MANHATTAN — Tipping is already a stressful holiday-season duty for busy New Yorkers.
And with doormen, supers, nannies, nurses, cleaners, personal trainers, newspaper deliverers, dog walkers, parking attendants — the list seems endless — to take care of, the task can seem even more fraught and budget-busting.
So DNAinfo compiled a list, culled from experts including The Emily Post Institute and The Etiquette School of New York, of who to tip and how much to give them.
These recommendations are meant as a guide. Tips can be adjusted according to how close you are with a particular person and how good a job they’ve done. If you can’t afford cash, a personal note of thanks is fine, the experts say.
Building superintendent: anywhere from $20 to $200. As with other building workers, if you've lived there just a part of the year, prorate your tip.
Doorman: $15 to $100
Elevator operator: $15 to $40
House cleaner: Cash in the amount of one visit.
Live-in housekeeper/nanny/cook: One week to one month of their wage and a gift.
Babysitter: One evening’s pay and a small gift.
Day care provider: $25 to $75 and a small gift from your child.
Nurse or home-health worker: A gift.
Barber or hairdresser: Cash in the amount of one visit, or a gift.
Personal trainer: Cash in the amount of one session, or a gift.
Dog walker: Their usual week's pay, or a gift.
Parking garage attendants: $10 to $30, or a small gift.
Newspaper delivery person: $10 to $30 or a small gift.
Mail carrier: The U.S. Postal Service has rules for what carriers may accept. Cash and gift cards are not permitted. Snacks, small gifts with little intrinsic value and worth less than $20 are allowed.
Teachers: A small gift or note from you and a small gift from your child.
"The first rule of tipping is to tip only what you can afford to tip,” Peter Post, great-grandson of Emily Post and director of the Emily Post Institute, has told the New York Times.
Then make a list of all the people you want to thank for their help this year. Most of those people probably deserve cash. But in many instances — including teachers and babysitters — it is acceptable to give a card with a nice note or, if you’re crafty, something handmade.
“Most people are grateful for whatever they receive,” Etiquette School of New York Director Patricia Napier-Fitzpatrick wrote on her website.
No matter what you decide, remember that it is scientifically proven that giving actually makes you healthier.