Since the beginning of time — or at least the beginning of the movie Reservoir Dogs — people have debated the proper amount to tip. There are no hard and fast rules for how much you need to tip for various services, and it comes down to a matter of personal preferences as they relate to social customs. Few people really like paying more than they need to be, or to be viewed as a cheapskate, so everyone walks a fine line when deciding how much to leave.

We’ve covered the issue many times before, but since the issue can never be truly settled, every time the subject comes up it touches off a debate.

Krystal at Give Me Back My Five Bucks stirs the pot by offering her personal tipping guidelines:

Hair cut: 15 percent.

Taxi: 10 to 15 percent.

Sit-down restaurant: 15 to 25 percent.

Takeout: Nothing unless “something extraordinary happens.”

The latter item could be the most contentious, because take-out workers often claim that they deserve some sort of tip but are often stiffed. The empty line for the tip on a receipt usually guilts me into leaving something.

GMBMFB Readers: How much do you tip?
Posted on November 9, 2011 in miscellaneous [Give Me Back My Five Bucks]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.