tipping

Bookmark This: How Much to Tip in Almost Every Situation

Paul Michael — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 09:00:12 +0000

In some countries, tipping is not required or expected (in most situations) — China, Korea, Switzerland, Australia, Belgium, and Brazil are just a few examples. And if you tip in Japan, you may actually be insulting the person you give money to. (It's like saying "Here, use this to get some training, the service wasn't very good.") (See also: 7 Countries Where You Don't Have to Tip at Restaurants)

However, the U.S. is a tipping nation, and you are expected to leave some kind of a tip in dozens of service scenarios. So, here's a handy guide to follow.

1. Hotels

You'll be expected to provide tips to several different employees in your hotel. The bellhops should get at least $1 per bag, as should anyone else who takes your luggage. The housekeeper should not be left a handful of loose change, but instead, figure on around $3 to $5 per night, depending on the location. You can choose to leave the tip daily, or at the end of your stay. If you rent a car on your trip, it's customary to tip a few bucks to anyone who helps put the bags in your car. You don't have to give doormen money every single time they open the door, but if they hail a cab, or help you in some other way, it's appropriate to provide a buck or two.

"I don't expect a dollar every time I open a door," says Steve S., a doorman at a large Denver hotel. "But if I go out of my way to get you a cab in the pouring rain, then carry your luggage to the trunk, I think a few bucks is worth the effort."

You can tip the room service attendant $1 to $2 when they bring you your food, but they don't expect it every time. The concierge, however, should also receive a generous tip — anywhere from $3 to $10 — if they go above and beyond. For instance, if they arrange show tickets, reserve tables at restaurants, or make special arrangements for your room.

"One time, I was asked to sprinkle rose petals all over the king suite, and have a bottle of Champagne on ice with two flutes on a silver tray," says Abigail L., who works in downtown Chicago. "It was a Valentine's Day marriage proposal. I got a $50 tip, I was blown away! And… she said yes."

2. Restaurants

Sometimes a waiter will strike gold and get a $100 tip on a $20 check. But all too often servers will get barely 5 percent of the total bill as a tip. On occasion, the tip is a big fat zero, made as a statement against the tipping policy in general. That's just wrong.

Waiters usually make way below minimum wage, with the average hourly wage coming in at just over $5. That means some people are earning just over $2 per hour before your tip. So please, tip your server at least 15 to 20 percent of the bill. And to avoid some ruthless restaurant owners pocketing the tip from a credit card slip, tip the waiter in cash.

Oh, and when it comes to buffets, or restaurants that have minimal waiter assistance, leave at least 10 percent as a tip, as they still have to clean up after you. (See also: 10 Ways to Be the Perfect Customer)

3. Bars, pubs, and clubs

Let's start with your bartender. It's customary to tip $1 per round, and this can be done with every round, or totaled up and added onto the bill at the end. Or you can calculate the tip as a percentage of the check. Twenty percent is the going rate, but if your bartender rocked it, give him or her more. If they were rude, give less. However, if you want to be the recipient of the "healthy pour," tip generously early on in cash.

"If I get a $10 or $20 at the start of the evening for one drink, I treat that customer well for the rest of the night," says Nick C., a bartender in Santa Monica. "I'll make sure that guy or girl gets service as soon as they approach the bar, and yeah, they'll get the heavy pour now and then."

4. Taxis (including Uber and Lyft) and valet parking

As a general rule, you should be putting down a minimum of 10 percent of the total fare as a tip, after the gratuity that has already been included automatically. If the driver goes out of his or her way to get you there faster — legally, of course — then tip more. When it comes to Uber and Lyft, find a way to tip. Lyft offers the option to tip as part of the transaction on your app.

If you're paying by card and there is no line for a tip, do it in cash. If you have no cash, you can actually use PayPal to send money, and it's free if you do it from a bank account. For valet parking service, $2 to $5 is customary once your car is returned.

