Here is a quick n’ dirty listing of how much to give who because spreading love and holiday cheer is always stylish!:
- Nanny ~ one to two weeks’ pay is the norm
- Dog walker ~ a weeks’ pay…or a gift card if they just ‘do their job’ without any awesomeness
- Grocery bagger ~ $2 and a smile
- Gift wrapper ~ $1 per present wrapped
- Personal assistant/secretary ~ a 2018 planner + [if they’re dynamite/irreplaceable], a weeks’ worth of net pay is a good thank you
- Babysitter (a couple times/week) ~ one to two nights’ pay
- Mail carrier ~ they can’t take cash so a small gift like mittens or chocolates
- Hairdresser/barber ~ beyond the normal 20% tip, $25-$50
- Delivery people ~ beyond the normal tip, a $5 gift card to somewhere
- Manicurist/nail tech ~ tip the cost of one visit
- Baggage handler ~ beyond the norm $2/bag, an extra $5-$10 in total
- Doorman/building super ~ $40 – $100 (depending on how fab they are)
When in doubt, keep plenty of $1s during the holiday season because it’s the season of giving {FYI ~ I keep a stack of $5 gift cards for Starbucks, Amazon & Target during the season} and ANYONE that goes above-and-beyond deserves at least $2-$3 + a smile and “happy holidays”!
And then it’s wise to remember that what you give out, you get back…somewhere, somehow ~ pay it forward….
