Newspaper Delivery Tip.

I do 20 for a full year of 7 days...but this year I've been at Sunday only and I gave him 10.

Give what you can.

Top what you think is appropriate for these few months.
What fits in your budget? $5? $20? Nothing?
I think it's ok if you decide NOT to tip this year, and tip next year.
I actually know a guy (grown man, wife, 2 kids) that has the same route as he has as a kid. It's his second job, but his tips from their route are their Christmas!

Here's a good holiday tipping guide:

http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2...

I think $5 is okay for 3 months of delivery. That would be $20 for a year. I know it's only 1 day a week, but it's a heavier paper and usually the delivery people have to do all the stuffing of inserts (circulars, preprinted sections like the magazines, coupons, etc.) that get added to the news sections printed at the last minute. My feeling is that carriers get up at 3 AM and start their rounds, 365 days a year. If they get sick or take a vacation, they have to get coverage.

$5 for 13 weeks is less than 50 cents a week. That's not much.

Going forward, you can start buying gift cards in August in $5 and $10 increments, so your budget won't take a hit in December. If you buy $20 worth a month, that's just $5 a week for you. Then you can mix and match them for your various recipients (hairdresser, trash pick-up people, regular delivery people who come frequently such as USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc. It's not necessary to tip those who come occasionally, but I think you get much better service if you are thoughtful). I often do supermarket or gas cards for the people with the lowest salaries, vs. high end coffee shops or other "luxuries".

Gift cards also make good gifts for kids' teachers (including $5 for art & music teachers, who always get left out), and those people whom you accidentally forget and suddenly you need a gift! Pick up some extra envelopes too - they are usually free. Anything really left over on Jan. 1 you can use for yourself and you've lost nothing.

Updated

I think $5 is okay for 3 months of delivery. That would be $20 for a year. I know it's only 1 day a week, but it's a heavier paper and usually the delivery people have to do all the stuffing of inserts (circulars, preprinted sections like the magazines, coupons, etc.) that get added to the news sections printed at the last minute. My feeling is that carriers get up at 3 AM and start their rounds, 365 days a year. If they get sick or take a vacation, they have to get coverage.

$5 for 13 weeks is less than 50 cents a week. That's not much.

Going forward, you can start buying gift cards in August in $5 and $10 increments, so your budget won't take a hit in December. If you buy $20 worth a month, that's just $5 a week for you. Then you can mix and match them for your various recipients (hairdresser, trash pick-up people, regular delivery people who come frequently such as USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc. It's not necessary to tip those who come occasionally, but I think you get much better service if you are thoughtful). I often do supermarket or gas cards for the people with the lowest salaries, vs. high end coffee shops or other "luxuries".

Gift cards also make good gifts for kids' teachers (including $5 for art & music teachers, who always get left out), and those people whom you accidentally forget and suddenly you need a gift! Pick up some extra envelopes too - they are usually free. Anything really left over on Jan. 1 you can use for yourself and you've lost nothing.

I always did a $5 gift card at Christmas when I had the daily paper. Now that I have only the Saturday paper I don't tip.

I tip $20 on a full year of delivery. Even though you've only been getting it for a few months, I would give $10 and not $5. You can still give $20 next year - don't feel the need to quadruple what you give this time.

What is this "newspaper" of which you speak? :-)

Kidding. I'd give the kid $10 in a card. That's plenty.

I also tip 20 for the year. I think 5 is fine since it's only been since Oct., and you are on a budget. I also agree that you could skip it this year, if 5 is difficult for you.

sunday edition only? and for just 3 months? $5 or $10 is plenty.
we tip $25, but that's for 7 day per week delivery.
khairete
S.