Tipping

[Pakuni]

What state do you live in? Here in New Jersey the median teacher's salary is almost 80k. Most school administrators make 6 figures.

In New Jersey, residents need to make $152,186 annually to afford the state's median-priced home of $495,600.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/money/real-estate/2024/04/03/nj-real-estate-annual-salary-required-to-afford-a-typical-home-in-us/73176731007/

[Uncle Rico]

This is 100% accurate and not taxing tips is stupid.  When I tought tennis lessons over the summer in high school and college over 1/2 of my income was from private lessons.  I would get paid in cash and checks from my customers.  My grandma and mom were adamant that I keep a detailed record of every dime I earned, even though I knew others in the same line of work didn't do he same. Now, technically these aren't tips, but it's the same logic.  My grandma always told me if I didn't keep a record and pay taxes on my income, I am committing a serious crime and could go to jail.  The risk of that isn't worth a few extra bucks.

Thanks you, Muggs.  Too many in the restaurant industry are stealing my hard earned money so they can buy drugs and get high instead of paying their fair share.  Makes me vomit puke

[WhiteTrash]

no

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/no-tax-on-tips-an-answer-in-search-of-a-question/

I'll respectfully submit it is political but also bipartisan.

[The Sultan]

This is 100% accurate and not taxing tips is stupid.  When I tought tennis lessons over the summer in high school and college over 1/2 of my income was from private lessons.  I would get paid in cash and checks from my customers.  My grandma and mom were adamant that I keep a detailed record of every dime I earned, even though I knew others in the same line of work didn't do he same. Now, technically these aren't tips, but it's the same logic.  My grandma always told me if I didn't keep a record and pay taxes on my income, I am committing a serious crime and could go to jail.  The risk of that isn't worth a few extra bucks.

Your grandma thinks a college student who doesn't report all his tennis lesson tips could go to jail?

Is this why you're a nervous wreck all the time?

[Hards Alumni]

I'll respectfully submit it is political but also bipartisan.

Stop trying to take Sultan's job

[jesmu84]

In New Jersey, residents need to make $152,186 annually to afford the state's median-priced home of $495,600.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/money/real-estate/2024/04/03/nj-real-estate-annual-salary-required-to-afford-a-typical-home-in-us/73176731007/
[/quote
Thanks. This is the kind of info I was looking for when I asked my question

[4everwarriors]

Do the hygienists that you don't pay enough before asking your patients to tip them pay taxes on said tips?

Ur udder screen name wuz bedder, hey?

[MuggsyB]

Your grandma thinks a college student who doesn't report all his tennis lesson tips could go to jail?

Is this why you're a nervous wreck all the time?

They weren't tips. 

[MU82]

This is 100% accurate and not taxing tips is stupid.  When I tought tennis lessons over the summer in high school and college over 1/2 of my income was from private lessons.  I would get paid in cash and checks from my customers.  My grandma and mom were adamant that I keep a detailed record of every dime I earned, even though I knew others in the same line of work didn't do he same. Now, technically these aren't tips, but it's the same logic.  My grandma always told me if I didn't keep a record and pay taxes on my income, I am committing a serious crime and could go to jail.  The risk of that isn't worth a few extra bucks.

Explains why you introduced her to darkness.

[SoCalEagle]

Let's say it is a $100 restaurant tab. Let's go with 8% tax so $108.
Tip 20% on the pretax is $20, tip on post tax is $21.60...... Insane!

Yeah, I can do the math and see that it's a small difference, but you're missing the point of why it's insane.  The amount we choose to tip for food and drink is up to all of us.  $15%, 20%, or 25%, whatever we feel is appropriate for the service provided.  No problem with that, but being dishonest with your customers in order to drive up that amount is, in my opinion, bad practice.  Why not just be honest and set up your system to tell me the true amount of 20% ON FOOD AND DRINK and not lie to me?  Why do you think this thread even started?  People are tired of the small, but when added together, substantive manipulations, and the expectation to provide a tip for, in the case of tipping on THE TAX applied to your food and drink, absolutely nothing.  If I want to give the server and extra $1.60 that's okay, but don't just reach into my pocket and take it from me. 

