Gift suggestions for the help

Rich people problems

Dildos

They only want and expect $$$$

Cash

For ser ice providers, always use cash.

If it is a person that you receive service from and tip regularly, triple the last tip of the year.

If it is someone you only toke this time of year, ask people you know how much THEY end of year tip their cleaning lady, their driver etc, and tip likewise.

These are tips, not presents.

I give them after Christmas, before NYD.

In all seriousness--I know that tipping your mail carrier is the thing to do. Having said that--mail service SUUUUUUCKS in my building. Magazines I subscribe to are usually just left on the floor in front of the mailboxes, rather than IN the mailboxes. Sometimes I'll come home and random mail (bills, etc) will just be placed next to the mail boxes (it's a small 6 apartment building). Other times they don't even lock the little latch above the mailboxes, where they drop the mail in, which is a huge security violation. Do I tip this person??? And yes, I filed a complaint with the post office, the manager actually called me and YELLED at me.

They get to spend time with me all year long. That is gift enough.

Cheese balls.

I agree that people want cash, but how much to give? There are 10 front-desk people and porters and elevator guys in my building. How much would you give the UPS guy?

What about gift cards instead of cash? Is that considered appropriate?

r10 are you trying to re-gift ones you received? If not, give them Masterdcard or American Express ones, where they can be used anywhere

[quote]What about gift cards instead of cash? Is that considered appropriate?

Cash. They want and need cash. Christmas tips for service workers go to things like paying bills, helping out a family member, adding to savings. It's a tip, not a gift, and it's meant to supplement low wages.

Give your lawyer a 4-pack of Fleet enemas.

Cash or a gift voucher to a store that sells a wide variety of things e.g. amazon.

or if that's too coldly impersonal, a box of fancy biscuits (cookies), chocolates, a bottle of wine/spirits, that kind of thing, but it can be awkward if they have dietary/drink restrictions.

I gave my scullery girl a $5 gift card to Nieman Marcus. It's fun to toy with the help this time of year.

My UPS person makes more $$$ than I do. I like him, but, sorry--no tip.

Get your maid a Swiffer.

[quote]a box of fancy biscuits

It's the help, not the dog.

Money, you morons.

We have a girl in to clean once a week. How much should we give her? She's actually a friend's girl they loan out to us once a week, so I feel I should give something.

A nice present would be to stop calling them "the help."

R15 - I think I love you

I give my mailman chocolates. Usually Hershey kisses. And my mail service sucks.

My hair stylist, massage therapists, and house cleaner got $50, plus a 1-ounce 99,99% pure silver Christmas ornament worth about $120.

I do not tip my dry cleaner and it hate people who do, because they're ruining it for the rest if us. I think "Are you out if your fucking mind? Tipping the dry cleaner!!!"

A "girl", r20 ?! Who is described as if she were the property of friends?!

To what year did you set the Wayback machine before you posted?

A cash gift equal to a week's wages--a suitable year-end gift for a part-time employee; the dignity of personhood and job title--should go without saying.

A bonus...CASH!

I tip the superintendent but I only tip the mailman if he leaves me a tip envelope.

[quote]I'm asking about the everyday people in my life like my doorman, my super, my mailman, my barber, my personal trainer, my stylist, my manicurist, my personal assistant, my driver, my cleaning lady, my masseuse, my yoga instructor, my takeout delivery guy, my dry cleaner, and my weekend doorman.

If you live in NYC, you'd better expect to shell out a thou for each of them at least or they'll think you're a cheapskate.

No one really calls them "the help" anymore, except for fa when she's indulging in one of her fantasies.

Surely an exaggerate R27. There will typically be four or five doormen. You wouldn't give each of them a thousand.

your hole?

Why would you need to tip the USPS, UPS, or FedEx delivery people?

I like "my takeout delivery guy" like you've got the kid at Papa John's on a retainer

OP, how have you have managed to assemble this impressive array of subordinates and yet have no idea how to tip?

Did you acquire a driver, cleaning lady, and personal assistant all within this calendar year? Also, even broke folk know how to tip a mailman.

I call bullshit.

If someone called me "the Help" I would bust the fuck out of them and piss on their BMW.

