Tipping at Christmas?

[wendym]

Do you give money/presents do people who are involved with your child at Christmas and if so who and what (gift or cash)? I usually get something for nursery/teacher/sunday school teacher but not e.g. gym or swimming club. This is partly because I'm nagged about some but not others. What do other people do?

I've never even thought about tipping the postman. As we have several and the most frequent is known as "Mr Grumpy" in surrounding villages maybe I'll give that one a miss. Never tip the bin men either - but we have to leave rubbish outside the gate. They won't reach over if you leave it inside the gate to protect it from the neighbours dogs. If you're stuck behind them in a car they aren't too good about leaving room to pass. If they'd wanted a tip we should have got better service the first year we lived here. How do you decide who to tip?

I dont tip anybody, the dustbin men have scratched my car before and leave rubbish if they cant carry it all in one trip. The postman is always changing and leaving the gate unsecure so mu dogs can escape. dont have a window cleaner or cleaner. Anyway I have just about enough money for a lovely family christmas, how do you all do it.

Wendym, LOL at 'Mr Grumpy' - though what a shame he couldn't be nicer to folk. I suppose tipping is all about acknowledging a service, which is why I'm happy to tip the postie and binmen (SID, ours come at a civilised time and are lovely!). I wouldn't dream of giving a gift to all the children at nursery and I wouldn't want my child to receive such gifts, either.

Sue - I agree. I only tip anyone who has gone out of their way to may a difference in helping me or our family - not people just for doing their everyday job. I've never tipped the Dustman/Milkman, but the Postman & the nursery nannies are all people who I chat to virtually every day, so I feel I want to let them know I appreciate their efforts/attitude.
I really don't think the value of the gift matters, it's the thought & effort that goes into it - and if they are insulted by whatever it is, then perhaps they're not as nice as we thought!!

Just a thought, spoke to a friend who is a primary school teacher. she said she loathes the competitivenesss that some parents exhibit at Christmas, and would much rather not receive anything than a gift she thinks has been bought with the aim of impressing/ intimidating other parents. She thinks some parents compete to be seen as buying the biggest/ most expensive present.

Our postman (called "Pat" of course...) is an absolute star and he's getting a tenner, the nursery and playgroup got a large box of Ferrero Rocher (spelling?) each, and the cleaner, a weeks wages.
Decided this year after 2 yrs of tipping not to tip the bin men, as they abandon our wheelie bin in the middle of our drive EVERY week, and I invariably nearly crash into it when I drive home.
Am planning to be out by the time they come tomorrow in case they come knocking!

Pamina, I'd give your binman a tip - don't smoke in bed.
What is the world coming to when grown men knock on your door to ask for money?

lol, JASPER!

God that's cheecky the dustmen actually asking for a tip! I do tip ours, becasue they are so good, and if I'm useless (which is often) they pop round the back to collect the bags. I think they feel sorry for me as I'm always juggling children as they come, so I never seem to have a free hand. The postman is not great - we used to have a really nice one, who refused (!) tips.
Don't you find it's really hard, and seems so grown up to have to think who to tip! I find it so confusing. I even had a problem when I was ski-ing and I had never tipped the chalet girl before, then I was in a chalet and everyone discussed it - I felt so bad, I'd never tipped before! Oh well another joy in being a grown up.

Pamina, I cant believe they do that.

After reading about people knocking on the door, asking for tips, and a friend telling me about yobs demanding money for an out-of-tune "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" I had a fright last night when our doorbell went. I peered out cautiously, to be greeted by the local Youth Club of 6-12yr olds, all singing beautifully and collecting for their funds. Ahhhh! It was lovely!

my sister has just completed her first term teaching - the parents clubbed together and got her £250 of Next vouchers (£5-£10 each)....she thought it was fantastic....but was worried that they thought she must have looked a scruff!!

If it helps anyone, when I was doing my teaching experience a few years back, I got presents from some of the children (though mum/dad probably brought them). These presents were typically a bar of chocolate (a big 500g bar, or 1kg bar). I think the children got the impression I had a sweet tooth! As a student teacher, I didn't expect to get anything, so it was great when the children gave me something - it's not what the gift is, its the fact that the child (or parent) felt a present would be nice.

As a freelance nanny, I give the children I care for on a regular basis a present at christmas time. Due to my relationship with the families, I often get presents back as well. I put this down to being 'part of the family'.

wendym - I think you are right to give to nursery/teacher/sunday school teacher... and not to give to gym/swimming club teacher.

My view is that if your child spends a long time with someone, then that person should have a present (for example, Nursery Keyworker, Class Teacher, Childminder, Nanny etc.) but those people who do not see the child on a regular basis should not really get a present.

For those of you with children old enough... ask them who they want to give a present to. Children will say who they like and even come up with present ideas - a mug with their picture on for example. It's not what the present is that counts, but who it is giving the present - so if you can, let your child choose the present and whom to give it to.

Just my thoughts.