[The Sultan]

Yeah, I can do the math and see that it's a small difference, but you're missing the point of why it's insane.  The amount we choose to tip for food and drink is up to all of us.  $15%, 20%, or 25%, whatever we feel is appropriate for the service provided.  No problem with that, but being dishonest with your customers in order to drive up that amount is, in my opinion, bad practice.  Why not just be honest and set up your system to tell me the true amount of 20% ON FOOD AND DRINK and not lie to me?  Why do you think this thread even started?  People are tired of the small, but when added together, substantive manipulations, and the expectation to provide a tip for, in the case of tipping on THE TAX applied to your food and drink, absolutely nothing.  If I want to give the server and extra $1.60 that's okay, but don't just reach into my pocket and take it from me. 

Cmon...

[muwarrior69]

In New Jersey, residents need to make $152,186 annually to afford the state's median-priced home of $495,600.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/money/real-estate/2024/04/03/nj-real-estate-annual-salary-required-to-afford-a-typical-home-in-us/73176731007/

The median income for households in New Jersey is $97,126, which is 29% higher than the US median. Teachers are certainly not under paid here and a two-teacher household could afford to purchase an albeit high median price home here in New Jersey.

[21Jumpstreet]

What do you think about "mandatory tips" like on larger parties? In my restaurants over the years, I never did this and did not allow my employees to do it.

I was in Denver recently and ate at Hey Kiddo. My wife and I went all out, tried everything, drank everything, great time at the bar, just the two of us. Got the bill, and I see a 20% additional charge. I asked what the heck was that and was told it was for the staff. I asked if it was a gratuity and was given sort of a run around answer. It really irritated me. I have seen 3-7% before but never 20%, especially for a party of two.

It was also not made clear, meaning some places the server is up front and mentions it, I've seen some servers put a big circle around it, this time it felt sneaky. It made me feel incredibly awkward as we had a great time with the staff, I didn't know if I was supposed to add full gratuity, partial, who got what. It was unfortunately an unpleasant and to an otherwise super fun evening.

[WarriorFan]

OK, for those who answered that they do tip movers, a follow-up:

Why?

As mentioned, these aren't restaurant employees who are forced to rely on tips because they make $3/hour. How is the decision whether or not to tip a $20/hour mover any different from the decision whether or not to tip the $20/hour bicycle repair person (who probably gets zero tips)?

I'm not trying to be snarky. Just trying to get an idea why tipping a $20/hour employee is seen as necessary by some.

Thanks.

Having moved internationally 18 times, I have two rules with movers:  feed them well and tip them well.  I always provide good "coffee break" food and coffee while they are working and a nice tip at the end.  Especially in developing countries, this can greatly impact the outcome. 

[pbiflyer]

Steve said it best.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Yeah, I can do the math and see that it's a small difference, but you're missing the point of why it's insane.  The amount we choose to tip for food and drink is up to all of us.  $15%, 20%, or 25%, whatever we feel is appropriate for the service provided.  No problem with that, but being dishonest with your customers in order to drive up that amount is, in my opinion, bad practice.  Why not just be honest and set up your system to tell me the true amount of 20% ON FOOD AND DRINK and not lie to me?  Why do you think this thread even started?  People are tired of the small, but when added together, substantive manipulations, and the expectation to provide a tip for, in the case of tipping on THE TAX applied to your food and drink, absolutely nothing.  If I want to give the server and extra $1.60 that's okay, but don't just reach into my pocket and take it from me. 

Then just calculate 20% yourself instead of lazily circling 20% after tax and griping about $1.60.

[jesmu84]

The median income for households in New Jersey is $97,126, which is 29% higher than the US median. Teachers are certainly not under paid here and a two-teacher household could afford to purchase an albeit high median price home here in New Jersey.

What's cost of living difference between NJ and other US locations?

[forgetful]

The median income for households in New Jersey is $97,126, which is 29% higher than the US median. Teachers are certainly not under paid here and a two-teacher household could afford to purchase an albeit high median price home here in New Jersey.

So a profession that requires a college degree and specialized training is being paid ~20% less than the median income of all other jobs, and your argument is that they are "certainly not under paid"?

