Holiday tipping guide
Posted December 21, 2011 12:21 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Tips are nice especially during Christmas, but just how much should you cough up for your server or school bus driver? News1130 is calculating BMO‘s annual Holiday “Tips” Sheet.
It can add up quickly.
The Bank of Montreal recommends you double your usual tip for your aesthetician, give an extra nights pay to the babysitter. Got a building superintendent? They apparently need a $20-$80 gift.
It gets more costly if you have pets. Remember the gift for dog walkers and groomers.
Don’t forget about your newspaper carrier, here’s a $10-$30 gift for Billy.
Some of these tips seem excessive or silly to some, but Laurie Grant with the Bank of Montreal says when it comes to your kids babysitter or nanny giving a little something extra is a really nice gesture.
“It is up to the discretion of the person as to who they would tip. I think this is a very broad list, and in often cases I don’t think a lot of us have doormen…but it’s really the ones that are in your life on a consistent basis…probably very personally involved.”
But she adds the list is really broad and not practical for all.
If you can’t afford another gift she says a card or handwritten note can also go a long way.
“It’s not always about the money it’s sometimes just about having an extra thank you, or something very personal.”
BMO offers the following list of service providers and other professionals, along with suggested tips or gifts to consider for each:
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Aesthetician – Double your usual tip or a gift up to the value of one visit.
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Baby Sitter – One evening’s pay and a small gift from your child(ren).
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Building Superintendent – $20-80 or a gift.
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Camp Counselor – A handwritten thank you note or a small gift from your child with value up to $20.
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Cleaning Service – A small gift or the equivalent of a week’s service.
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Day Care Workers – A gift from you or $25-$70 for each staff member and a small gift from your child(ren).
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Dog Groomer – Up to the cost of one session or a gift.
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Dog Walker – A small gift or the equivalent of a week’s service.
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Doorman – $15-80. $15 or more each for multiple doormen, or a gift.
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Fitness Instructors/Personal Trainers – A gift up to the value of one session.
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Full-Time Nanny – One week’s pay and a gift from your child(ren).
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Hairdresser/Stylist – Cost of one haircut or gift.
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Hotel Service – More than usual tip; 20% should suffice.
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Newspaper Carriers – $10-30 or a small gift.
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Restaurant Servers – More than usual tip; 20-25 %.
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School Bus Driver – Gift of up to $20.
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Seniors Care Givers (in-home) – A thoughtful gift from you. (If gift-giving is not against company policy.)
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School Crossing Guard – Gift of up to $20.
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Taxi and Limo Drivers – 20 % should per cent
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Tutors, Instructors, Coaches – A handwritten thank-you note or a small gift from child with value up to $20.
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Valet Parking Attendant – More than usual tip; 20 % should suffice.
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– Based on a survey of Tipping Guidelines web sites
