November 4, 2025 • 48 mins
Guess what? It’s tipping season once again. The holidays bring out this weird etiquette stress where you're supposed to know exactly who gets what—your mail carrier, hairstylist, dog walker, that random person who delivers your groceries. We're breaking down holiday tipping so you can show gratitude without the guilt or confusion (or going broke in the process).
Stop stressing about holiday tipping etiquette—hit subscribe and learn who to tip, how much to give, and budget-friendly ways to show appreciation without breaking the bank.
*Note: This is a re-aired episode from last year that's just as relevant for this holiday season. The etiquette and budget tips still apply!
—
Who Should Listen
This episode is for regular people who don't have personal butlers or live-in elves, and anyone trying to navigate holiday gratitude without spiraling into financial panic or etiquette anxiety.
—
What You Get In This Episode
- How to budget wisely for holiday tipping without feeling like Scrooge
- Smart strategies for showing appreciation when funds are tight (because we're all tight right now)
- Who actually expects a holiday tip (and who doesn't)
- How much to give different service providers—from mail carriers to hairstylists
- Master the art of holiday tipping and avoid the awkward "wait, should I have tipped them?" moments
—
Bios
Caitlin brings her signature blend of humor and practical advice to help overwhelmed moms navigate the challenges of adulting—including the minefield of holiday tipping etiquette. She's here to make this less stressful and more manageable.
—
Sources & Mentions
- The no-stress guide to holiday tipping | Fidelity
- Holiday Tipping 2023: Your Guide to Who, When, and, of Course, How Much | WSJ
- Everyone You Should Remember to Tip Over the Holidays (and How Much to Give) | Real Simple
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Love,
CK & GK
View our website at ckandgkpodcast.com. Find us on social media @ckandgkpodcast on
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Thanks, y'all!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:00):
It's Tuesday.
Oh my gosh, listen to my voice.
SPEAKER_03 (00:04):
Uh oh.
Do you want to try that one moretime or are you just good with
it?
We'll just roll with it.
We'll roll with it.
I'm gonna drink some coffee andsee if that doesn't fix it.
You guys, we record on Saturdaymornings, and sometimes the
coffee hasn't kicked in, andsometimes we're still a little
sleepy.
SPEAKER_01 (00:18):
So I think that's Oh, you know what?
I'm not gonna be able to fix it.
Yesterday was homecoming.
I actually am not gonna be ableto talk better.
Oh and this has nothing to dowith sleepy voice.
I bet I strained my voiceyesterday.
SPEAKER_03 (00:31):
I bet you did too.
Oh goodness.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (00:34):
I have sexy Phoebe sick voice.
SPEAKER_03 (00:37):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (00:40):
No.
SPEAKER_03 (00:41):
Yes.
I love it.
Well, we're so glad you're heretoday.
It's um, I'm sorry, Halloween isover.
So did you know it's alreadyChristmas?
Right?
unknown (00:51):
Right?
SPEAKER_03 (00:51):
So that means it's holiday tipping.
Don't make no mistake, I loveThanksgiving.
But what I'm saying is all ofthe ads have already turned over
to Christmas.
And I will say, when I was inthe craft stores helping my son
with his project beforeHalloween, there was already
Christmas stuff out.
SPEAKER_01 (01:11):
So oh my gosh, Christmas stuff comes out after
Easter.
Let's be real.
That's very true.
SPEAKER_03 (01:15):
Okay.
Well, today, since it'sChristmas, we're talking about
holiday tipping.
So, who to tip, how much to tipthem, and how to do it without
completely breaking the bank,and what to do if it's just not
in your budget.
Love it.
SPEAKER_01 (01:31):
But first, she might tip 20% of the bill, but she's
got a hundred percent of myheart.
Oh, Caitlin.
SPEAKER_03 (01:40):
Yes.
That's the full service.
Yes.
The service fee.
unknown (01:45):
Yes.
SPEAKER_03 (01:46):
Uh that's Jenny, everyone's favorite brilliantly
flustered cowgirl.