5. Take out or food delivery

If you ever pick up food from a restaurant, you'll see a space for a tip on your receipt. Most people draw a line through it, because they don't believe anyone did any work for them. Well, that's not true. The people manning the front of house, taking orders, washing dishes, cooking, they all get pretty mediocre wages. So put a 10 percent tip on there. When it comes to food delivery, do the same, but tip your driver a few extra dollars in cash. If it's pizza delivery, $2 to $3 minimum is the rule of thumb, adding an additional $1 for every pizza over three.

However, if the pizza is late, find out why. It may be nothing to do with the driver, and he or she should not be penalized for it.

6. Beauty services

Whether it's a hairstylist, spa treatment, manicure, pedicure, or anything else in that industry, the expected tip is between 15 to 20 percent. However, it seems to fluctuate greatly depending on the service received, the interaction between the customer and the service provider, and the end result.

"I've had people tip me $50 for a $25 shampoo and style," says Sheena B., a stylist at Great Clips. "But I have a friend who works in a high-end salon, and often gets $10 tips on a $100 style. You just never know!"

7. Moving, landscaping, contractors, cleaners, and manual labor

When it comes to moving, judge the situation by the complexity and load. The average is $10 per mover for half a day, and $20 for a whole day. But if you have a ton of heavy, awkward furniture, and the movers have to remove doors and windows to get things in and out, then go beyond the usual rate. And make sure you hand out tips to each mover, not just the foreman. As moving.com points out, it's a bad idea to give the movers beer for their hard day's work. It raises way too many liability issues.

For landscaping, cleaning, contracting, plumbing, electrical work, painting, and other services in this bucket, it all depends on the cost of the service, the amount of work put into it, and how the job was completed. Many plumbers and electricians don't expect any kind of tip, as their hourly rate is quite high. But for people working in your garden, or fixing doors and light bulbs, you can tip a percentage — usually between 10 to 15 percent of the total cost of service.

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Ways to Be the Perfect Customer

Paul Michael — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 10:00:16 +0000

We drink and eat at bars and restaurants. We stay in hotel rooms, get our hair cut, and take flights. But how many of us actually stop and consider what kind of patrons we're being? Are we good customers? Are we making things easier on ourselves, or harder? Here's how you can make your life as a customer a whole lot better.

1. Tip Your Bartender With Cash Early On

Your bartender is relying on tips to make ends meet. However, if you open up a tab immediately with a credit card, he or she will have no idea how generous you are going to be. And bartenders are not in the habit of just giving away free drinks, or long pours, to just anyone. So, start the evening with cash. Order a drink, hand over a $20, and you will undoubtedly get a bunch of $1s in the change. Drop a couple of those on the bar for your first few drinks, then open up a tab. Your bartender will now be way more open to giving you the occasional double for the price of single, free drinks, and even free apps.

2. Don't Snap Your Fingers or Wave

It may seem like a natural way to get someone's attention, but in a bar, pub, or restaurant, it's actually quite rude. Unlike friends or coworkers, your server or bartender knows that their number one priority is to take care of you. That means they keep an eye on you. They look for small signals, they pay attention to how much of your drink is left, or what's on your plate. They may be very busy, but they will get to you. It's their job. So, clicking, waving, shouting, snapping — these are all unnecessary, and actually have a negative effect. No one likes to be summoned like a dog. (See also: 12 Lessons in Manners From Around the World)

3. The Customer (You) Is Not Always Right

It's something that is ingrained in American culture, and it has become a very difficult point for establishments to live up to. Whether you're in a restaurant, a hotel, a plane, or even the gym, you may feel very strongly about something, but it doesn't mean you are in the right. So, before making a scene (which, most of us don't do), make sure you have all your facts straight. It could be that the restaurant does not have to honor the coupon you have, which happens often with franchises. It could be that the hotel really is full, and there are no "special" rooms available for friends or famous people. Just be sure. And if you are right, argue your point politely and with respect. It will get you much further.

