While your doling out cash and budgeting for gifts, save a little for the people in your life that service you all year round. FYI: It’s customary to tip the service people in your life during the holidays.

Yup, being a responsible member of society is expensive.

I personally am always at a lost of what is the proper amount to tip door men, hair dressers, mail carriers, and the rest of the people that magically make my life run a little smoother all year round.

If you’re as baffled as I am, here’s a cheat sheet to go by:

Doormen:

$50-$100, or any combination of $50 + wine, fruit basket, flowers, gift certificate, etc. These are people that see you everyday, sign for your packages, make sure no one gets into your building that doesn’t belong there, and serve as a liaison to the service people. You want them to like you.

Nanny:

An extra weeks pay. I don’t feel like I need to explain why child care workers are so important, they take care of your children. Let them know they’re appreciated.

Hair Dresser:

It’s customary to slip them an extra $20 this time of year. If you’re faithful to the same person for years and years, a personal gift might work as well. Either way, this is someone in charge of making you look amazing, bangs beware, you want them on your side.

Housekeeper:

An extra weeks pay, unless you have more than one person who cleans at a time, then chocolates or gift certificates would work better.

Mail Carrier:

A gift somewhere around $20, gift certificates work pretty well. I mean, how well do you know your mail carrier?

Newspaper deliver person:

$10 is customary.

Personal Trainer:

$50, or a protein rich fruit cake. That was a joke, just slip them a $50.

Mani/Pedi/Massage People:

The cost of one session if you see them regularly. If you just happen to be getting a random personal service this time of year a few extra bucks in the tip will suffice.

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Yup, having a convenient life can be highly inconvenient in regard to finances come the holiday season, but most of the people in these professions don’t get holiday bonuses, or even raises regularly, tipping them this time of year shows that you appreciate all they add to your life, and keep you in preferred status with them the rest of the year.