I I don't know.
SPEAKER_01 (01:53):
It's perfect.
Because last night's homecomingwas Western themed.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Okay.
So I did do somewhere in theneighborhood of 18 hours in
cowboy boots.
SPEAKER_03 (02:04):
Oh my.
SPEAKER_01 (02:06):
But I say in the neighborhood because there was a
point at school where I justtook them off and walked the
halls in my socks.
SPEAKER_03 (02:11):
Oh, okay.
Perfect.
That's not gross at all.
SPEAKER_01 (02:15):
No.
That is not even close to beingthe grossest thing I've done as
a medical school assistantprincipal.
SPEAKER_03 (02:20):
Well, please tell me that you had dark socks on
because otherwise the whitesocks were destroyed.
SPEAKER_01 (02:25):
White with sushi.
Oh.
But it's okay because I havethree pairs of exactly the same
socks because my mom gave themto me for Christmas three years
in a row.
She does not have dementia.
She just couldn't remember thatshe already gave me these socks.
That would be a really greatgift.
SPEAKER_03 (02:42):
Ladies and gentlemen, mom brain does not go
away once your kids are adults.
It lingers.
Okay, so do we have anyshout-outs today?
I have one.
I know.
Do you have one?
SPEAKER_01 (02:53):
Yes.
Yes.
So I want to acknowledge thatthis episode is airing after the
election, but it is recordedbefore.
Yes.
And so I know that like no othertime in history, emotions are
really high around elections,particularly those at the
federal level.
(03:14):
And I want to offer support tothose who are unhappy or worried
about the results, whether it bein their local election or um
for their legislators or evenfor the president.
Your vote mattered.
Please, please continue to vote.
Thank you for taking the time toparticipate.
(03:35):
And we are with you.
It doesn't matter what side ofthe aisle you sit on.
We want you to know that yourvote does matter, and we're glad
that you cast it.
SPEAKER_03 (03:43):
That is very well said and appreciated.
So I'm thank you for that.
Um anxieties, if I mean, as youand I are recording this now,
again, it's before the election,my anxiety is very high.
I imagine that some for somepeople after the election, their
anxiety is now high.
So it just do what you can totake care of yourself.
(04:03):
But again, so true, your votedid matter.
You took part in the process.
That's a good thing.
Um, I have one, but mine is it'skind of mental health related, I
suppose.
Um we, if you haven't rated,reviewed, and subscribed,
please.
This is your plug to do that.
Um, someone who is um, I'm gonnaleave their name out of this,
(04:28):
left us a review on Spotify,which you can now do.
That's a new feature.
Yeah.
Um, and we had an episode aboutmaking adult friends.
SPEAKER_01 (04:38):
And this person Thanks to the Junior League of
Austin.
Yes, for doing a whole segmenton that that I could then steal
the content and reuse.
SPEAKER_03 (04:48):
Perfect.
Um, this person commented on theepisode, thank you.
This is helpful.
I've attempted suicide fourtimes and struggle with
depression.
I love the positive, high energyand laughter.
It helps.
May I ask for laughterthroughout future episodes?
Uh, I'd like to say to thatperson, first of all, um, we're
no stranger to mental healthstruggles.
(05:09):
Um suicide and depression arethings that both of us have
experience with.
Um, but just know that laughteris our love language, and we
will definitely continue to makeeach other laugh as much as we
can.
Oh, for sure.
Um, if not, if not because we'rewe're funny, but because it
(05:31):
might we might have made anawkward moment that we just have
to laugh through.
SPEAKER_01 (05:35):
So And like I've said, if nothing else, I'm
around for downward socialcomparison.
Right.
You can always laugh at me, evenif you can't laugh with me.
SPEAKER_03 (05:44):
Right.
You can blame stuff on me, andyou can laugh at me.
That's that's how this thisworks.
SPEAKER_01 (05:50):
So um You had posted on our socials that it was
Jersey Day at our school.
Yes.