Other than that, its cash only in a festive envelope.

Lemon Pledge

[quote]How much would you give the UPS guy?

UPS doesn't allow their employees to accept tips.

I agree with R33. Staff and service providers are acquired over the years or you're raised with them. Either way, you learn what holiday tips/gifts are given as you go along.

Cash, cash and more cash is always the answer to "what do I give them?" If you want to personalize it, do so as an addition - never a substitution.

[quote]If someone called me "the Help" I would bust the fuck out of them and piss on their BMW.

What would you prefer to be called? Subordinates? The little people?

R24 ... I soooooooo want to date you!

Go to the NBC store and get them each a tree ornament with "TODAY" written on it. They come in a variety of colors. Or you could get them a coffee mug with a picture of Kathie Lee and Hoda.

Why would they want something that says TODAY on it or has Kathie Lee on it? They're not fraus.

A donation to charity in their name will raise their karma.

OP, I don't know why you shy from the idea that you have a butler & maid. You have everything right up to.

As for tips, "the help" wants cash. If you can't stand the idea of giving cash, give chocolate. Hershey Kisses or those Linden Bon-bons in a decorative bag.

Hop to it! It's getting late!

I have always found that a broad smile and the permission not to have to bow to me on the special day of Christmas never disappoint the servants.

Always remember that 'the help' are also people; lesser ones, but people nevertheless.They are the ones who will assure that your bath is warm enough, that your toast has a 'bite' to it, and that your nose is properly blown into their Kleenex-holding hands.

On the contrary, put the in-laws in their place. They may pretend to be special, but they are really rather common. They bring new blood into the family, but they are negligible. They should always remember their station and their place in society. Make them cater to you in every way.

I hope that my brief tutorial has been educational and potentially implementable, OP.

Happy Christmas and Happy New Year.

R42, a donation that means the donor gets a tax deduction? No thanks. I don't care about karma, and I make my own donation, thanks. I'll take cash, please. Thanks.

Ah! I thought this was another one of those wicked Viola threads. A tad disappointed here

Get them some grease and a flamer thrower

OP I went to CVS and bought gift cards, they have some for .99 there and I put $20 bills in them, cash. I don't have as much "help" as others, I have a gardener, a postman & a pool guy. Pretty sure the pool guy is richer than we are (we're just struggling middle class in the SFBA) - he took his grandchildren to Disneyland this year and spend $6k on them, good for him btw. Probably $10k for the entire trip or more.

Use some of your Amex points and give retail gift cards.

You are asking NOW? Five days before Christmas?

If you are not on a first name basis with someone, you need not tip them.

So no tipping waitresses? Good to know.

R50 Five days before Christmas...a year ago.

Why don't you give them a homemade calendar, Blanche's boudoir?

Why are people such pussies about giving cash? VISA Amex gift cards are a pain in the ass for the recipient. just.give.cash.

Cash is TACKY!!!!

Take one tail off your cat

R20 is appalling

I have a guy in to clean my pipes once a week. How much should I give him? He's actually a friend's boy they loan out to us once a week, so I feel I should give something.

[quesadilla]a $5 gift card to Nieman Marcus

What could you possibly buy at Nieman's for $5??

R6 Fuck U AIKC. Troll. Someone is always yelling at you. But never in real life, only in your head. Clearly you are schizoid. Schizo-affected. Go away AIKC.

Depending on how well you know them you could get them a gift card, otherwise cash. I got my cleaning lady a gift card for our local supermarket chain. It' like a Walmart or a Target. They have everything there and it's very popular. She loved it.

My mail carrier said, "We're not allowed to accept tips." Which is funny because the last one always gave me an envelope with his home address and a stamp.

Cash.

Also, some large buildings have a fund you can contribute to for the annual holiday tip for all the employees.

[quote] I want to get everyone something different and personalized

That is one of the many reasons I HATE Christmas, people give what they want, not what the person receiving wants. It isn't suppose to be about what you want, and what they want is preferably cash but if you think that is tacky then a gift card that can be used anywhere.

Who knows what the help wants? I don’t travel in those circles and don’t know what those people want. Can someone who’s part of those circles provide some answers?