4. Never Give a Hard Time to People Who Handle Your Food

Or your drink, for that matter. This one is just common sense. After talking with bartenders, servers, and even flight attendants, the dumbest move you can ever make is to treat these people with little-to-no respect. If you do, they have ample time and plenty of motivation to do something unsavory. From spitting in your salad, to wiping the steak around the rim of a toilet bowl (this one was caught on camera), it's never a good idea to be mean to people who are alone with your meal. If you know someone who's been a real bully, and later complained of an upset stomach, you can guess what happened.

5. Give Compliments to the Staff

My nine-year-old daughter was eating her food and told me she loved it. Like, really loved it. I told her she should say something to the server, and she was shy, but agreed to. Not only did she get a big smile and a thank you, but a few minutes later, all the kids at the table got a free scoop of ice cream. So if you're having a great time, eating awesome food, or just love your server's attitude, say something. It will absolutely make their day, and sometimes, you get thanked in the nicest way.

6. Tip Your Server at Least 20%

Unless the service was exceptionally bad, you should tip at least 20% of the final bill. Servers require this amount to make a living wage. The 20% amount is a good place to start, because the servers are making less than minimum wage without this. In fact, most servers earn less than $5 an hour, with $2-$3 per hour being quite the norm. When servers get tipped 20%, it brings their hourly wage up past the $10 mark, hopefully to $15-$20 per hour or more. For the amount of work, running around, memorization, and stress, that's a fair wage to say the least. So please, tip 20%, or more if you can afford it. And if you tip less than 15%, or not at all, try and remember that you are getting cheaper food and drink because of the miserly wage the servers get.

7. Know What You Want to Eat and Drink

When you get to your seat, the server will give you some time to settle in, look at the menus, and feel comfortable. The first time they come back, they're going to ask you what you'd like to drink, and perhaps if you want an appetizer. If you need a little more time, that's fine, but don't keep delaying, making "uuuummmmm" sounds, and changing your mind. The server will have a lot of tables to tend, and it's unfair to keep them hanging. Also, restaurants want to "turn" tables in a timely manner. They are not expecting you to take 20 minutes to figure out what you want to eat. Most restaurants and bars these days have menus on their websites, so if you are someone that has a hard time deciding on a meal quickly, look it up beforehand.

8. Remember Names and Make Small Talk

"Excuse me" is fine, but if you say, "Excuse me, John," you are instantly in a much better place with your server. It may not seem like a big deal, but people like to be treated with respect, and using their first name is a great start. It means you made the effort to ask for it, and remember it, and it will be appreciated. It's also a friendly way to talk, and the more friendly you are, the better you'll be treated. Even better, ask how their day is going. Are they watching the big game that weekend? Do they have any plans for the holiday? Showing an interest in your server or bartender will ensure a better experience for you.

9. Stack Dishes and Glasses if You Can

"Hey, that's not my job, why should I do that?" Well, you really don't have to. You're right, it's not your job. However, it can take a few seconds for everyone at the table to just pitch in and stack the empty dishes. It takes longer for one person, the server or busser, to do it. And if you ease their burden a little, you can expect quicker, friendlier service. On the many occasions I have done this, I have sometimes received a free dessert to say thank you. It obviously doesn't happen every time, but the staff really does appreciate the help.

10. Don't Send Your Drink Back at the Bar

If you're at the bar and you receive a drink that isn't really to your liking, you have three options. One: You can send it back, saying it's not good. Two: You can suck it up, drink it, and order something slightly different next time. Three: You can have a friend drink it, and order something else. Most of the time, if you choose option one, you are guaranteeing a night of poor customer service. Bartenders I talked to agreed that unless the drink was just completely wrong, they really don't care for your opinion on the way a drink was mixed. If it's a busy Friday or Saturday night, and they are working up a sweat, remixing a drink is making their life hell. And next time you want service, you will become invisible. Just be nice.

Do you have any tips that we all, as patrons, could benefit from? Share them in the comments!

