Holiday tipping etiquette

‘Tis the season for giving, but to whom should you give?

Your mailman or hairdresser may deserve a little bonus for their year of hard work, but that can be tough, especially during a time when many folks are strapped for cash.

Wilmington resident, Jim Mahoney said “We’ve had some work done over at our house the past month, so we’re trying to struggle with do we tip those people even though we’re probably never going to see them again verses the mailman who you see everyday.”

To tip or not to tip this holiday season that is the question.

Estelle Macon showed her gratitude to her faithful hairdresser. “They do a service, they’re always there for you, and you do what you can.”

Still not convinced?

Cape Fear Cotillion Director Tracee Meyer has some advice for proper tipping etiquette. “The good rule of thumb for holiday tipping is you want to take care of anyone that you see year-round or anybody that provides you with a regular service, for instance your pet sitter, or a nanny, or a babysitter, your hair dresser, a personal trainer even, and you usually want to give them the equivalent of one visit.”

If you don’t want to hand out cash, Meyer suggests giving your service- providers something they may not get themselves, like a gift card to their favorite store or movie tickets, and if money’s tight, get creative.

“For teacher gifts, or even a nanny or babysitter gift, you could do a little potted plant that says thank you for helping me grow, or a little jar of honey that says thank you for being so sweet to me all year,” Meyer added.

As a teacher, Estelle Macon is also on the receiving end this time of year. She says her favorite presents come from the heart. “The best gifts are the hugs and kisses from the students and sometimes they come with a little homemade cupcake and a little card that they wrote themselves, those are the best gifts.”

If you can’t give a gift, a handwritten “Thank You” card or a simple e-mail to the service provider’s supervisor could mean even more.