'Tis the Season for Tipping

Dec. 15, 2007 — -- The holidays are all about giving, but how do you know who to tip and how much is enough?

More than ever, people depend on their holiday bonuses as a part of their salary. Mail carriers, garbage collectors and nannies have long relied on their holiday tips, but nowadays the list is longer.

Day care teachers, barbers, even grocery clerks are all anticipating tips. Not knowing who you're skipping could inadvertently earn you some ill will this holiday season.

One Family's List

To find out what's expected and what's appropriate, ABC News correspondent Andrea Canning spoke to the Hecht family of Livingston, N.J., which is on a mission to "pay it forward."

"First, we call out all the names of the people in our lives who have done special things for us," explained Gary Hecht.

"$25 is sort of our average gift and then it can go anywhere up to $50 or so," added his wife Robin, who's an accountant.

This year, 16 people made the Hechts' list. The more obvious firsts were $20 for the indispensable garbage men another $20 for the always-reliable postal carrier.

Next up, though, were some newer additions to the list -- $55 for their son Jeremy's elementary school teacher and $40 to their daughter Danny's day care providers.

The Hechts also make a point of giving their check's in person.

"Thank you Miss Deborah for all you do especially the potty training we really appreciate it," Gary said to Danny's day care provider.

In total, the Hechts handed out $550 in tips.

"We're in everyone's good graces now, I think," Robin said. "We try to say there too."

Tipping Guidelines

"Anybody who routinely takes care of you, taking care of your beauty or taking care of your home -- anything where they are with you over and over again, you've got to tip," explained financial expert Clark Howard.

A safe range is $15-$50. Doormen should receive around $20-$50 and the superintendent should get about $50-$100.

For people that help you regularly, it should be a function of their wage. Tip the nanny about one week's pay, the babysitter one night's pay and about the price of a haircut for your hairdresser.

There are certain people that you may not want to give cash, such as a teacher or an employee. For them, $20-$100 should be a good range for present and always include a nice note.

If you're feeling the pinch of the economy, substituting cookies for cash can also do the trick.