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Tipping

Alaina Tweddale — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 18:00:08 +0000

'Tis the season to be jolly, but instead I often find myself stressed when I realize I have no clue how much to tip my hairdresser. Or my housekeeper. Or my garbage collectors. If you're like me, you have a list of people you want to thank for helping to make your life easier throughout the year. If you're also like me, you have no clue about what gratuity levels are considered typical, stingy, or even generous.

That's why this year I reached out to a couple of highly regarded experts to get the inside scoop. Diane Gottsman, national etiquette expert and the owner of The Protocol School of Texas says, "The first rule of thought is to gift and tip within your budget. No one wants to see you struggle to tip through the holidays if you have just lost your job, or you are having trouble paying the rent."

"Tips are subjective," adds Jodi RR Smith of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting in Marblehead, MA. "Tips are dependent on your relationship with the individual and the norms for your area, as well as your budget."

With that in mind, here are some helpful guidelines from the experts to help you (and me!) navigate gratuity gifts as the year comes to an end.

Home Services

These are the people who help out around the house, so you have more time to earn money to hire people to help out around the house!

Babysitter: Cash or gift card equivalent to one or two night's pay. I talked to someone who used to sit for my kids and she told me, "It's nice to know you're appreciated. A small gift is a nice token of appreciation and helps keep a sitter loyal to a family."
Nanny/Au Pair: The equivalent of one week's salary and a handmade gift from your child. "A live-in nanny or a nanny that spends most of the day with your children is invaluable," says Gottsman.
Housekeeper: A cash gift equal to one week's pay. "If you use a service, and you don't see the same person on a regular basis, or the person is brand new," says Gottsman, "you may not feel obliged give a tip at all. If you have a relationship with the person(s), or they come weekly, consider a gift card per person or a tip equivalent to one visit."
Pet Sitter: One day to one week's worth of service. "Our pets are our family and someone that takes care of them while we are on a trip, or walks the dog on a regular basis is worth their weight in gold," says Gottsman.

Apartment Living

You'll want to keep happy all those folks who make apartment living nice.

Doorman: Between $20 and $200. (This range seems huge to me. I've never lived in an apartment with a doorman so I'd love to hear those of you who do ring in on this one.)
Custodian/Superintendent/Handyman: $20 – $100. "If they have saved you in the middle of the night when your toilet was overflowing or jumped your car more than once when you forgot to turn off your headlights," says Gottsman, a holiday tip would be helpful."
Parking Attendant: $10 – $50
Landlord or Building Manager: $50 (cash or gift card)

Homeowners

While homeowners don't typically have doormen to tip, they do have a host of service providers to gift.

Garbage Collector: Between $10 and $25 per crew person. In many areas, tips left taped to the trashcan lids can be stolen (I've had several friends tell me this happened to them.) If you miss your crew during the day, Gottsman suggests arranging to drop the gift off at their corporate office.
Lawncare: $10 per crew person.
Snow Removal: $10 per person.
Pool Cleaner: One week's pay.

Work

These gifts are more personal than those traded during the office Secret Santa.

Your Boss: $0 or a group office gift. "It's not necessary to give your boss a large or expensive gift," says Gottsman. "Consider an office gift pool or bring a tray or holiday goodies for the office."
Your Office Assistant: A bonus, gift card, or small gift.

School

Show teachers and staff you appreciate all their efforts to educate Junior (even if Junior doesn't).

Your Child's Teacher: Many schools encourage parents to contribute to a class gift. If your child's school doesn't, consider a small gift with a note and/or a handmade gift from your child. A teacher friend of mine told me, "I always love and save handwritten notes. If they come with a gift or gift card — to anywhere at all — that is appreciated, too. But, it's the notes that keep me going."
Classroom Aide: If there is not a group classroom gift, a small gift with a note and/or a handmade gift from your child.
School Lunch Attendant: $20 per attendant, if you have a child with special dietary needs, and school policy allows such gifts (check with your child's school office to be sure). Says Gottsman, "A lunch attendant who is vigilant when it comes to your child's food allergy is worth their weight in gold."
School Secretary: A small gift or gift certificate.

