Financial Peace and Tipping
December 24th, 2007 by Ana
Dave Ramsey did a “giving hour” on Friday and one of his callers described something they call “elfing,” which is going out to eat and leaving a huge tip for the server. I think this is a great idea (especially since I work for tips as a pizza delivery driver!) and we just got back from doing a little of it ourselves.
We had brunch at Waffle House :) It’s definitely nothing fancy or high-class, and the place was pretty much dead in terms of busyness. We both had big breakfasts and coffe with the bill totalling $18.58. I placed $25.60 on the table, then hubby reached into his wallet and pulled out another $5 bill so we gave that waitress a $12.02 tip! I had grabbed a napkin and wrote “Happy Holiday” on it with a smiley face. As I was getting into the truck, I saw her waving to me from inside.
Most people don’t like to work on a holiday, and most of the waiting and delivery staff you see working a holiday is doing so because they need the money. Today and tomorrow, find a not-fancy place that is open and eat a simple sit-down meal…and leave a big tip. Or call and order pizza and give the driver a big tip. Friday night a fellow handed me a $10 tip and it really brightened up my night at work. I have no doubt that waitress at Waffle House had her day brightened by our tip. Pass it around…give someone a reason to smile!
Posted in random stuff |
December 24th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
We did that ourselves today, gave a 50% tip to the waitress. It made me feel good and I hope her as well.
December 26th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
I was inspired by the same show. Saturday night I left a $20 tip on an $11 check at a Mexican restaurant staffed by hardworking immigrants who never get a day off, live too-many-to-an-apartment, and send most of the money home. (My church does outreach with them so we know these guys’ lives.) It made me happy, even walking into the restaurant, because I knew I was going to do it. Then, Christmas Day, I went to the Huddle House diner and did the same. (Same dollar figures too, weird.) I told the waitress I was sorry she had to work Christmas Day, but I was glad they were open (the only place in town) because I was too sick to travel to be with family. (Headscarf, cancer patient, pretty obvious.) She was super nice, and the whole staff was cheery and wearing Santa hats and greeting everyone who came in the door with a hearty unison MERRY CHRISTMAS! It was super busy and they were hustling! So it was a great consolation to me to have such a cheery, friendly place on an otherwise lonely Christmas Day.
It feels so good to be the Tip Fairy!!!!
December 29th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
I did that once because I overbudgeted for the meal and wanted to do something nice. It’s a really cool idea. I’ve also known a lot of waiters/waitresses who really appreciate it.
January 6th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Re: the Mexican restaurant I mentioned above, I went out to dinner there again about a week later, and ordered a margarita, and instead of putting it in a margarita glass, they filled a big tumbler like they serve the sodas in! They must have remembered me. Show generosity in tipping, get big well-mixed drinks! LOL
January 30th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
One of my favorite jobs was delivering pizza for dominos. Everyone was always happy to see you and they were even happy when you were late because they got the pizza for free.
March 20th, 2008 at 10:14 am
[…] tells them they must work. I know it makes my night to receive a great tip … and after the Christmas Eve tipping expedition I know it really brightens others’ jobs. Don’t look for me in the fancy restaurants […]