Here’s a tip — don’t be cheap with the gratuities this holiday season.
From the doorman to the dog walker to the nanny, a family-care Web site has come out with a definitive list of the proper amounts to tip the different people who will make our lives go smoothly in 2011.
According to Care.com, the most important person to remember to tip — at least for parents in the city — is the nanny. The site advised that the industry standard is one week’s salary.
“You should not be a Scrooge when it comes to tipping out to the people who take care of your children,” said Wendy Sachs, the site’s editor-in-chief. “You are afraid that if you skimp, there will be repercussions.”
Sachs said that she knows some people who dig even deeper to make sure diapers get changed as quickly as possible.
“I have known those who take their nannies on a Bahamian cruise or to Aspen with them,” she said.
A small card or gift from the child is also appreciated.
“Your nanny, it’s very personal. They are not just an employee, they are a member of the family,” Sachs said.
It’s also important for New Yorkers to be generous with their doormen and building supers at holiday time.
“The range [for doormen] is $75 to $150, depending on how much they do for you. Sometimes there is a hierarchy of doormen, so obviously, the more senior the doorman, the more money you are tipping out,” said Sachs, who added that a super should get about the same amount.
Care.com also advises that for dog walkers, a tip of between $35 and $50 is normal.
“They are picking up the poop . . . so make sure you show proper appreciation to the one who is caring for your four-legged child,” the site notes.
Sachs said that since you can’t give Postal Service letter carriers cash, a tip of a bottle of booze or some holiday cookies is appropriate.
And if you are rich enough to have a maid, don’t get cheap at holiday time. A tip of 50 to 100 percent of their usual fee is right.
“A thank-you card and a plate of cookies or a bottle of wine is also a nice gesture,” the site notes.