If you’ve never been to the United States, the idea of giving a “tip” may be strange.
Do you know what a “tip” is? A tip is a small amount of extra money given to someone for performing a physical service. In the United States, we give tips to waiters, hair stylists, taxi drivers, hotel staff and other people-anyone who does a physical action for us may receive a tip.
Why give a tip? In the U.S., many service jobs do not pay very well (when compared with other jobs). For example, an American waiter is paid about $4.50 per hour for bringing you food and cleaning up your table! The person who carries your bags to your hotel room is paid only a little more. Without a tip, these people would not be able to make a good living.
Here’s a list of some of the most common situations where you should give tips:
Restaurants & Bars
• If you sit and eat at a restaurant (but not fast food!): tip 15%
• If you had GREAT SERVICE at a restaurant: tip 20%
• If you pick up food “To-Go” from a restaurant (but not fast food!): tip 10%
• If food is delivered to your house or apartment: tip 10%
Airports
• If an airport staff person checks your bags at the door: tip $1 per big bag
• If getting a ride on an electric cart: tip $2 per person
• It is not necessary to tip your flight attendant during your flight.
Hotels
• If a doorman helps bring your luggage into the hotel lobby: tip $1 a bag
• If a hotel staff person helps bring your luggage to your room: tip $2 a bag
Coffee shops
• If you sit and drink at a coffee shop: tip $1.00.
Hair Salons
• Tip 10-15%
Taxis
• Tip 15%
Should you tip for bad service? Maybe the waiter at the restaurant got your order wrong, never came by to see if you needed anything, or was slow. Many people think it is okay not to tip, because the service was bad.
However, it is still good to tip them. Perhaps they are having a terrible day. Perhaps they are new to the job. If you give them a tip, it will show them that even if they make mistakes they are not bad people-that their service, even if it is not perfect, is appreciated.
Many waiters have told me that when someone gives them a good tip even when they did give the best service, it gave them a positive feeling and helped them work harder for the next customer.
Who else could you tip? If you received great service from someone, it is always good to show them thanks by tipping. Maybe the person who washed your car cleaned every little spot. Maybe the tattoo artist did an excellent job. If so, give them a 10%-20% tip, and let them know they did a great job!
Happy tipping!
This Saturday, June 12th, PELA students are invited to participate in the annual Kids Free Fishing Day at Hagg Lake. Every year, hundreds of foster children enjoy a day fishing at the lake, with volunteers providing breakfast and lunch, along with fishing poles, tackle and bait. 
Foster children are kids who have been placed (by the government) in the homes of someone other than their parents–usually because the parents are unable to care for the children or the children were mistreated by their parents.
