Ever wondered how much you should tip or how little? Read on and wonder no more!

A tip is a gratuity given to someone who has provided a useful service to us. We give a tip out of obligation, gratitude, or as good etiquette. No matter the reason, it’s imperative that we know how to tip properly.

Hairstylists/Barbers/Manicurists

The amount you tip your hairstylist/barber usually depends on the amount of the services you received and whether or not you had several people working on your ‘do.’ If only one person worked on you, a 10-20% tip of the total bill is sufficient. If you seldom go to your hairstylist, you may consider giving more, at least $5. If someone shampooed your hair, one or two dollars would be a good amount. If you go to a barbershop, a 10% tip is the norm. Your manicurist should receive one to three dollars.

In an upscale salon, you may want to add the tip into the bill, making sure to specify how it should be divided. However, if you go to a less fancy shop, be sure to have a few dollars on hand and tip the stylist separately. Some salon owners accept tips and some do not. You may want to check with the receptionist to find out before offering a tip to the owner. However, it is completely acceptable to only tip those who are offering their personal services to you.

Masseuse

If you’ve ever had a relaxing massage, be sure to tip your masseuse well. This may ensure your future visits are just as enjoyable. Standard rates for gratuities are 10-15% of the bill before sales tax.

Newspaper/Mail Carriers

Tipping for your newspaper carrier should be based on how often you receive your paper. If you get the weekend plus the weekday editions, you’ll want to tip more than if you just receive the weekend edition. You may want to add in your tip to your monthly payment. However, if you do, be sure to specify what the extra money is for or the deliver person may think you’re just paying for your paper in advance. Some people chose to tip newspaper carriers around holidays, rather than regularly. This is perfectly acceptable. Just remember the tip should be a little larger if you’re tipping less often. Typically, a good tip for a newspaper carrier would be $10-$15. A generous gift would be $25.

Because mail carriers are federal employees, they are forbidden by law from accepting cash. They are also prohibited from accepting gifts in excess of a $20 value.