So I did go through with it andI did go as snooky.
You did.
SPEAKER_03 (06:01):
I saw the picture, it's perfect.
SPEAKER_01 (06:02):
And I I would hard to put together a snooky look
that is appropriate for school.
Let me just tell you this.
A hundred percent.
But someone said, Oh my gosh,that's amazing.
But also, like how?
And I said, Well, here's thething: I am always just one
decision away from gettingfired.
SPEAKER_03 (06:20):
Yeah.
Also, I have to say, am Iallowed to post that picture on
our socials?
Because there's hundreds.
Okay, there has been demand.
There have been picks where itdidn't happen, and there have
been like, please follow up.
So I will post that.
If you haven't seen it, go toour socials.
It's there.
Um, today we are again talkingabout holiday tipping.
(06:43):
So my sources for today are anarticle from Fidelity, uh
Holiday Tipping Guide 2024, HowMuch to Tip.
Another one from the Wall StreetJournal.
This is Holiday Tipping 2023,which I imagine will get updated
very soon, but the the gistremains the same.
Um, and another article fromReal Simple called Everyone You
Should Remember to Tip Over theHolidays and How Much to Give.
(07:04):
So I'll make sure that those arelinked in the blog post for this
episode.
Yeah.
Okay.
So holiday tipping, who to tip,how much to give them.
It's a whole thing, right?
Um, in terms of tipping, I knowthe basics.
Uh, you always tip your serverat the restaurant, you tip your
hairdresser, unless you have anamazing hairdresser like mine
(07:25):
who says no, don't tip me.
It's included in the servicefee.
Um, generally, I tip the peoplewho do things for me that I
can't do myself, like DwightShroot, right?
Oh, I can't do it myself.
Right?
If I don't do it myself, then Ishould probably tip them for
that.
SPEAKER_01 (07:42):
I think I said this before.
Yeah.
But when I was 16, I was at aRed Sox game at Fenway, sitting
in the cheap seats with a bunchof college kids.
SPEAKER_02 (07:54):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (07:54):
And they were talking about tipping.
And one of them said in his bestBoston accent, what did you do
besides your job?
Okay.
And I was like, that is a greatrule for tipping.
Yeah.
Above it.
Yeah.
Chiching.
SPEAKER_03 (08:14):
There's also this like explosion of tipping
culture, right?
Like where you're being asked totip on things that you've never
would have been asked to tip onbefore.
And it's okay to say no on thosethings.
SPEAKER_01 (08:26):
Have you seen the video where it's a
parent-teacher conference and atthe end she turns the computer
around?
SPEAKER_03 (08:30):
She turns her thing.
This is just gonna ask you acouple of questions.
That's so good.
Like, oi, and we'll get intothat later.
Okay.
So there are rules about tippingthat I did not know.
SPEAKER_04 (08:41):
Ooh.
SPEAKER_03 (08:42):
Uh, in fact, I only recently learned that you're
supposed to tip your hotel staffwhen they clean your room.
SPEAKER_01 (08:49):
Oh, definitely if you're staying more than one
night.
Yes.
Okay, if you're only stayingone, I'm not gonna tell you not
to tip, but I am gonna tell youyou're only staying one night.
But if you are staying multiplenights, little fiver on the bed
makes a big difference.
I just never have cash.
So I just oh well, and that'sthe thing.
Whenever we travel, like that'spart of my job to get ready is
(09:11):
to make sure that I pull cashbecause we'll get to the airport
and we'll do the sky cab.
And we're like, oh, we don'thave any ones to tip for the
bags.
Yeah.
Oh, we just took a cab and nowwe don't have any cash to tip
the cabbie.
Like, I mean, so it's um it'spart of my like travel culture
in my mind is like I have tomake sure that I pull cash and I
(09:33):
go into the bank.
Did you know you can go inside abank?
I used to work at a bank.
So yes, I did know you could goin.
You still can.
You still can in 2024.
And they will give you the moneythat you want.
