Gifts to service people at the holidays....

[Blue502]

Same here, the only person I give an extra thanks to at the holidays is my paper carrier. The mail carriers and garbage collectors probably make twice as much as I do (garbage for me is collected by city workers) and they could care less if they drop your can and it spills everywhere. You will be the one picking it up.
And the mail carrier? I'm lucky if i have a day where i don't have someone elses mail.

[BirdieBelle]

A gift is voluntary. If you're not feelin' it, don't give it.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by Wmsn4Life

A gift is voluntary. If you're not feelin' it, don't give it.

Exactly. "For it is in giving that we receive." But if you don't want to, don't. Tis the season where people start complaining about presents, commercialism, Christmas decorations being in the stores earlier and earlier each year (if that were the case then ever since I remember people complaining the red and green would be in the Walmarts by February). The holidays can really bring out the worst in so many people.

[Serious Conversation]

Originally Posted by rdflk

I never thought of that. I do have things for my regular service people - if I use them during a given year: my regular go-to plumber, HVAC, electrician etc. And my yard guys every year.

We have a volunteer fire department which I give a small monetary donation to every year, But I never thought about just popping by with a basket of goodies for the folks who actually might be on duty at the local station. I 'll think about that.

Also it's strange but I have never tipped or given anything to the mail- or trash people. I know it's because -- to be honest -- I don't feel like I have any relationship to them. I never see them. I don't have a 'regular' mail carrier. I can have three different people a week. And when I do see one he or she is on their darn cell phone as they walk by, so they might give a head nod and say "how you doin'"

And when I go to the post office, I don't see anyone doing anything all that special to be rewarded for.

I never see my postal carrier either. I just roll the trash down to the street and the garbage truck picks it up on Tuesday. It's probably this way in most subdivisions.

A friend of mine does run the UPS and FedEx guys ragged. I told him that I thought a gift card to somewhere like Ruth's Chris for two would be nice, given his income. I may tip my barber more for Christmas or drop a $100 in the tip jar at a sandwich shop I visit. I just don't have any relationship to the mail carrier, garbage truck driver, etc.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by Emigrations

I never see my postal carrier either. I just roll the trash down to the street and the garbage truck picks it up on Tuesday. It's probably this way in most subdivisions.

A friend of mine does run the UPS and FedEx guys ragged. I told him that I thought a gift card to somewhere like Ruth's Chris for two would be nice, given his income. I may tip my barber more for Christmas or drop a $100 in the tip jar at a sandwich shop I visit. I just don't have any relationship to the mail carrier, garbage truck driver, etc.

You mean your parent's mail carrier, their subdivision?

Just kidding!

I thought times are tough up there in the Tri. I'm surprised you have a $100 to put in a tip jar at a sandwich shop, the way you talk about your wages, cost of living.

Oh, and the friend seems to be pulling down the bucks, too. Wait, I bet he lives in the great state of Iowa, land of milk and honey.