Personal Care

The people who keep you and your family looking good should know you appreciate their work, too.

Hairstylist: The cost of one session or a gift. "Hair stylists become our confidants," says Gottsman. "It would be uncomfortable to arrive empty handed the last week of the holiday season."
Shampoo Attendant: A small gift or $5 – $20.
Manicurist: The equivalent of one visit or a gift.
Massage Therapist: The equivalent of one session or a gift.
Personal Trainer: The equivalent of one session or a gift. According to Gottsman, "Personal trainers often double as counselors. A tip of one service or a gift that has personal significance would say happy holidays."
Pet Groomer: The equivalent of one service or a basket of treats from your pet.
Personal Healthcare Nurse: The equivalent of one week's pay.

Gift Wrap Your Gifts, Too

When preparing your holiday gratuities, Smith says, "Tips should be crisp, new bills placed in an envelope with a card or note of appreciation." For the financially strapped, Smith suggests a heartfelt note of thanks along with a thoughtful and inexpensive gift like homemade cookies. Gottsman agrees and offers further suggestions like a pot of fresh herbs from your garden or a basket of scones with homemade jelly.

When to Skip the Tip

Gottsman also suggests adjusting your tips according to level of relationship and frequency of service. "Everyone has different lifestyle preferences and providers," says Gottsman. "One person may use a hairstylist once a week while another person may visit the salon every three months. If you don't see them regularly and they can't remember your name, you may opt to skip the tip."

If the relationship is solid, though, Smith says that skipping the tip is akin to telling your service providers they're not valued or to imply they've done something wrong. If a gratuity is not in your budget for this year, consider the alternative suggestions above. However, "when your finances are fluid again," Smith suggests, "please do tip them."

Anyone we forgot? Who else do you tip during the holiday season and how much? Tell us about it in the comments below. And have a happy holiday!

This article is from Alaina Tweddale of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Are You Tipping Wrong? This Is What You Should Be Leaving

Mardee Handler — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 17:00:03 +0000

Do you ever wonder if you're being too stingy or too generous — or if you're supposed to tip someone for their services at all? What about when you go on vacation: do the rules change? And what is the "right" amount to show appreciation for service providers at the holidays?

Well, wonder no longer, because it's all here in Wise Bread's guide to tipping for (almost) every situation.

Dining — In or Out

Eating at a 5-star restaurant is different than a counter-service joint. Here's the lowdown on how to tip for food-related services, based on advice from the Emily Post Institute, run by the family whose name is synonymous with etiquette.

Wait service at a sit-down restaurant: 15-20% of the pretax total of your bill.
Host or Maitre d': Generally speaking, it's not necessary to tip the person who shows you to your table; however if you feel they've gone out of the way to find you a special table on a busy night, a $10-$20 bill is a nice token of your appreciation.
Buffet: 10% of the pretax total of your bill
Take-out service: This is a completely discretionary tip. Generally, it is not necessary to tip when you pick up a take-out order, but if you feel you've received exceptional service, or that you've placed a particularly complicated order, then tip 10% of the pretax total.
Delivery: For home or office food delivery service, the Post Institute recommends 10%-15% of the pretax total of your bill. However, they also suggest a flat tip of $2-$5 dollars for pizza delivery, depending on the size of the order and difficulty of delivery.
Bad weather delivery: Couriers appreciate a little something extra when the weather gets ugly, according to Grub Street. Adam Eric Greenberg, a UC San Diego Ph.D. candidate and co-author of "probably the most thorough study yet on bad-weather tips," says percentage-based tipping (Greenberg suggests 15%-20%) should kick in when an order is greater than $15. "When the weather is bad, be a bit more generous by tipping 20% to 22%. If it's raining outside, tip 22%-25%," he recommends.
Bar service: The Post Institute suggests leaving a $1-$2 tip per drink, or 15-20% of the tab.
Barista: While contributing to the tipping jar is not obligatory, it's nice to leave an occasional tip if you think that the barista went above and beyond, or if you're a regular customer. Among the 13 Things Your Barista Won't Tell You, according to Reader's Digest, a $1 tip goes a long way in creating goodwill.

