“Tipping is out of control,” say 30 percent of respondents to a recent poll posted in Bankrate, and two-thirds have a “negative view of tipping.” My question is “What universe is the other one-third living in?” When I first started traveling with my parents—and I’m now an old geezer—the only people my father tipped were…

Ever wonder why one garden is extremely lush, while the one next door in the same ecosystem is struggling along? And particularly when both get the same hours of sun and are appropriately watered and fertilized? As with anything else in life, it comes down to attention to detail. Pinching—which can be done with garden…

Last fall, I was offered complimentary coffee at a nearby shop due to some inconvenient circumstances taking place at my office building. Not one to pass up a free perk when offered, I hopped on over a few times, feeling like I was living in the lap of luxury with my hot drink. But then…

Almost 70 percent of Canadians believe their restaurant server expects a tip but doesn’t necessarily work enough to deserve one, a new survey suggests. When asked if they agree with the statement “food servers nowadays simply expect a tip, but don’t work hard to earn it,” 46 percent of respondents indicated they somewhat agree and…

By Emma Patch From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Tipping is not a uniquely American practice, but we tip more often and in larger amounts than just about any other country. The practice is so established that many workers’ wages are based on the anticipation of tips. Holiday tipping is a bit different. It’s a way to…

Tipping is important; waiters count on their tips to survive, or perhaps your plumber went above and beyond without charging you extra. But do you need to tip everyone you come into contact with? The short answer is no. Sit-Down Dining One legend says that the term tip—“to ensure promptness”—began as a box that was…

Dining out provides a chance to focus on the meal and enjoy being waited on for every need. We’ve got a few suggestions to help prevent your table from being labeled “the bad one” by the waitstaff. Be the Happy Table While the goal of dining out is to have a great time, be respectful…

It is a social custom in this country to give cash gifts, known as tips or gratuities, during the holiday season. How this custom came to be I have no idea. And while we see editorial suggestions in newspapers and magazines during the holidays, thankfully there are no rules, no tipping police. What makes one…