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To tip or not to tip, that's the question
Have you noticed that someone is asking for a tip everywhere you look? That fancy-schmancy payment popped up at coffee shops. Now, they’re at self-checkouts, stadiums and even fast-food joints. My plumber even had the option to tip him 20%! I’m glad I didn’t. The ice maker leaked all over 45 minutes after he left.
Hey, I’m all for people making the most money for doing a job well. But when it comes to tipping, where do we draw the line?
Gratuity gone wild
We can thank the pandemic for bringing tipping more front and center. Plus, today’s tech has made it super-easy to nudge customers into tipping through automated payment screens.
Inflation also plays a huge role. Businesses are trying to keep costs low — and tipping is a way to increase workers’ wages without actually handing out raises.
Know the secret
Imagine you’ve just got a snazzy new haircut. Your stylist hands over an iPad, flashing three tipping options: 18%, 20% or 25%. Now, you don’t want to be tagged as a “stingy tipper,” so the lowest option is out. But, oops, the highest one feels like a bit of a pocket pinch. So, what do most people do?
Research says most of us play Goldilocks and go for the “just right” middle option! When presented with three choices, most people pick the middle amount for their tip. Now, isn’t that a tipping trick worth remembering?
We’re not talking about cow tipping
Here’s a quick list of how much to tip when appropriate.
- Restaurants: 20% (fast food restaurants are optional).
- Bars: $1 per beer or glass of wine, $2 per cocktail.
- Coffee shops: $1 per drink.
- Delivery drivers: 15-20% of your order.
- Salons: 20% of your service.
- Hotels: $2 to $5 per bag for porters, $3 to $5 per day for housekeeping.
- Taxi drivers & ride share (Uber, Lyft): 15-20% of the fare.
- Movers: $10 per person for a 2-hour move, $20 for a 4-hour and $40 for an 8-hour.
- Babysitters: 15-20% of total pay.
- Lawn care: Between $20 and $50 at the end of the season.
- Your favorite YouTube or Twitch streamer: Check if they have a Patreon or other paid option. If they accept one-time tips (like YouTube’s thanks button), $5 would make their day.
Bottom line: It’s easy to get annoyed by the number of times you’re asked to tip. If you receive fantastic service somewhere, tipping is a welcome gesture. But if the service wasn’t so great (or you’re paying for something that never asked for a tip before), it might not be necessary.
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Who wouldn’t like getting free products or services to save a few bucks? Especially these days when inflation is skyrocketing.
But not everything is always as it seems. If you search online for free device cleaners or security apps, they might infect your device with malware. Tap or click here for a few examples of free antivirus apps recently caught hiding malware.
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As sure as death and taxes, you can bet your bottom dollar that prices will increase for almost everything. As U.S. inflation topped a four-decade high in March, many companies are looking at price hikes to secure their bottom line.
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Gas prices are incredibly volatile during world events. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted the supply chain, and millions of barrels of Russian oil were pulled off the market.
Last year’s cyberattack on the East Coast fuel pipeline led to gas shortages, hoarding and wildly fluctuating prices. There are ways to find cheap gas in your area that can help offset the rising costs. Tap or click here to learn more.
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Getting older can definitely have its perks. One of the big advantages of being part of this age group? All the discounts available to you!
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