That's delusional.

And based on the numbers posted, a family of 2 teachers could barely afford the median home ($160k salary vs $152k needed). And if they have to have 2 full time workers, the cost of child care etc. would quickly price them out of even those homes.

Posts like yours highlight how out of touch with reality many people are.

[forgetful]

What's cost of living difference between NJ and other US locations?

Can't give you those numbers, but the salary required to buy the median home in the US is ~106k, in NJ it is $152k, so you need to earn ~44% more in NJ just to afford your home. That doesn't take into consideration the cost of living for everything else.
.

[WarriorFan]

Can't give you those numbers, but the salary required to buy the median home in the US is ~106k, in NJ it is $152k, so you need to earn ~44% more in NJ just to afford your home. That doesn't take into consideration the cost of living for everything else.
.

and the worst part of it all is that you'd be in New Jersey.

[SoCalEagle]

Having moved internationally 18 times, I have two rules with movers:  feed them well and tip them well.  I always provide good "coffee break" food and coffee while they are working and a nice tip at the end.  Especially in developing countries, this can greatly impact the outcome. 

This is spot on. 

[jesmu84]

So a profession that requires a college degree and specialized training is being paid ~20% less than the median income of all other jobs, and your argument is that they are "certainly not under paid"?

That's delusional.

And based on the numbers posted, a family of 2 teachers could barely afford the median home ($160k salary vs $152k needed). And if they have to have 2 full time workers, the cost of child care etc. would quickly price them out of even those homes.

Posts like yours highlight how out of touch with reality many people are.

Bingo

[muwarrior69]

So a profession that requires a college degree and specialized training is being paid ~20% less than the median income of all other jobs, and your argument is that they are "certainly not under paid"?

That's delusional.

And based on the numbers posted, a family of 2 teachers could barely afford the median home ($160k salary vs $152k needed). And if they have to have 2 full time workers, the cost of child care etc. would quickly price them out of even those homes.

Posts like yours highlight how out of touch with reality many people are.

The monthly payment on a 500000 mortgage at 6.9% is 3300 and that is putting nothing down on a median priced home. You are telling me that a family earning 160k cannot afford a median priced home and have nothing left over is delusional.

Also the majority of households at the 97k median income are most likely not single earner households. So, an 80k teacher making less than 20% of all other jobs is inaccurate, it's based on household income, not jobs.

[barfolomew]

As the spouse of a school teacher, we absolutely tipped the kids' teachers through high school.

Yes, summer vacation is great for teachers, but it's really only about 8 weeks long now, depending on the grade level; less if the teacher is also a coach or club moderator.
During the schoolyear, the amount of work teachers do outside the classroom is tremendous, and seems to grow every year.

Between grading, IEP meetings, parent conferences, slews of parent emails, lesson plans, etc, it's not uncommon for them to spend 4-6 hrs a day working before and after school.

Not that other industries don't require long hours, but my point is that teachers generally work their asses off. So I tip them generously. Other people seem to feel the same, because families at my wife's school are always very generous at Christmas and end of year.

[Uncle Rico]

As the spouse of a school teacher, we absolutely tipped the kids' teachers through high school.

Yes, summer vacation is great for teachers, but it's really only about 8 weeks long now, depending on the grade level; less if the teacher is also a coach or club moderator.
During the schoolyear, the amount of work teachers do outside the classroom is tremendous, and seems to grow every year.

Between grading, IEP meetings, parent conferences, slews of parent emails, lesson plans, etc, it's not uncommon for them to spend 4-6 hrs a day working before and after school.

Not that other industries don't require long hours, but my point is that teachers generally work their asses off. So I tip them generously. Other people seem to feel the same, because families at my wife's school are always very generous at Christmas and end of year.

For some reason, teachers have become the enemy to some people.  No doubt, there are plenty of bad ones and bad districts in our midst, but seeing it close up, the vast majority of them care greatly and just want to be able to provide a valuable learning experience for their students.

The amount of hours above and beyond the classroom hours is far greater than non-teachers think and the amount of verbal abuse they get from smarter than you parents is far greater than people can imagine.

Don't even get me started on how much out of pocket expenses teachers have as well