Looking Good — Stylishly Tipping at Salons and Spas

The general rule of thumb is to leave a 20% tip for all the people who help you look and feel your finest. For hair services (cut, special-occasion styling, color, chemical treatments); nail services (manicure, pedicure); and spa services (facials, massages, waxing), the 20% rate is a guideline, but you can always increase the rate or round up the amount if you feel that your stylist, manicurist or esthetician has spent a more-than-average amount of time with you, or gone the extra mile to make you look amazing.

In some salons, a shampooist will wash your hair (often with a nice scalp massage) before you sit down in the stylist's chair. Here the jury wavers between a $2-$6 tip.

Note: If your stylist offers free services between cuts, like a bang trim or neck shave, be sure to leave them a small tip ($2-$5) to show your appreciation for their time and service.

Getting Around

The 15%-20% tip guideline also applies to taxi and limo drivers, depending on location. When taking a cab or limo to the airport (or to your destination, whether hotel or back home), the Post Institute recommends an additional $2 for the first bag, and $1 for each additional piece.

Do you like to keep your own vehicle looking spiffy? At a full-service carwash, the general rule of thumb is to tip $2-$3 for a full-service car wash for a regular-size car, but $3-$5 for an SUV, truck or van, according to Angie's List.

Traveling

"Everyone that touches your bag gets a tip," according to etiquette expert Diane Gottsman of the Protocol School of Texas. A bellhop should generally get $2 for the first piece of luggage and $1 for additional pieces.

She recommends leaving the cleaning staff in the hotel "a couple of dollars" every morning — not at the end of your stay. "If you wait till the end of the week, they've already changed staff three or four times."

According to the Post Institute, there is no obligation to tip a concierge for answering simple questions, but it is customary to give a $5-$10 tip if the concierge makes dinner or theater reservations for you.

When traveling abroad, the rules vary by country. Do your homework ahead of time to make sure you respect cultural norms.

Help Around the House

Even the do-it-yourselfers of the world often rely on the experts to keep their abodes looking good and functioning well. This can be one of the greyer areas of tipping, but the following tipping guidelines, courtesy of Angie's List, can help you decide how much to dole out to household help.

Handymen, plumbers, electricians don't generally expect a tip; however, a tip shows your appreciation for exceptional service or a small (free-of-charge) favor, like stopping by to fix a leaky pipe.
The tip for movers depends on the size of the job, length of time it takes to complete it, and the quality of the work. For a small job, $10-$20 per team member is a nice way to show your appreciation for a job well done; you may want to increase that to $20-$50 per mover for larger jobs that take longer to complete and require more muscle power.
For people who help keep your house and yard looking good year-round, the customary practice is to give them a tip once a year, usually at holiday time.

Spread the Holiday Cheer

From your hair stylist to the garbage haulers, your mechanic or your babysitter, a gift at holiday time is the perfect way to say "thank you" to the people who provide you with year-long service. A gift card makes a nice holiday gift because it's a little more personal than cash, but still allows the recipient to make some choices about how to spend it.

How much you choose to spend on a holiday tip depends on many factors, including your own financial circumstances. A batch of homemade cookies with a personal note of appreciation for services rendered throughout the year is an acceptable holiday tip if your finances preclude a large cash outlay.

If you can afford it, the normal cost of one service is generally recommended as a holiday tip for:

The hair stylist, manicurist or esthetician if you see that person on a regular basis throughout the year;
Your pet's groomer;
Your personal trainer at the gym;
Cleaning person (more if they help you out more than once a week; something to split if your cleaning help is a team);
Your child's babysitter or home daycare provider.