Yes, you can if it's in youraccount.
SPEAKER_03 (09:48):
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (09:48):
If you have access to that money, they will give it
to you.
But I will say, like, hey, Ineed 10 ones.
SPEAKER_03 (09:54):
Yeah.
Or whatever.
And they'll they'll and they'lleven count it out for you
because they're required to.
Yeah.
I I used to love the people whowould go to the ATM, come back
in with like 220s and say, breakthis up for me.
Because then I don't even haveto do any paperwork.
All I had to do was just belike, that's hilarious.
SPEAKER_01 (10:12):
And it goes faster.
So I'm and you didn't tell them,like, hey guys, you actually
don't have to make this atwo-step process.
We are indeed a one-stop shop.
SPEAKER_03 (10:20):
No, they did it that way on purpose because then they
wouldn't have to fill out thepaper.
They could just do it like,yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (10:25):
Got it, got it.
SPEAKER_03 (10:26):
I loved it.
SPEAKER_01 (10:27):
That actually is smart now.
SPEAKER_03 (10:28):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (10:29):
Okay, sorry.
SPEAKER_03 (10:29):
No worries.
SPEAKER_01 (10:30):
Anyway, um, you know what, Disney, they're not
housekeeping, they'remousekeeping.
Oh, you're definitely gotta tipyour mousekeepers.
SPEAKER_03 (10:36):
Okay, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (10:38):
Sorry, continue on.
Anyway, so there's a way for meto weave Disney, and I will.
SPEAKER_03 (10:43):
Let's be real.
I have to show you my cruisemagnets at some point.
Anyway.
SPEAKER_01 (10:47):
Oh my god, I also ordered some for you.
SPEAKER_03 (10:51):
It's gonna be like office space with the flair.
SPEAKER_01 (10:54):
It is, it is definitely giving flair.
SPEAKER_03 (10:57):
That's amazing.
SPEAKER_00 (10:58):
So good.
Okay, sorry guys, continue on.
SPEAKER_03 (11:01):
Okay, so today we're giving you some guidelines
around tipping, including how tosay thank you.
Another way of tipping justisn't in your budget for
everyone this year, which isunderstandable.
AF.
Okay, right.
So, first, tipping is notobligatory.
That word should where youshould yourself, don't use it
(11:23):
here.
Okay.
A holiday tip is a token ofgratitude for the people who
helped you this year.
It's not tit for tat, okay?
This is not gift givingobligation stress where someone
gives you something that theyfound at TJ Maxx, and then you
also have to go, oh shoot, Ididn't give them a gift.
Let me go to Costco and get yousome Lindor Lints and hand them
(11:46):
off to you.
Like, this is not what this is.
You're laughing because you knowI'm right.
This is what people think.
SPEAKER_00 (11:51):
That is so accurate.
Yeah.
Here is this candle that stillhas the markdown sticker on it.
SPEAKER_03 (11:56):
Right.
And it probably smells terribleif you light it.
Don't light it.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (12:01):
Oh my gosh, that's amazing.
SPEAKER_03 (12:03):
Yeah.
So there's also some stigmaaround the word tipping.
Right.
Uh so if you feel better callingit a bonus, call it a bonus.
That's fine.
That's essentially what a likewhen you work, if you get a work
bonus, it's basically a tip.
So just fine.
Okay.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (12:23):
And I I see it through the lens of bonus as
well.
That like and this is helps.
Um, we'll we'll talk abouttiming a little bit as uh as we
get further in the episode.
But like I always try and makesure that it is a holiday bonus
that arrives before the holidayso that they can spend it on the
holiday.
But we'll talk a little bit moreabout that later.
SPEAKER_03 (12:42):
Yeah, we'll get there.
Yep.
Okay.
Two.
Second, set a budget.
Okay.
Include tips in your overallholiday gift giving budget and
set aside any money that you doplan to give.
Okay.
If you're saying that I'm gonnaspend this much on gifts, carve
out a piece of that and use itfor tipping.
