On top of everyone else you are getting presents for… don’t forget to tip! Two very important people to tip are your Newspaper Carrier and your UPS Delivery Guy/Mailman. And, there could be other people you should consider gifting or tipping too like Daycare Services, Pet Caretakers and even your Hair Stylist.
Newspaper Carrier Tips
If you are getting a Sunday only, or a weekend subscription- like most of us are. A tip of anywhere from $10-$30 would be appropriate.
To determine how much you would like to tip, think about a few things:
– Do my papers always arrive on time and without damage?
– Has the carrier had to deliver in inclement weather multiple times?
If you have had problems with receiving your paper on time, or not getting it at all. Leave a tip with a note kindly explaining the importance of getting your paper. If they know they are likely to receive a tip from you in the future, you can bet they will work harder and making sure you are taking care of.
You should receive a letter or an envelope from your newspaper carrier sometime soon- if you haven’t already. They will normally have an address to send a tip to. If they don’t, you can call up your newspaper company and ask for an address to send a tip to or add it to your bill instead.
Remember that our newspaper carriers get up when it is still dark, brave the cold, rain and snow to get us our newspapers so we can have our coupons! So, if you choose to tip anyone this Holiday season, it should be your Newspaper Carrier!
****To see how much an appropriate tip is for other people, you can read the Daily Worth Tipping Guide to give you an idea.
Do you tip?? Tell us how much and who!
Renee
Mail person, $10 gift card.
Allison
Thanks for posting this! I was wondering how much to tip the newspaper carrier.
Raygan
Anyone have any suggestions on baristas? The Starbucks I always go to always has my drink ready for me by the time I’m to the front of the line to pay. They have a tip jar and usually I tip unless I’m using my card. So I guess does anyone have suggestions on tipping them or buying them a present of some sort? Thanks!
renee
please leave cash or giftcards for your newspaper carriers. It means so much more. They are up in the early a.m. hours while you are warm and cozy in bed. They tromp through the snow, sleet, slush, rain, mud and ice. Their cars get stuck on yet to be plowed roads. I know this because I have delivered papers for 5 years. Sometimes we even have more than one route to deliver. I mean if your paper is on time and put where it belongs. Did I mention that we get barked at, chased, run into deer, racoons, skunk and other furry creatures???
Bethany
They do deserve something extra. But my newspaper carrier left a note with my newspapers a few weeks ago asking for no gifts or money. I guess I need to respect that.
sarah
Thank you thank you thank you for posting this. I have been a paper carrier for two years and it really is surprisingly difficult to be up no later than 2am in any kind of weather in order to stuff and bag 400 papers. and remember that we deliver 365 days a year. instead of holidays off we deliver “bonus” papers every holiday week.
renee
yeah I forgot about the 365 days thing…heehee. How could I forget to mention that. We don’t get a holiday/vacation. If we do we have to find a sub and pay them enough that they will want to sub. again.
Carol
I give the carriers tips but this year i’m a bit short on cash so i have handed out some 2 liters of soda, a movie and a 6 pack of popcorn for them. It is the thought that counts right? 🙂
Stephanie Rehaume
I will be leaving a gift card for our mail carrier (We dont get the paper). But I also gave my nanny and her family presents.
Barbara
I don’t necessarily do all of these- maybe one day! But I know it’s often customary to give tips or gifts to : nanny/babysitter, house cleaner, other house care (snow removal/lawn care), hairdresser, doorman, child’s teacher…
Tammy
I love, love, love my UPS man. I order online so much he’s at my house nearly every day. He recognizes me on the street and once tracked me down to deliver an important package. The problem is he is so fast! 99% of my packages can be left on the porch so I never even have a chance to say Hi, much less thank you. I don’t even know his name, just by sight. How do you tip your favorite “helper” when you never actually see them?
tess
OMG- IT SAYs i should tip my babysitter one weeks pay- thats 270.00 – i cant do that…i did however get her a gift card for 25.00 to a restuarant and a 50.00 to another restauarnt…think thats good enough? ugh
Lori
Please tip your UPS Drivers, right now during Christmas they are working from early in the morning until late at night ( like 10 or 11 o’clock). They are putting in 60 hour weeks right now, to try and keep up on all the volume they have to deliver. I know it would make a difference if they knew they were being appreciated:)
Robert
I think the whole “tip everybody” is getting a bit out of hand. Like Tess said with the 270, that’s ridiculous. I already pay them, that gives them a job. Why should I tip everybody when I don’t get tipped? I don’t get a Christmas bonus or any extra compensation. I love my job and don’t complain about it. If delivering newspapers is such a terrible job, then get a new one. Don’t worry, I’m sure some day soon everybody will quit ordering newspapers and you won’t have to get up that early anymore. I give a gift to my daycare provider, and to my kids’ teachers, but not to everybody who has ever came by my house this year.
Kate
Agree with Robert.
Jeni Stinson
I agree that they all get paid for their job so I don’t generally tip with money, but I do say Thank You when I see them because I do appreciate them.
renee
I never said delivering newspapers was a terrible job. Believe me I would quit in a heartbeat if
I didn’t need food on my table or clothes on my back. I simply was voicing first hand experience and stating cash/giftcards help make the job more bearable…they make us feel appreciated for our hard work. Glad you love your job and never complain. Tip…don’t tip…no one is forcing you.
Lauri B.
We tip UPS, FedEx, newspaper delivery, and our mail carrier $20 each with a little treat. With all the online deals we score they more than deserve it!! Plus, you will never regret taking care of the people who take care of you. We find our delivery services always go the extra mile for us, so the least we can do is spread a little Christmas cheer. If extra $$ is not in your budget, don’t stress. Write them a quick note to tell them how much their hard work is appreciated 🙂
Suze R.
I like to give gift cards to our local grocery store, $30 for our newspaper carrier and my hairdresser. I gave a Starbucks card to the mail carrier.