Are You Guilty of This Tipping Faux Pas?

Tipping is a practice that has been around for years. It is a practice that has become a more significant part of life in the U.S. in modern times, largely in part to the United States Congress which passed the so-called "tipping credit" in 1960. This allowed businesses to pay employees under the minimum wage if they earned tips and it is still in effect in many states today. But what it doesn't tell you, or anyone, is how to avoid the most frequent tipping mistakes.

The U.S. leads the world in tipping culture and its citizens generally tip almost everywhere they go. It may seem frustrating for those who visit the country, but it is often just as bothersome for those who live here as well, and for good reason.It is a cultural norm to tip everyone from your waiter to the person who washes your hair at the salon. You are politely reminded to leave a tip at almost every eatery as soon as you get the bill. Whether at the counter or on your receipt, there's always a reminder to leave a tip.

It is an aspect of the service industry that can be confusing and there is not a standard practice across the country.What might be normal where you live, might not be the case elsewhere. In larger cities like New York, leaving your server an 18 to 20% tip is the norm but in other areas, it's common to leave 15%. There may be numerous rules to tipping, but they aren't always clear. (Check out the states where people leave the best tips.)

To create a list of how to avoid the most frequent tipping mistakes, 24/7 Tempo consulted numerous sources including a guide from US News Money and news stations like CNBC. Any tipping percentages were based on the average expected amount. Overall, tipping in the most common scenarios is pretty straightforward. It's also good to check the tipping culture when you travel. Certain areas frown upon tipping, while others have gotten accustomed to Americans and their tipping habits.

There's no hard and fast rule for tipping, but in most scenarios, it is considered acceptable to leave 15-20%. If you know you need to tip for a service and you're not sure how much, tipping 20% is usually a safe amount.It's also a good rule of thumb to tip at least the minimum of what is expected with a certain service. If you did receive poor service, if possible, give the employee a chance to fix their error before revoking their tip.

The easiest way to calculate your tip at a sit-down restaurant is to calculate 15% to 20% of your bill. While 15% should generally be the bare minimum, tip more than 20% if your waiter or waitress provides you with top-notch service. If you do receive poor service, avoid skipping out on the tip altogether and see if you can remedy the problem instead.

Anyone who has worked at a fast food restaurant knows how challenging it can be. However, according to proper etiquette, tipping at a fast food restaurant isn't required, but if they bring the food to your table, take the time to find out if you need anything else, or provide you with friendly service, drop a dollar or two in the tip jar to show your appreciation.

If you frequent your local coffee shop, you'll know that they have tip jars or tablets that spin toward you to ask how much you'd like to tip. Like fast food restaurants, tipping is not required or even necessarily expected in a coffee shop. But if your barista provided you with excellent service or you're a regular and know the baristas by name, throwing a dollar or two in the tip jar goes a long way.

Those who have frequented bars know that you tip your bartender after every drink to show your appreciation. In many cases, it's appropriate to tip your bartender one to two dollars per drink, depending on the type of drink you ordered.At least $2 is expected for cocktails. It's best to tip in cash after every drink but if you end up tipping your bartender at the end of your night, you should still tip $1-2 per drink, depending on the order. Even if there's a special and you got a drink for free, tip per drink ordered.

Proper tipping etiquette at a salon or spa isn't always known and this is the kind of service you may not be aware that you need to tip for. For services like getting a manicure, haircut, or facial, always tip your provider. In most cases, the person cutting your hair or doing your nails isn't getting paid the full amount you paid for the service. Consider tipping 15% to 20% or more if they provide you with excellent service.

Your cab ride might seem rather pricey, but your driver still provided a service and it's appropriate to tip them. The acceptable range for tipping a driver, whether it's a cab driver or your Uber driver, is generally lower than other services, ranging from 10% to 15% as an acceptable amount, unless there was a problem with your ride or you felt unsafe during the trip.

Delivery drivers are one of the many service industry jobs where they live mostly off of tips. If you have someone delivering groceries or food to you, it's proper etiquette to tip them. Typically, tipping between 15% to 20% of your bill is acceptable, but consider the quality of the service and where they are coming from or how much they're delivering.

If your driver is coming from far away versus down the block or has to carry a significant amount, you can add a bit more to the tip. If there was a problem with your order, ensure it wasn't the restaurant's fault before skipping the tip.

The holidays are one of the times of the year when tipping etiquette seems the most overwhelming, often seeming as though you have to tip everyone or even give an extra tip to those you're already tipping. While some extra tipping during the holidays may be acceptable, there's no reason to panic. Whether it's your dog walker, babysitter, or housekeeper, the people you hire will appreciate extra tips during the holidays.

If you're staying at a budget hotel, you're probably not thinking about tipping anyone, especially when you're carrying your bags yourself. But if you're staying at a nice hotel, avoid looking cheap by knowing who to tip and how much. Service providers like shuttle drivers, bellhops, parking attendants, or door staff should receive between $1-$5 per bag or ride.

Tipping your bartender or server looks similar to tipping anywhere else. Additionally, tip the housekeeping staff between $1-5 per night during your stay. (Also See Etiquette Mistakes That Make You Look Rude.)