(13:04):
If you can't give therecommended amounts, which we
will get to in a minute, we havea plan for that.
No stress.
Okay.
unknown (13:12):
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (13:13):
Okay.
Third, make a list.
SPEAKER_01 (13:17):
And check it twice.
SPEAKER_03 (13:18):
Gonna find out who it's not Christmas.
It's not Christmas yet.
Okay.
Sorry.
Um who helps you during theyear?
Okay.
The nanny or the babysitter.
Your dog walker or pet sitter.
Your house cleaner, yourdoorman, any maintenance
workers, your personal trainer,your hairstylist.
(13:41):
This list of people for me, Idon't know about you, but for
me, this list of people is long.
Right.
Help me, right?
Who do things for me that Icannot do for myself.
So what you need to do when youlook at this list is start to
prioritize, right?
Prioritize by how regularly youuse their services.
(14:01):
If you're like me and you don'tget a haircut very often, that
person can go lower on your listthan, say, your housekeeper who
might come every two weeks.
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (14:15):
And for me, I do not give a year-end bonus, holiday
tip, whatever we're gonna callthis, uh extra money to either a
dog sitter or my hairstylistbecause I always tip my dog
sitter uh when I come back andmy dogs are alive.
I always send a little extramoney.
SPEAKER_03 (14:33):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (14:34):
And then my hairstylist, I always tip 30%.
SPEAKER_03 (14:37):
Yeah.
So I take care of you all yearlong.
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (14:41):
So I'm fine with not giving her a holiday year-end
bonus.
SPEAKER_03 (14:44):
Sure.
Especially if you go get ahaircut around the you know what
I mean?
SPEAKER_01 (14:49):
Otherwise, you're gonna see that I'm not a natural
blonde.
SPEAKER_03 (14:51):
All right.
So the other thing you canprioritize by is how long you've
known them.
That's great.
All right.
And the biggest life changers.
So if there are some things inthere that that really, really,
really impacted your life in aspecial way or whatever.
SPEAKER_01 (15:10):
They care for your children, something like that.
SPEAKER_03 (15:13):
All right.
Just make sure that you youprioritize people because there
are people who you can move tothe bottom of the list, and
that's okay.
Okay.
When to tip?
This episode's coming out inmid-November.
So, like now?
Yeah.
Now is a good time.
Don't wait until Christmas Eve.
This money is likely gonna gotowards any holiday expenses.
(15:37):
So it might go towards avacation or gifts or whatever.
So use that to help motivateyou.
SPEAKER_01 (15:45):
Trying to pay their property taxes before they're
due mid-January.
Oh no.
SPEAKER_03 (15:48):
Just saying.
Just saying.
Oh Lord.
SPEAKER_01 (15:51):
Just getting it out there.
Right.
Some people don't escrow.
SPEAKER_03 (15:54):
Right.
So here are some guidelines.
These are courtesy of LizziePost as in Emily Post Institute.
Yes.
Lizzie Post is the co-presidentof the Emily Post Institute.
SPEAKER_01 (16:06):
She suggests I had an Emily Post wedding guide.
Yes.
Okay.
How'd that go?
Um, no, no, no.
Someone gave it to me and shesigned it.
Then I signed it and gave it tosomeone else.
And then and like it's beenthrough like five or six brides
with all of our names in it.
It's really cute.
SPEAKER_03 (16:23):
I love that.
SPEAKER_01 (16:24):
Okay, sorry, continue on.
SPEAKER_03 (16:25):
No worries.
She suggests what's called theup to rule.
I love this rule.
This makes so much sense.
Okay.
Look at up to a week's pay or upto one session's pay and
consider this the guiding amountfor your people.
Okay.
Use your discretion for therelationship that you have with
(16:48):
this person to go up or downaccordingly.
Okay.
I love that.
If you're planning to hand out acheck or cash, add a card.
It's festive, it makes it lessawkward.
You're not shoving money intosomeone's hand and saying, you
know, happy holidays.
