Aibu to tip the bin men for xmas?

[ScottishStottie]

Curious to know how many people do this. I thought it was pretty common but today when i gave them the xmas tip, they seemed pretty surprised so made me think its not as common as i think?

YABU - no i dont tip the bin men
YANBU - yes i do tip the bin men

These are the same binmen who leave bits of cardboard and packets blowing round the street and tins rolling down the road until a car crushes them? And leave this horrible stinky white goo all over the edge of my black bin from time to time? And get paid a fair wage and access to local government defined benefit pension?

No I don't tip them.

Also find it odd the concept that some of you are waiting around or rush out with a card when you hear them...

And if you do tip them, where does it stop? Also tip the postie? Regular couriers? Milkman? Veg box man? The council landscapers who do all the hedge mowing etc?

I would only ever consider tipping someone I've directly contracted with for their own personal labour/services e.g. a regular cleaner or window washer. But I don't have anyone like that anyway...

I do. But then I am bourgeois

@ScottishStottie - this may amuse you - some years ago the bin men knocked on the door and said Happy Christmas - teenage son said Oh Happy Christmas to you too I sent teenage son down the road with a few quid so that the Bin men could have a glas of wine or a beer, and thank you the for doing that job - a tip if you can afford it is a nice thing to do .

I resurrected this custom a few years back as I remember my old mum doing it and I thought it was a nice thing to do. However, I leave chocolates/wine/mince pies (not all at once!) for bin men/postie/milkman, not money. Back in the 70s I remember my mum leaving cans of beer for the bin men 'so that they could drink it on their rounds'!! None of them have ever acknowledged the gifts, but so what - that's not why I do it. I just think it might hopefully make them smile.

@nevernotstruggling - that sounds nice, To be kind is always lovely

@kitnkaboodle - sounds lovely and kind

@kitnkaboodle

Jesus - can you imagine being drunk in charge of a bin lorry! Ah, the good old days.

I've bought ours a box of chocolates. My son adores them and they all make sure they wave at him every week.

Gave ours a box of celebrations this morning. They wave to DS (3) without fail every Friday morning and stand waving until he’s seen them and waved back. They make his morning. They collect without fail even when I put out silly amounts of cardboard etc. They might just be doing their job but to me- the tub of celebrations was well worth it.

I do. I left them a tub of celebrations, 4 cans of beer and a card Tuesday morning. They are unfailingly helpful, and take far more than they should as we are quite isolated out here.
I also put a tenner in a card for the postman and wrap two selection boxes for his children.

Im really struggling for money this year but I can probably manage a fiver. I definitely think if in the position to you should. I like the idea of a crate of beer and chocolates.

I always tip my postman, window cleaner and the bin men at Xmas. I appreciate what they do and it's once a year.

@Wishing14 If you can get to a Poundland there are lots of boxes of chocolates and stuff there for ... a pound!

They arrive after I've gone to work, take my bin which is placed neatly on the side, and then carefully place it back right across my driveway so that when I arrive back from work I can enjoy stopping, getting out, moving the bin, getting back in the car. Every time. It doesn't cause me massive disruption, but it's not going above and beyond.

@kidneybinggo maybe if you gave them a christmas present you would find that your bin isn't blocking your drive any more 😂

On a serious note though, if mine were doing things like that, even just small niggle annoying things, then no i wouldnt tip them. But they do a good job and do it efficiently and with a smile so its nice to say thank you.

No, I've worked (and not from home) all year and I don't get tips.

What about the farmers up milking cows at 4am so you can have milk on your cornflakes? That’s a shite job, where’s their tip?

This tipping culture we have here is just nuts. People do the job they’re paid to do, they earn whatever money they make based on their qualifications/skills etc.

We have three bin gangs. The recycling guys who come on one day, then the general waste who come once a fortnight, and the composting guys who come same day as recycling. So should we tip all three?

Yes. Appreciate them keeping services going this year in difficult times.

Crap I haven’t thought about this, or the usual postman.

Tipped the milkman but now it seems weird I singled him out!

I've voted YABU as our bin men aren't allowed to have tips. But I might offer next week. I always tipped in London till I list 2 bins in 3 months

No I don't tip ours, they're not very careful when emptying the bins and leave rubbish strewn over the road/pavement and don't pick it up.

We tipped 4 beers, 4 ciders and some biscuits from the dog. Couldn't leave card and cash as it was too wet and windy this morning, so it will wait til next time. They empty the bins at our house (technically we're supposed to take them to the road 1/4 mile away) get the bins from the yard if we forget, take extra stuff, and leave biscuits for the dog each week. Excellent service. Will be giving the postie £20 and a tenner for the milkman. Cleaner will get next week cancelled but paid.

I tipped the bin men (bin people?) today (taped a card to the bin with cash in). Not a class thing for me - I work in care, clean lots of bathrooms and loos and don't think I am better or richer than those guys. Just a nice tradition and I hope a few people do it and they feel appreciated.

Yeah. Put some cash in a card, might do beers and chocs this year.
Same for the postie and gave cash for the food delivery driver who has been since lockdown and has always been really friendly and chatty. He was very grateful and a nice guy.