Budgets Are Sexy

Money Mag came out with the “average tip planned for the 2010 holidays,” in their latest Dec issue, and I don’t quite know what to make of it.  I guess they seem fair, but then again it’s like we have to tip EVERYONE for everything these days.  Or maybe I’m just a frugal bastard? (don’t answer that).

Anywho, here’s what they suggest is the average for this year – based on a recent poll they did (which is probably skewed if it’s a poll of Money readers, so I’d imagine they’re a bit more affluent than the average Joe Schmo… or at least financially congnizant ;)):

• Housekeeper/Housecleaner:  $65
• Gardener/Yard Worker:  $50
• Mail Carrier:  $20
• Hairdresser/Barber:  $20
• Garbage Collector:  $20
• Newspaper Carrier:  $20

And here are my thoughts on these:

• Housekeeper: I have no thoughts :)  Because I don’t have one of these helpers around the house, nor will I probably ever.  But I suppose if I had to pick a number that the parallel me would tip, I’d more than likely round up to a nice even $100.  A crisp Benjamin, if you will.
• Yard Worker: Hmm… don’t got me one of  these either.  Aren’t they a seasonal thing anyways?  If they aren’t doing any work during the dead of winter, are you supposed to track them down and give them a tip anyways?
• Mail Carrier: I guess it makes sense… actually, no.  I really don’t understand why a mail carrier or any of these other ones on the list are supposed to be tipped?

Actually, I think I should stop there…  I really have no idea why newspaper carriers or garbage collectors need to be tipped??  Does that make me a bad person? Is it because they show up at your house?  Cuz actually, looking over that list, every single one of those professions come right up to your door step except the hairdresser one. How strange is that?!

So maybe it’s a proximity thing? The closer you come in contact with me, the more odds of you getting a tip! Haha… the only people I really tip are wait staff and taxi drivers (both usually at a flat 20% rate) and in both cases I’m physically close to the people delivering the “service.” And the same can be said about strippers! (Hah!) But of course not in my case :) I’ve never understood why people PAY to get teased & tortured like that anyways – it would drive me batty!

So yeah.  I swear I didn’t mean for this post to end on such a sour note today, but hopefully it’ll turn into a learning experience once you convince me why we should be tipping everyone :) And then we can get back to the love-dovey Thanksgiving Day Hurrah!

In the meantime, I’ll leave it up to the professionals to tip accordingly. I haven’t seen my postman or news carrier in a good 3 years anyways…

Originally published at budgetsaresexy.com.