Holiday Tipping Guide

If you can give, just not as much, here are some things to keep in mind as you triage your holiday tipping list. Prioritize your most important service providers. If someone's work makes your life dramatically better, that person should be at the top of your holiday tipping list. The trusted housecleaner, the hairdresser who fits you in at the last minute and the baby sitter who always does a great job tending your kids should get more of your holiday tipping resources than service providers you use infrequently.

Don't skimp on your employees. If you have household workers, such as a nanny, a housekeeper or a caretaker for an elderly relative, Post cautions against forgoing holiday bonuses if at all possible. The holiday bonus is often considered part of the employee's compensation, Post notes. It all depends on your past practices, what's customary in your area and what you promised when you hired the person, of course, but withholding or shortchanging the bonus could be considered a cut in pay and you could wind up losing a valued worker because of it.

If you live in a building with a doorman, superintendent or both, failing to tip can lead unfortunately to bad service. The higher the customary tip, the less likely a plate of cookies will cut it. Talk to your neighbors to see what is the going rated and try to come close to that figure to make sure your packages still get delivered and your friends can get into the building. In addition to seemingly endless gift lists to satisfy, the holiday season presents many with the perplexing issue regarding service tipping. A popular consumer magazine has recently provided guidelines that may aid in simplifying the question of who to tip, how much to tip and when holiday gratuities are appropriate.