Other people you may choose to tip in the form of a small gift at the holidays include:

The letter carrier (note that the U.S. government prohibits federal workers (that includes postal workers) from receiving a gift valued at $20 or above);
Newspaper delivery person (between $10-$30 depending on how often you receive delivery, quality of service, difficulty in getting to your home, etc.);
Doorman (the amount here ranges widely depending on where you live; anywhere from $25-$150 appears to be customary);
Garbage collector (between $10-$30 each, assuming your municipality does not prohibit such gifts; check first!);
Your local fire and/or police department (a gift to share — box of chocolates or other culinary treat is nice);
Your child's preschool or grade school teacher (guidelines vary widely, but some experts recommend adding a small gift — perhaps something the child makes by hand- in addition to cash or a gift card).

What Is a Tip?

Diane Gottsman says that the word TIP stands for "to insure prompt service." Whether you agree with that statement or not, when considering whom and how much to tip, bear in mind that tips are essentially tokens of appreciation — tangible ways to say "thank you." When you tip at a restaurant or spa, consider the fact that most workers depend on that extra cash as part of their regular income. And tip accordingly; if you think your waiter has significantly enhanced your dining experience, let your cash complement your words of appreciation.

Anybody who's deserving of a generous gratuity we've missed? Please share in comments!

This article is from Mardee Handler of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Infographic: Always Know Who Should Pick Up the Check

Linsey Knerl — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 17:00:03 +0000

You've just had a nice dinner, great conversation, and many laughs. The server has dropped off the check, and the last bites of dessert have been consumed. The age-old dilemma arises — who picks up the check? Here is a quick infographic guide that helps you figure it out. And keep reading below for more details!

Embed this infographic:
<a href="http://www.wisebread.com/who-picks-up-the-check"><img src="http://www.wisebread.com/files/fruganomics/Who-picks-the-check.jpg" /></a>

Tradition says that if you are on a date, then the man should pick up the check and pay. That tradition began years ago when men were working and women were not. Times have certainly changed, and women are making money as well as men. Women could, and — in some cases should — be picking up the check from time to time. (See also: Do You Practice Math When You Tip?)

What do you do if you are out with friends, on a business lunch or dating someone of the same sex? Tradition doesn't always apply. Here are three situations that you may find yourself in and how to determine who should pick up the check.

Out With Friends

It might seem like this situation would be the easiest to solve. After all, these are your friends, and they should be the easiest to talk to about situations like this. However, there are times when dining out with friends can create a stressful situation. If you are with multiple friends but avoid drinks or only order a salad, it can be difficult to split the check evenly. It's hard to speak up and tell a group of people whom you care for that you think they are being unfair by splitting things down the middle.

In situations where there are only one or two friends dining out, the person who does the inviting should pick up the tab. At the very least, he or she should offer to cover the entire tab and be prepared to do so when making the invitation to get together.

If dinner is with multiple friends, it might be best to to state at the beginning of the meal that you need to keep an eye on the budget and would anyone mind doing separate checks. Servers can very easily split checks now with just the tap of a few prompts on a screen, so separate checks are almost always easy to create.

If it's a standing arrangement where your friends get together every month, rotate who pays each time. It's common for people of all ages to do this with their social groups; some actually choose to flip a coin! Have everyone flip, and any odd person out pays the bill. (See also: How to Play — and Win! — Credit Card Roulette)

When all else fails, use an app like Plates, from Splitwise.

Business-Related Dining

If you have invited a potential client or colleague out to lunch or dinner for the purpose of creating a working relationship with them, you should definitely be picking up the tab. However, if lunch has been requested by someone who wants your business or if you are dining with a boss, then it should be their bill to pay. There are other situations where you should pick up the tab as well, for instance if you have come to a mutual agreement to go to lunch together to collaborate or brainstorm. Ultimately, if the check is sitting on the table and no one is going for it, be the one to grab it and offer to pay for the meal. You never know when that gesture wins you a better working relationship with someone.

