If you can afford it, most service providers you’re seeing over the holidays should get a tip — whether it’s a hair stylist getting you glam for your New Year’s Eve party, or a housekeeper cleaning up after that New Year’s Eve party. Etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore, founder of The Protocol School of Palm Beach, breaks down how much to give everyone on your list:
Manicurist: $25 to $50 or a gift
Hair stylist: $50 to $100 or a gift
Barber: up to the cost of one haircut or a gift
Personal trainer: up to the cost of one session or a gift
Housekeeper: up to the cost of one visit
Au pair or live-in nanny: one or two week’s pay and a gift from your children
Teacher: A gift card or gift certificate for up to $25, or pitch in with some of the other parents and buy a more expensive gift certificate
Day care provider: $20 to $70 each, plus a small gift from your child
Babysitter: an evening’s pay, plus a gift from your child
Massage therapist: up to the cost of one session or a gift
Building manager/superintendent: $20 to $80 or a gift, depending on how helpful your super has been to you
Doorman: $15 to $100
Mail carrier: small gift or gift card up to $20
Newspaper carrier: $10 to $30
Sanitation worker: $10 to $30 each for private service but check your local municipality for regulations, as some areas may not allow tipping
Yard or garden worker: $20 to $50 or a gift card
Handyman: $15 to $50 or a gift card
Dog walker: up to one week’s pay or a gift
Pet groomer: up to the cost of one session or a gift