As a DFW Do you Tip in Restraunts, etc?

saubryn

I have a friend that would disgust most MSEs in the way he spends - he is on an incredibly good wage, he has a mortage and 1 credit card that is almost always paid off in full each month. He has no other debt, and a ton of savings.

He eats out EVERY lunch time and almost every night. He has a car, but often he can't be bothered to use it, so takes a taxi.

He can't be bothered to figure out the thermostat on his heater (I'll admit its a bit of a strange one, but he did get a manual so it shouldn't be that hard) so he leaves the heating on all day.

The freaky thing is, he thinks I - the skint DFW on a low income, am the one who acts like I'm loaded because on the rare occasions I get a taxi / order a pizza or eat in a restraunt, I tip.

We were out in our 'restraunt of choice' - somewhere we go for most special occasions, as a group of 5. Nobody else wanted to tip, so because we love the place and go whenever we have enough treat money saved, hubby and I put in some extra to make up for everyone else.

So - who is the freak? Us for doing that, and for tipping when we use these services, or people who are loaded, eat out and get taxis all the time, but never tip?

I hate holidays where you're meant to tip every service person you ever encounter, but don't waiters, taxi drivers and delivery people kinda rely on tips to bump up their wages?

Emmzi

If I choose to have a luxury - ie taxi or meal out - I think a tip is part of the cost. It's not the waiter's fault I'm skint, and he's on not much more than minimum wage - the guilt would ruin my 'treat' for me!

Emmzi

PS But I always leave cash and never put it on cheque/cc.. so i know waiter gets it, not restaurant...

immoral_angeluk

Can't remember the last time I actually went out to a restaurant that wasn't a pub meal!

D&DD

:eek: Hmmm DFW and restaurant (let alone tip ) don't really go together for me...last time we ate out was pre kids :rotfl: *my eldest is 15*...

babes21

Depending on the service i receive i always leave a tip... whether that's for hairdressers, taxis, restaurants etc.

Anastacia

i tip. i have been a waitress. You dont get a lot if you dont get tips.
I dont waste money but I am not cheap. I think you are doing the right thing & your friend, who may be lovely, seems a bit of a selfish prat.

spud30

As a DFW, I dont go to restaurants etc.

If I did, I think the tip is part of the night out.

Ruby_Pudding

Emmzi wrote:

If I choose to have a luxury - ie taxi or meal out - I think a tip is part of the cost. It's not the waiter's fault I'm skint, and he's on not much more than minimum wage - the guilt would ruin my 'treat' for me!

Yep, this pretty much sums up my attitude as well. I've been on the receiving end of tips and was almost pathetically grateful for them sometimes as they covered bus fares and the purchase of bread and milk on the days when no other funds were available. Mind you, I won't tip if I'm unhappy with the meal or service in any way, that would be just silly.

kevin_M

i normaly tip depending on service...

for example few weeks ago i went to a nice place that was a little more expensive. Service was bad, had to realy try and get served. they were to busy talking to each other to bother with me. Tip was whatever change was left out of meal prolly a few pence.

last week went to pizza hut(nice and cheap)bloke was fantastic.. meal for 2 of us starter, main, pud, drinks, came to £24.someting left £30.

saubryn

Eek, you guys are making me feel guilty for going to restraunts!

In my defence, the one I mentioned in the posts as being really good does a 2 for 1 deal on our favourite dish where it can work out cheaper than most pubs and fast food places for a meal that is far nicer - so we usually just go when thats on.

I've heard some people say that the rich only get there by being tight - I'm not sure if thats the case with him or not - he was unemployed for a number of years and learned to live thriftilly, then he got this really really high paid job and went wild, but it seems some habits stuck.

We did debate the thing about waitresses needing the tips, his response was 'but they get minimum wage anyway' - I think he needs to experience that part of financial life where you're no longer on benefits, but still not really any better off.