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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Holiday tipping is a discretionary year-end thank-you, not a bill or requirement. Choose an amount or gift that fits your budget, the quality and frequency of service, your relationship with the worker, local custom, and any tips you already give during the year. The Emily Post Institute puts it plainly: “It’s important to remember that holiday tipping is truly about saying thank you.”
Who should I tip for the holidays?
Consider recurring service providers who regularly make your household run: cleaners, caregivers, child-care workers, pet-care providers, salon professionals, building staff, grounds crews and delivery workers. Tipping is optional, and “These are not rules,” according to the Emily Post Institute.
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Before deciding, weigh these factors:
- Budget: A sincere note or modest gift is appropriate when money is tight.
- Service: Consider reliability, quality and how much the person helped your household.
- Frequency: A weekly provider generally has a different relationship with you than someone you use a few times a year.
- Tenure: A longer relationship may call for a more personal or generous thank-you.
- Existing tips: Regular per-visit tips can justify a smaller holiday gesture or none at all.
- Shared work: Divide a gift among crew members rather than treating a whole team as one person.
- Policy: Employers, agencies, schools, care facilities, apartment buildings and municipalities may restrict gifts.
How much should I give each provider?
The ranges below are the Emily Post Institute’s current published suggestions as checked September 27, 2026. Its guide says amounts vary by local custom, establishment and personal budget; the figures are not obligations.
| Provider | Suggested holiday amount or gift | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Au pair or live-in nanny | Up to one week’s pay, plus a gift from the child or children | Adapt to the closeness and circumstances of the arrangement. |
| Regular babysitter | Up to one evening’s pay, plus a small gift from the child or children | Consider frequency and relationship. |
| Day-care provider | Gift or $25–$70 for each staff member who works with your child, plus a small gift from the child | Check center policy and whether a pooled gift is customary. |
| Live-in household help | Up to one week to one month of pay, plus a personal gift | The broad range reflects differing roles and relationships. |
| Private nurse | A thoughtful gift | Do not assume cash is appropriate. |
| Home-health employee | First check the agency’s policy; if gifts are prohibited, consider a donation to the agency | Agency rules take precedence. |
| Housekeeper or cleaner | Up to one week’s pay and/or a small gift | Reduce or skip an additional tip if you already tip after visits. |
| Nursing-home employee | A gift that can be shared by staff | Check facility policy; give a noncash gift rather than cash. |
| Barber | Up to the cost of one haircut, or a gift | Adjust for how often you visit. |
| Beauty-salon staff | Up to the cost of one visit, divided according to each staff member’s work, or individual small gifts | Account for tips already given at appointments. |
| Personal trainer or massage therapist | Up to the cost of one session, or a gift | This is a maximum suggestion, not a requirement. |
| Regular pet groomer | Up to the cost of one session, or a gift | Applies when the same person groomed your pet during the year. |
| Dog walker | Up to one week’s pay, or a gift | Consider frequency and any routine tips. |
| Personal caregiver | Up to one week to one month’s salary, or a gift | Check employer or agency policy first. |
| Pool-cleaning crew | Up to the cost of one cleaning, split among the crew | Divide it fairly among workers. |
| Garage attendant | $10–$30 or a small gift | Local custom and service frequency vary. |
| Newspaper delivery person | $10–$30 or a small gift | Adjust for consistency of delivery. |
| Package deliverer | A small gift around $20; no cash | Only for regular deliveries, and subject to the delivery company’s rules. |
| Superintendent | $20–$80 or a gift | Building custom and service level matter. |
| Doorman | $15–$80; where there are several doormen, $15 or more each, or a gift | Consider building size and staff count. |
| Elevator operator | $15–$40 each | Local and building custom may differ. |
| Handyman | $15–$40 | Consider the nature and frequency of work. |
| Trash or recycling collector | $10–$30 each for private service | Check city rules for municipal workers. |
| Yard or garden worker | $20–$50 each | Consider crew size and visit frequency. |
Should I tip if I already tip all year?
No additional tip is required. If you tip after every visit, you can forgo a year-end payment, give a smaller thank-you, or offer a small gift instead. A handwritten card can acknowledge the relationship without creating financial strain. Do not treat a holiday tip as a condition for receiving good service in the future.
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Do I tip my mail carrier?
First distinguish USPS employees from private delivery workers. USPS employees cannot accept cash or cash equivalents, including Zelle, Venmo and credit-card-branded gift cards. USPS Employee News, summarizing the Postal Service’s 2025 Holiday Ethics Guide, says a noncash gift may be accepted when it is worth $20 or less per occasion and the total value from one customer does not exceed $50 in a calendar year. Verify the current rule again for the 2026 season.
A qualifying low-value, noncash item—such as an appropriate snack or beverage—can be presented with a note. A gift worth more than $20 must be returned or paid for at fair market value. Perishable gifts may be shared with colleagues or donated. These USPS limits do not automatically apply to UPS, FedEx or other private carriers; check each employer’s guidance.
What can I give a USPS mail carrier?
- A noncash gift valued at $20 or less for that occasion.
- No more than $50 in total gifts from you during the calendar year.
- No cash, checks, money orders, Venmo, Zelle or credit-card-branded gift cards.
- If you offer food or another perishable item, understand that the carrier may share it or donate it.
Put a permitted gift in a card or envelope with your name so the carrier can identify the sender. When in doubt, choose a note or a modest noncash item and confirm the latest USPS guidance.
What do surveys say people give?
Bankrate’s 2025 Holiday Tipping Survey reported the following medians among respondents who said they tipped. These are reported behavior, not recommended amounts or obligations. The online YouGov survey included 2,445 U.S. adults, used a non-probability panel with demographic quotas and weights, and was conducted October 27–29, 2025.
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| Provider | Median reported tip | Share of users who planned or had planned to tip |
|---|---|---|
| Housekeepers | $50 | 56% |
| Childcare providers | $48 | 47% |
| Landscapers, gardeners or snow removers | $50 | 37% |
| Teachers | $25 | 47% |
| Mail carriers | $20 | 27% |
| Trash or recycling collectors | $25 | 21% |
Because the latest provider-specific survey covered 2025, do not treat its medians as a 2026 standard. A separate Consumer Reports article said a 2024 Bankrate survey found that 80% of Americans planned to give holiday tips to house cleaners and other service workers; that broader figure should not be combined with the provider-specific 2025 results.
How to decide when money is tight
- List the recurring providers who served your household during the year.
- Check employer, facility, building and municipal rules before buying anything.
- Note whether you already tipped at each visit and reduce the year-end amount accordingly.
- Set a total holiday-thank-you budget before assigning individual amounts.
- Use the role-based ranges as ceilings or starting points, then adjust for service, tenure, frequency, crew size and local custom.
- Give a sincere card or note when cash is prohibited or the budget does not allow a large gift.
Are holiday tips tax-deductible or tax-free?
The IRS’s November 21, 2025 notice concerns eligible workers’ federal deductions for qualified tips received in tax years 2025 through 2028, including a possible maximum annual deduction of $25,000 subject to income phaseouts. It does not change a customer’s etiquette decision, make all tips tax-free, or require customers to tip. The notice also says ordinary Fair Labor Standards Act wage and overtime rights remain unchanged, subject to exemptions.
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