(17:09):
You're gonna just say, you know,you leave the card out and you
ta-da, there you go.
Okay.
You can come like absolutely tipwithin an app.
When you do that, just include apersonalized message.
That's it.
Totally fine.
If you normally pay yourhousekeeper using Venmo, just
add the cash or add the amountthere and just say like happy
(17:31):
holidays.
Like, you know what I mean?
It's all good.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (17:35):
I will say something.
Find out how your serviceprovider would like to be
tipped.
SPEAKER_03 (17:42):
Yes.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
SPEAKER_01 (17:46):
Because I do not accept payment for my tutoring
business through anythingbesides check because I like to
have the checks as a documentfor the IRS.
So when people want to Venmo me,I look at them and I'm saying,
I'm really sorry.
I work in the 1980s.
You have to write me a papercheck.
(18:07):
We can also do a bank-to-banktransfer, but I cannot use a
payment app because I do notwant the IRS to look at my
entire Venmo history and try andsift through what is Jenny GK
educational services versus whatis Jenny GK as a person.
SPEAKER_03 (18:25):
Sure.
That makes a lot of sense.
My pet sitter is the same.
She prefers a paper check.
Yes.
Um, and there have been timeswhere we've forgotten to leave
the check before she comes.
And we've said, Can we pay you?
And it doesn't work that way.
SPEAKER_01 (18:39):
So we end up having to get the check over to her a
different way because she's butshe still keeps your cats alive.
Because she understands havingbeen in that seat, not everyone
is a paper check person.
Some people have to dig througha drawer to find one.
Right.
But it is really important to methat I have that documentation.
Totally fine.
(18:59):
This is really important.
If the person runs their ownbusiness, please ask them how
they would like to receive abonus.
That's a good, that's a goodcall.
SPEAKER_03 (19:08):
I like that.
Okay.
Let's get to some recommendedamounts, shall we?
Love it.
SPEAKER_01 (19:12):
That's the most important part.
That's all that people careabout anyway.
SPEAKER_03 (19:15):
Right, exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (19:16):
Oh, I'm sorry.
You guys are listening to thiswhole episode and finding it all
riveting.
My my apologies.
SPEAKER_03 (19:22):
I'm not insulted by the way that I've organized this
episode at all.
Um here are some common things.
SPEAKER_00 (19:31):
No, you're putting the most important part right
there.
Right.
SPEAKER_03 (19:34):
Come on, guys.
Here we go.
And about how much to give them.
Your babysitter or nanny, uh,one typical session or one
week's pay, depending onbabysitter, one typical session,
nanny, one week's pay.
Your daycare staffer, this is abig old oops.
I did not know this was a tip,but I always gave nice gifts.
Okay.
Uh 25 to 75 bucks, depending onhow many hours your child is
(19:57):
with them.
Okay.
Uh hairstylist, cost of oneservice.
In-home caregiver, one week'spay.
SPEAKER_00 (20:05):
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (20:06):
House cleaner, the cost of one visit is the
recommended amount.
Again, these are also up toamounts, right?
So just up to is okay.
Um a landscaper, which I ain'tgot one.
One session.
SPEAKER_01 (20:20):
Oh man, you gotta use lawn starter.
It's like the Uber of lawnmowing.
Oh.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (20:28):
We'll get to that in a minute.
SPEAKER_01 (20:29):
So usually it put in when you want one, and then
whoever available just comes anddoes it.
Smart.
Okay.
So we don't have like aestablished relationship.
Okay, great.
Yeah, no, sorry, continue on.
Okay.
Uh pool cleaners.
SPEAKER_03 (20:42):
I also don't have one of these.
Um, one session, and they candivide the money amongst
themselves.
If you have a regular massagetherapist, the cost of one
session.
Your manicurist, pedicurist,aesthetician that you see all
the time, if it's a consistentperson, the cost of one session.
(21:02):
Your newspaper delivery persondid not know you were supposed
to tip this person.
I don't, we don't get anewspaper, so there you go.