Dating

Tradition no longer holds water here. While there are still many men who feel they should always pick up the check when dating, those numbers are decreasing. More and more men are expecting women to pick up the check, and more women are demanding that they have the opportunity to do so. Women generally don't want to feel like they can't take care of themselves, so they are more likely to offer to split the bill, pay the tip, or pick up the check during the next date. (See also: Who Should Pay for the First Date?)

However, a good rule of thumb is that if you are the one initiating the date, then you should be the one to pick up the bill. This rule really fits in most situations, but especially with dating. It's never a good habit to ask someone out, plan the date, and then expect them to pick up the tab. No one wants to date "that guy/girl."

Regardless of the situation, if the person you are with has picked up the tab and you really want to see him or her again, end the meal with a comment like, "Thanks for buying dinner tonight. Let's do this again so I can return the favor." Be sure to comment with something that lets him/her know you are grateful, capable, and willing to pay yourself (and maybe most importantly, interested in more time together).

How do you divide up the check? Share your advice in comments!

This article is from Linsey Knerl of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Do You Agree With the New Standards of Restaurant Tipping?

Mikey Rox — Wed, 07 May 2014 23:24:19 +0000

What's considered an "acceptable" tip in the restaurant industry is trending north as a number of expensive restaurants now frequently make a tip suggestion of 20% or higher.

While tipping is never required, the expectations placed on consumers are getting a lot more specific, with 20% widely considered a baseline tip for good service, and 25% and up the norm for superlative service.

In many ways, the restaurant patron has become the one who is being graded on performance.

Let's look at this trend from a few perspectives.

A Healthy Tip Keeps the Cost of Your Meal Down

When you go out to eat, you're not just paying for food, but you're also paying for service.

This dictates that a tip, though not required, should be anticipated as part of the cost of your evening out. The restaurant's owners are then free to aggressively control costs on the menu — and offer lower prices. Factor in consumers' increasing expectations for quality of service and the effects of inflation, and 20% does not seem that excessive.

If you believe that service is part of the cost of a meal out, then higher tip costs shouldn't bother you. On the other hand, if you view a tip as a reward or a courtesy, then the "cost of the meal" argument suddenly loses steam.

If the Price Dictates the Tip, Then It's Not a Tip

The other side of the coin is that simply ascribing tip to the cost of a meal is, by definition, not "tipping." It's taking something that was intended to be a bonus or an act of graciousness and courtesy on the part of the patron and turning it into part of the cost.

People who feel this way might likely feel that a recommended tip of 15% is acceptable for average to "good" service and anything more should be at the discretion of the diner.

Reward or Part of the Meal's Cost?

Is the tip in fact part of the cost of your meal, or is it a voluntary offering to thank your server?

The answer isn't exactly clear cut, but I think it involves a little bit of both. Most servers who receive tips at their job are paid at a fairly low hourly rate — the federal minimum wage for tipped employees is just $2.13 per hour! That means their tips have become more than just "Hey, you did a good job. Go buy yourself a soda." Tips are wages.

It's a part of how they make their living, so a reasonable amount is fine to be "suggested" or expected of the patron.

On the other hand, suggesting higher tips or expecting them from consumers unfairly puts diners in the position of having to feel pressured or out-of-line while they're trying to enjoy a meal.

Honor System

From an ethics and business standpoint, a higher-than-normal tip should be up to the discretion of the consumer.

In an ideal world, this would work on the honor system, where patrons tip a reasonable amount and give more if they received better service. Suggesting a certain tip before service is even provided does take away some of the incentive for both parties: The server to do a good job and the customer to give out of gratefulness.

How do you feel about the tipping standards? What do you think is a reasonable tip for service at a restaurant?

This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: Confusing Tipping Situations, Solved

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 09:48:33 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some stellar articles on confusing tipping situations solved, ways to avoid a financial collapse, and why you should take a vacation.

Best Money Tips: How Much to Tip

Ashley Jacobs — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 10:00:40 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on how much to tip, why you need life insurance, and things you pay too much money for.

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This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: