Here’s How Much You Should Tip in These 12 Situations, According to George Kamel

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For Ramsey Solutions. Kamel is one of the personal finance experts at Dave Ramsey's company, which provides financial counseling and education. He explains how much to tip in various common situations across different categories.

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You can begin this week.

Restaurants

Going out to eat is a great way to enjoy a meal without the hassle of cooking and cleaning up afterwards. However, the prices on the menu may not be what you end up paying, as tipping is often expected. Here are Kamel's guidelines for how much to tip at different types of restaurants.

Sit-Down Restaurants

It's generally agreed that customers should tip their servers at sit-down restaurants. About 92% of Americans say they consistently or frequently leave a tip in this case, more than any other category in the Pew Research survey.

Kamel suggests tipping your waiter or server between 15% and 20% at these restaurants, and even more if you're extremely satisfied with the service. Employers only have to pay servers a minimum wage of $2.13 per hour, with tips making up the rest of their earnings. Kamel advises you to always leave a tip, regardless of the quality of the service.

Buffet Restaurants

At a buffet restaurant, you usually take all your food to your table on your own, but servers will likely clear your plates and refill your drinks. According to Kamel, it's a good idea to tip at least 10% to show appreciation for the servers' service. If you receive particularly great service, consider tipping even more.

Restaurant Takeout

At times, you may not be in the mood for dining out, so you buy your meal and enjoy it at home. In that case, since you're not being waited on by a server, you don't need to leave the same tip as you would when eating at a restaurant.

Kamel noted that it's still a kind gesture to leave something for the workers. He recommended tipping them a few dollars to "show your appreciation" – or considering leaving a bit more if you've ordered a large item.

Fast-Food Restaurants

What do you think about tipping at fast-food places like McDonald's? Kamel said it depends on the level of service you get. If someone brings you food to your table or cleans up after you, you might leave a couple of bucks.

Kamel doesn’t think this is necessary in this situation, though. He said, “Don't feel obligated. It’s all right to skip the tip in these quick and informal settings.”

Delivery

If you order food from a restaurant and have it delivered to your house, Kamel thinks you should "absolutely tip." More than three-quarters of Americans usually tip in this situation. Kamel says to "be generous and give them 10% to 20%."

Coffee Shop

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Traveling

Between transportation, accommodations, and entertainment, traveling can be quite costly. You should also include tips in your budget. There are some situations that Kamel mentioned that might arise while traveling and will require a tip.

Cab Driver

Your taxi driver will likely expect to be tipped for driving you to your destination, but only about 43% of Americans always leave a tip in this situation. Kamel pointed out that if the ride was extremely poor and you "feared for your life during the trip," then you might not leave a tip.

If you were satisfied with the ride, he recommended tipping 10% to 15% of the total fare, with a little extra if the driver assisted you with your luggage.

Housekeeping

You can expect housekeeping service. Kamel advised tipping each day you request housekeeping rather than one large tip at the end, as staff may change shifts. He suggested tipping around two dollars at a budget-conscious hotel and more at nicer hotels.

International Travel

Traveling in the US, Americans who travel abroad should remember that tipping customs can vary greatly from country to country. In some places, like Japan, leaving a tip can be viewed as impolite.

You should investigate your travel destination beforehand to find out what's considered a suitable tip there.

Grocery Delivery

These services are very convenient, but they will likely cost a bit more because you have to leave a tip to compensate your delivery person. Kamel recommends figuring out the delivery fee as 15% to 20% of the total cost, whether you're using an express service like Instacart or in-store delivery services from stores such as Walmart.

Home Services

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Housecleaners

If you're in that category, Kamel recommends tipping your cleaners between 15% and 20%.

Movers

Moving all your stuff can be a real hassle, particularly if you have large or unusual items. According to Kamel, if you hire professional movers who do a great job, you can consider tipping $10 to $50 per mover. Decide how much to tip based on the crew's attitude, how hard the move was, and how much stuff they had to handle.

• Now that you have a substantial amount saved, you can start investing in growth-oriented assets, such as a diversified stock portfolio, real estate investment trusts (REITs), or a small business. These types of investments can generate passive income and potentially increase the value of your savings over the long term. Just remember to diversify your portfolio to minimize risk and maximize returns.
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Here's How Much You Should Tip in These 12 Situations, As Advised by George Kamel