Do you give your post/bin/milk/delivery man a Christmas gift?

[Newdad19]

If so, what do you give them?

We get different people all the time, so I wouldn't know who to tip, but no I have never actually given anyone a tip. My DM used to tip her hairdresser every week, it drove me mad. She was paying her £30 and then tipping £5! Old school.

Actually, one of our posties, who I do know, is lovely. But as he is an early retiree, having sold his company for millions, I don't think he needs it!

Not a chance. Bin men can't be arsed to walk 2 feet to put the bin back in its safe space, and leave it on the roadside (no pavements) to be blown over into the busy road, despite numerous calls to the council. Postie always different, Hermes man waits one nanosecond for you to answer the door then runs off and chucks parcel in our bin (even on bin day). Lucky if you have responsible and pleasant delivery people/binmen!

I’m a bit taken a back by the comments on this. Shocked people give out cash. As someone else has said maybe it’s because I too have had it drilled into me that accepting gifts at work would most likely result in disciplinary. I could imagine Royal Mail service would not agree with cash being given to staff?? Can only imagine people don’t declare ? Sorry I don’t mean to be a Scrooge here and everyone mentioned, including posties work hard.. I’m just genuinely shocked and would never have considered this

Yes I started tipping my regular delivery people a few years ago when I was housebound and would have been lost without them.

Whenever I have nhs appointments around December I always take them something.
Whenever I'm hospitalized regardless of the time of the year I always leave something for the ward and individual staff. They work long hard hours and often taken for granted. Plus it enables me to personally apologize if I've had a bad day and haven't seen them since.

There's also a few school staff who I get a card and a bottle of something to say thanks for their support, who have helped get us through some difficult times that they really didn't have to do.

Delivery people in a card, easy to find out their names by either looking at the tracking details or having chats with them over time. I sign from my first name and door number. Had a few also drop off a box of chocolates to show their appreciation of keeping them in a job lol.

How do you actually go about doing this? Our bin men and post people are always different and come at different times of the day. So you’re not giving to one specific person, and may not around to give in person.
I remember my mum leaving boxes of biscuits on the doorstep for bin and post but would feel pretty random to me and does anyone actually want biscuits?

I have no idea who the bin men are but they come through town in a loud hoard, there isn't just 1 of them.

I like the postman but he comes only when we have mail and usually just shoves it through the letterbox (most packages come by courier now) so chasing him down the street to give him money seems bizarre and creepy and honestly until Mumsnet, the thought never even crossed my mind and I don't know anyone that does.

Dont have milk men or window cleaners etc...

@UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername

We'll get something for the postman, he's lovely. Probably the binmen too; it's not a pleasant job they're doing. DH may drop something in to our butcher.

I'll get something nice for my cleaner, because she works hard. Luckily she's me, so that works out well for both of us.

So funny re the cleaner...made me giggle

Wow you guys are all so nice.
I don't know one person in London who does this! I'm sure I've never seen the same courier/postman twice either

Normally leave a box of mince pies or baked goods out for the postie and the same for the binmen. Can't really afford much more. Our delivery drivers are different every time so wont do so for them.

We live rurally so maybe that makes a difference, but our postie and bin men are always the same people.

I normally take in a gift bag full of baked goods and booze for DSs school teachers as they have been fantastically supportive over the time DD was there and his time there so far. They are heroes.

I leave a tenner in an envelope taped to the front door for the paper boy (who's in his 30s and drives a 2-yr old SUV) and I take a large tin of chocs into the library.

@Billandben444

I leave a tenner in an envelope taped to the front door for the paper boy (who's in his 30s and drives a 2-yr old SUV) and I take a large tin of chocs into the library.

baffled by what his car has to do with anything

It means he's not a schoolboy on a bike to whom a tenner is a good deal. But stay baffled by all means...

I give the postman a card with £10 in because he's great and I will get the Hermes delivery person a box of chocolates as she is as well. I don't give our binmen anything because the team changes all the time so don't have regulars as such.

I dont have regulars so nope

I don’t give them anything.

I never see our bin men.
Postman/postwoman is never the same AND I rarely see them.
Delivery man? From where? Amazon, Hermes, DPD, who else? There are so many people are never the same one that turn up to the house….

So no.

@videobaby123

Wow you guys are all so nice. I don't know one person in London who does this! I'm sure I've never seen the same courier/postman twice either

I’m nowhere near london and living in a small town. We don’t have the same people either….

@Billandben444

It means he's not a schoolboy on a bike to whom a tenner is a good deal. But stay baffled by all means...

So are you saying you feel you are shortchanging him because it's not 'a good deal' in his circumstances?

or would you give less to a 16-year-old for doing the exact same job?

it's still baffling what his age and new car have to do with you giving him a £10

Nope, they are doing what they are paid for already.

@AnnaSW1

WE give our postman one since Covid. He really entertained our kids during lockdown

I had to smile at this Anna. Do you also give him a tip? 😉

Money. £5 per bin man and £10 or £20 for the postie. £25 for the cleaner when we had one.

Milkman gets a fiver.
Box of chocolates / small gift for staff at the independent little shops I shop at e.g green grocers, refill shop.

Postman gets £10, that's it.

don't get milk delivered and have a variety of postmen/women whom we don't really know so no.

but we give to the bin men because they are incredibly nice, they know we are a big family so always take the extra stuff happily.
DH usually goes out to catch them and says sorry but they are always so cheerful and just shout "no problem, don't worry, lots of space in here!"🤣

we also have a school collection for our kids' lollypop man. poor guy has been ill and the kids keep saying they miss him❤

Our bin men are awesome, do way more than they have to (clearing up split bags, tidying bjns back, etc. £20 at xmas for them plus iced water in heatwaves.

Window cleaner is annoying and cheeky with prices. No tip for him.

£10 to the milkman who I have never met but I respect the fact that milk continues to appear.

The postmen / couriers we seem to have a couple dozen different people, so I don’t do anything but feel bad as they all look hopeful this time of year.