Uh, about 10 to 30 bucks.
SPEAKER_01 (21:12):
Yeah, I was gonna say, like, should I just tip ATT
internet?
Like, how do I do that?
SPEAKER_03 (21:18):
Uh uh um your personal trainer, which props to
you if you have one.
Good job.
Uh, I don't have one.
The cost of one session.
Your pet sitter, dog walker,groomer, cost of one session,
sanitation workers.
This is a good one to add toyour list.
SPEAKER_01 (21:35):
Uh, 10 to 30 bucks each.
So let me tell you this.
Our neighborhood ralliestogether and tips them all as
one.
SPEAKER_03 (21:45):
We will get to that because that is a great
strategy.
I love that.
Okay.
Yeah, okay.
I'm out.
I'm out.
Yep.
Um, also, a few other people toconsider if you live in an
apartment.
Um, if you're a renter, renterstend to give less than owners.
So just keep that in mind.
Okay.
Um, your super or your residentmanager, 150 to 300 bucks.
(22:07):
That's a lot of money.
It's a lot of money.
So just keep, you know, again,these are we will get to it if
the money is not in your budget.
Okay.
Your door attendant orconcierge, if you have one,$75
to$200.
A porter or handyman ormaintenance staff,$25 to$50.
A garage attendant, especiallyif it's one who regularly looks
(22:30):
out for you and knows you, knowsyour car, those things,$25 to
$75.
Cool.
Um I want to make it very clear.
These are expenses that people,many people, do not opt into.
Um, here's what I mean by that.
If I can't afford to tip myserver at a restaurant, I am not
(22:54):
going to go eat at a restaurant,and neither should you.
If you can't afford the tip atthe restaurant, don't go to the
restaurant Uber eats that messor something, right?
Like it's part of how they makea living.
Okay.
So you that's an opt-in expense,right?
(23:15):
Like you are choosing to go to arestaurant, so you are opting
into paying that tip.
An in-home caregiver or a super,these are not opt-in expenses.
Okay.
Your super takes care of yourapartment regardless of whether
or not you need them all thetime or just one time.
(23:36):
You you are not opting intohaving a super, you have a
super.
That's just how that works.
SPEAKER_01 (23:41):
Um, so and they're not only managing calls that you
make.
Right.
Right?
There could be building widethings that they're handling
that you don't even know theyput that fire out before you got
to it.
SPEAKER_03 (23:52):
Right.
So prioritize expenses forpeople that you you don't opt
into, that you have all thetime, rather than the optional
ones.
Okay.
Now, um, those that's big money.
That's big money, especially ifyou do have all of those people.
That's also um maybe maybe ifyou have all those people you
(24:14):
can afford.
But but if you only have one ortwo of them and you can't, we
got to talk about what to dobecause that's that's big money.
Okay.
Right.
Um, that list isn't evenexhaustive, but there are
definitely some people on itthat you might not be able to
thank with money.
And that's completely okay,right?
(24:36):
And there are people on that,well, not on that list, but
there are people in your lifewho will support you that cannot
accept a cash gift, right?
Or they can't accept a gift overa certain amount.
So they can't accept gift cardsor anything.
Like, for example, your postalworker who you might be very
tempted, because I have aregular postal worker.
(24:59):
Like you might be tempted tooffer them something.
They can't accept it, right?
It's they can't get any morethan 20 bucks per calendar year.
I I did see 50 on anotherwebsite.
I don't know which one isaccurate.
SPEAKER_01 (25:08):
That's interesting.
SPEAKER_03 (25:09):
Yeah.
Delivery drivers are oftendiscouraged from taking cash
tips, even if you have a regularone.
Um, so we'll get to what you cando for them in a second.
But um, you might have to checkwith like in-home care providers
to see what their policies arefor taking money.
So just keep that in mind as youstart prioritizing your life.
SPEAKER_01 (25:33):
It really makes sense.
Um, you know, when I was growingup and we lived on the Air Force
Base, um, the people who bagyour groceries and then bring
them out to your car work fortips.
