy
Binmen

Gardener has a present
Cleaners have presents
Florist gets a present. (Florist is local farmers daughter who lives in next village and does my flowers regularly rather than anything grand). She does my Christmas flowers, wreaths, table centres etc.

Otherwise usual tipping for restaurants, taxis, hairdresser etc.

soimpressed · 21/12/2017 21:09

Bin men £20
hairdresser £10
Postman £10 0r £20 - haven't decided yet
I only gave the cleaners a bottle of prosseco because I think they charge quite a lot.

honeylulu · 21/12/2017 21:14

Nanny £100 + chocs for her kids
Bin men - used to give 20 and they'd replace bin in front garden (even get it out if we forgot) but they haven't bothered this year so nothing.
Cleaners. Nothing. Charge nearly £19 an hour and are rubbish.
Hairdresser £5 A time but he's the salon owner and also a relative.
Restaurant staff 10% each time all year.
Taxi driver +£1 per journey (all year though)
Nursery/ school - chocolates. They arent allowed to accept cash gifts.

Eightbelles · 21/12/2017 21:16

I gave my vets a box of chocolates as they did a fabulous job with my horse this year when he had spinal problems, plus he was a right jerk to them through it all so they deserved that and more, but that's all I could afford.

Didiusfalco · 21/12/2017 21:22

I’m glad I saw this thread - I was debating whether I should tip the postie, who is lovely. Now I definitely will.