Holiday Tipping Guide

Peter Post, Great-Grandson of Etiquette Expert Emily Post, Outlines What's Extravagant, What's Cheap And What's Just Right

(CBS)  It’s the season for giving and as the holidays approach it seems like there are dozens of people in our lives who need to be remembered. Who should you tip or remember with a gift? How do you decide how much to give? Peter Post, great-grandson of etiquette doyenne Emily Post, dropped by The Early Show to give us guidelines for tipping during the holiday season.

Post is a director of the Emily Post Institute and author of three etiquette books, including "The Etiquette Advantage in Business: Personal Skills for Professional Success." He also writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column on business etiquette, “Etiquette at Work.”

According to the Emily Post Institute website, holiday gratuities depend on several factors -- how often you use the person's services, your relationship with the person, the amount of time you've worked together, and your budget.

Post offered the following suggestions for holiday gratuities:

Au pair: A gift from your family (or one-week's pay), plus a small gift from your child

Babysitter, regular: One evening's pay, plus a small gift from your child

Barber: Cost of one haircut, and/or gift

Beauty salon staff: The cost of one salon visit, split among the staff

Child's teacher: Check your school's policy first, as gift giving may be prohibited. If allowed, then give a gift that is a token of appreciation from your child, not cash. Possibilities: a homemade gift made by your child, a book or a picture frame. Or, consider participating in a joint gift from the class as a whole. Possibilities: a gift certificate to a restaurant or bookstore.

Day care providers: $25 to $70 each, and/or a small gift from your child for the providers who give direct care to your child(ren)

Dog walker: One week's pay and/or a gift

Fitness trainer, personal: Up to the cost of one session

Garage attendants: $10 to $30 each

Home health employees: A gift, but check with the agency first, as most agencies have a no-gifts or no-tips policy. If this is the case, consider giving a donation to the agency.

Housekeeper/cleaner: Up to one week's pay and/or a gift

Letter carriers: U.S. government regulations permit carriers to accept gifts worth up to $20 per occasion, not cash

Live-in help (nanny, housekeeper, cook, butler): One week's to one month's salary based on tenure and customs in your area, plus a personal gift

Massage therapist: Up to one session's fee, and/or gift

Newspaper deliverer: $10 to $30

Nurse, private: A gift, not cash

Nursing home employees: A gift, not cash, but check the company policy first. Consider giving a gift that could be enjoyed by or shared among the floor staff: flowers, chocolates or food items.

Package deliverer: A small gift if you receive deliveries regularly; most delivery companies discourage or prohibit cash gifts

Personal caregiver: Up to one week's salary, and/or a small gift

Pet Groomer: If the same person grooms your pet all year, up to one session's fee and/or a gift

Pool cleaner: Cost of one cleaning, to be split among crew

Residential building personnel: Check with your building association first to see if there is a holiday fund that is shared among all the building personnel

Superintendent: $20 to $80

Doorman: $15 to $80; $15 or more each, for multiple doormen

Elevator operator: $15 to $40

Handyman: $15 to $40

Trash/recycling collectors: $10 to $30 each (for private service); for municipal service, check local regulations

Yard and garden worker: $20 to $50

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Ho? How much?