Tipping: Should I Tip? When And How Much?

When it comes to tipping, there are no hard and fast rules. And everyone does it differently. As a customer, you’re left to wonder — when should you tip? Who should you tip? How much? And what if you don’t have any cash?

To help you, below is a general guide for when and how much to tip. This guide will be helpful, but if you’re ever unsure of whether to tip, remember — you tip to express your gratitude. Keep in mind why you tip in the first place and let that be your guide.

A Short History on Tipping

It’s thought the idea of tipping originated in England in the 17th century when guests of a home would leave a “vail” for the servants before they left. Money was left to express the guests’ gratitude for the service they were provided while visiting.

Tipping came to America from Europe in the mid-1800s. And by the early 1900s, it was a widespread, expected behavior. Some disagreed with the idea, thinking it a “ un-American “ and oppressive act used to counter poor working conditions.

But tipping stood the test of time.

In the 1960s, workers in service industries receiving part of their wages from tips had their minimum wage slashed. Tips then became an actual part of wages, especially for restaurant servers.