The holiday tip can be a way to say thank you to the people who don’t hear it much from you throughout the year.
But figuring out whom to tip and how much to give without breaking the budget can be stressful, especially for people who aren’t already in the habit of doing so.
About 30 percent of people are not planning to tip for the holidays, according to a survey by Care.com, a website that pairs families with caregivers. Of those who are giving, only 41 percent of people said they budgeted for it. About 30 percent are tipping cash only and 60 percent are giving cash and gifts.
The list of whom to tip will be different depending on where you live and what your relationship is with the service provider. If you can’t tip everyone, prioritize the people who truly make your routine easier, says Lizzie Post, author and spokeswoman for the Emily Post Institute. “You want to think about who is it that has really been in your life,” she says.