Have your tipping habits changed?

[Exile]

Most of us have been affected in one way or another by the economic upheaval of the last few years from the cost of fuel to the collapse of the real estate market. If you have been impacted but still have funds left over for such discretionary spending as eating out, do you tip the same amount as before?

[myrdale]

I eat out alot less now. Between budgeting and trying to lose a couple of pounds.

Usually when I do tip, it is seldom more than $2. That has not changed.

[MiikeB]

I am of the opinion that if I do not have the money to tip, I cannot afford to eat out.

I have been eating out less, but my tipping practices will not change.

[disneysteve]

I agree with MiikeB. Tipping is part of the cost of eating out. If you can't afford to tip the customary amount, don't go to a restaurant where you have to tip. Eat at home or stick to counter-service places where no tip is needed.

So no, my tipping habits have not changed at all.

[atomicrc11]

I can say that my tipping habits haven't changed much. However, many people don't like my tipping habits to begin with.

[simpleyme]

We used to be cheap tippers but after we started listening to Dave Ramsey we changed our ways
like others have said DR made us realize tipping is part of eating out so if you do not like it you should stay home

we are ashamed of our old ways so when we do go out we are very generouse tippers , we rarley go out as i am a great cook and enjoy cooking for my family ;-)

the economy over all is not changing anything at our house ,we found Dave Ramsey in 2005 , we were not in too bad of shape followed his program and have laid a pretty good foundation for ourselves

[FrugalFish]

No, we still tip pretty generously for good service, but we are eating out less these days.

[geojen]

I agree with everyone here-If you have enough to go out to eat, you have enough to tip. Its not right to go out and treat yourself and not compensate the server to save yourself some money.

[disneysteve]

Its not right to go out and treat yourself and not compensate the server to save yourself some money.

Exactly what I was trying to think of how to say.

[Ima saver]

I agree with everyone here-If you have enough to go out to eat, you have enough to tip. Its not right to go out and treat yourself and not compensate the server to save yourself some money.

I agree completely. Remember these ladies are only making $2 an hour and have to report their tips and pay tax. That means that there paycheck is almost nothing. I know for sure because I worked as a waitress for many years and this area was very well know for it's poor tips.

[Aleta]

We tip the same but do not eat out as much. Sometmes we just order food to go and I don't tip for that.

[Angio333]

My wife and I often leave good and even very large tips. However, we do not base it on the price of the check. We base it on how the service provided and not on the check.

We do not think it is fair for waiter at a mom and pop diner to get a $3 tip since the check was very low due to great prices and a waiter at an expensive place getting a $8 tip since the check was more expensive despite getting the same level of service.

[disneysteve]

My wife and I often leave good and even very large tips. However, we do not base it on the price of the check. We base it on how the service provided and not on the check.

We do not think it is fair for waiter at a mom and pop diner to get a $3 tip since the check was very low due to great prices and a waiter at an expensive place getting a $8 tip since the check was more expensive despite getting the same level of service.

As we discussed in another tipping thread recently, it does bother me that more expensive food = bigger tip, but I don't know how else to do it. That's the way the system is set up. Someone who takes a job as a server at a cheap diner knows going into it that he/she will get lower tips than if he/she got a job as a server in a fine dining place. If a server wants higher tips, he/she needs to work at a more expensive restaurant.

[DebbieL]

I agree completely. Remember these ladies are only making $2 an hour and have to report their tips and pay tax. That means that there paycheck is almost nothing. I know for sure because I worked as a waitress for many years and this area was very well know for it's poor tips.

Here in Canada that would be illegal. The minimum wage is the same for everyone. Minimum wage where I live is $8/hr (and many servers are making more than that - plus their tips).

[kork13]

Here in Canada that would be illegal. The minimum wage is the same for everyone. Minimum wage where I live is $8/hr (and many servers are making more than that - plus their tips).

I believe that's how it is justified by restaurant owners.... taking into account tips, wait staffs typically will make at, or frequently more than minimum wage, so therefore "they really are getting minimum wage". I disagree personally, but i think that's the way it goes right now...