Greetings!,

Are you a good tipper? Let me ask that another way, do you feel you tip more than most people?

Since COVID it feels to me that tipping has gone from a way to say thank you for your service to an expected add-on for someone just doing their job. Don't get me wrong, I know for many people receiving tips is an important part of their income (and in many places their base wage reflects the receipt of tips).

Michigan has a minimum cash wage for wait staff of $5.49/hour and a minimum combined tip wage of $13.73/hour. You can see for this occupation why tipping can be an essential part of a living wage. You can see the nationwide wages for tipped staff HERE.

The average tip percentage nationally is 15.46%, falling within the long-standing 15% to 20% cultural norm, according to a report by Fox News. Tipping seems to be higher in South Carolina with Wisconsin at 19.15%, Connecticut at 18.43%, Maryland at 18.40% and Nevada at 16.88%.

At the bottom, Oregon ranks as the least generous state at 13.10% — followed by Virginia at 13.58%, New York at 13.72%, Alaska at 14.11% and Illinois at 14.37%. Keep in mind however, in some states there is a higher minimum wage and this should be taken into consideration.

At what point do you run into "tip fatigue"? Do you tip your mechanic? How about your electrician or plumber? Just to make sure they do not take any revenge, I tip my barber 25%.

If you want to read more about tipping or look at rates by state, please feel free to click below:

TIPPING BY STATE

As always, thanks for reading.



Bernie & Chad