You may also be interested in:

It sounds as though you may have several categories where you tip individuals during the holidays. Remember that a tip is never necessary or required.

      Although some apartment buildings send residents a list of the building’s employees, which you may want to acknowledge with the suggested tip, if you want continued good service throughout the year.

      Housecleaners and housekeepers are the best compensated because they not only know your secrets and bad habits, but they pick up after you when you’re too busy to do certain things for yourself.

      The median may be to tip $50, but you have to evaluate the tip by how many hours a month they spend taking care of your home.

      If you pay $15 an hour and she works for four hours a week, her Christmas tip should be at least $120, two weeks salary, for a year’s worth of taking care of you.

• What does the service of a full time domestic, such as a nanny, personal caregiver, cook, butler, housekeeper, mean to you? It could be worth anywhere between a week and up to a month’s salary, plus a small gift.
• Although, if you’re just tipping because it is expected, apparently you can squeak by with a $50 holiday tip.
• When there is a long running history of care, loyalty and devotion, then $250 would be appropriate.

Daily Worker
      Dog Walker, Nanny and Caregiver, or any other daily domestic help, would receive, again, a tip equal to two weeks of salary. 

      Other professions typically receive a gift card for $20, or just that in cash.

      Cash is always preferred. Gift cards are always appreciated, but if there is a problem with it or it has expired, then the worker is stuck in the embarrassing situation of having to explain that they were not able to use your gift card. Then you have to hem and haw and make good on the card or give cash to make up for the mishap.

      Boxed and wrapped gifts are not so popular. Unless the worker has specifically asked for an electric tea pot, but when there is a problem returning the gift, the worker is put on the spot.

       To get back to the cash, make the gift look nice and festive by placing the cash in a holiday card, with handwritten words of thanks.

At the end of the year, it is all about how dearly you appreciate the quality and frequency of the service, your relationship with the recipient, how long you’ve been using their service, and your budget.

• Then factor in your location, because workers commuting in dense urban locations are apt to have a more lengthy and expensive commute.

      Also under consideration:

• Homemade gifts, such as propagated plants, baked goods, or homemade jam, are charming and show your sincere appreciation when your budget doesn’t provide for end of the year tipping.
• Already readily tipping your hairdresser, manicurist, masseuse/masseur, or trainer per service? Then your holiday tip doesn’t have to be as generous.
• Mail carrier, paper deliverer, garbage collectors, etc., who may or may not be the same person every day or week.
• Doormen and building janitors are usually tipped once a year by the resident and not on a daily basis

Handwritten notes of thanks are always appreciated no matter how generous the gift it accompanies. They show a lot of about your style and grace.