Yeah.
But if you go to the majorgrocery conglomerate here in
Texas who uh goes by theirinitials, um, they're not
(25:54):
allowed to accept tips.
That was a major culture shiftfor us when we moved here.
We were like, wait, we don't tipyou?
They're like, No, no, no, wecan't accept tips.
Well, that's because they'rebeing paid.
SPEAKER_03 (26:05):
Right.
Yeah.
Very different.
Okay.
So here are some alternatives towarm, soft, beautiful cash.
Here we go.
Cards with heartfelt messagesand/or artwork from your kids.
This, like, there's some reallycute ways to you can do stuff
like that.
(26:25):
Um, baked treats.
I I caution there are people whowill say, Oh, thank you for the
baked treat, but then won't eatit.
Uh, so just something like maybeit's from a bakery and it's
pre-packaged or something likethat.
Okay.
Um, you can leave out snacks andbeverages for delivery drivers
(26:46):
and postal workers.
This is what I do every year.
Uh, I put out like a cooler anda basket, and I have like bags
of chips, and I have fruitroll-ups and candy and things
like that, so that when theycome every 12 to 24 hours to my
house, they get in have a treat.
Yeah?
(27:06):
Okay.
Yes.
Um, I saw this idea.
I thought it was cute.
Work socks.
Okay.
What more?
Like super like padded, nicework socks.
Oh, yeah.
You know what I mean?
Like for inside the boots.
Yeah.
I thought that was a good idea.
SPEAKER_01 (27:23):
Like, I don't even know what a work sock is.
But just something that's yeah,that's like padded or duty, like
socks working.
SPEAKER_03 (27:30):
Yes, like a double, or even something with double
layer so that they don't getblisters.
Like, there's there aredouble-layered socks like that.
That might be a good idea.
I thought that was cute.
Um, you mentioned pooling, as inpooling cash.
SPEAKER_00 (27:42):
Yes.
SPEAKER_03 (27:42):
That is a great way to be budget friendly because
there's always people who aregoing to be willing to give more
than others.
And there's usually arecommended amount, but people
understand if you can't give therecommended amount, they just
appreciate that you gaveanything.
So this is a great way to takeon class gifts for teachers or
collections for apartmentbuilding workers, office
(28:04):
maintenance staff, your localsanitation team, etc.
SPEAKER_01 (28:10):
It's good.
It's good.
Yeah, I like it.
SPEAKER_03 (28:13):
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (28:13):
Yeah, they um they just put a message out in our
neighborhood group, and um, youcan Venmo the person, you can
send cash, whatever, but thenthey put it all together in a
Visa gift card and then deliverit to the team, or you know,
multiple gift cards, I guess.
But deliver that to the teamwith coffee and donuts.
And so there's like a littlesocial if you in the
(28:34):
neighborhood are availableduring that time, you can go and
thank them in person as well.
SPEAKER_03 (28:37):
Yeah, that's perfect.
I love that.
Okay.
That said, when you just can'ttip, right, like nothing.
Like you've got you are paycheckto paycheck.
SPEAKER_01 (28:49):
Or they made it to the bottom of the list.
SPEAKER_03 (28:50):
They are not going to, yeah.
They're not prior, yeah, they'renot in your budget.
Inflation is still a problem.
You might not be able to doanything.
We get it, right?
Chances are the person that youplan to tip gets it too.
Right?
Like they're not going to holdit against you.
A tip is an add-on.
(29:13):
It's not an expectation forthese people, right?
As it is for, say, for example,someone who is your server at a
restaurant, right?
SPEAKER_01 (29:23):
Like it's it's where they are working for$215 an hour
and expect you to supplementthat income with tips.
SPEAKER_03 (29:29):
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (29:30):
Right.
SPEAKER_03 (29:31):
I'm sure that the person who you planned to tip
would rather you just keeppaying for the service, like
with regular support, than bestressed about an optional
holiday bonus.
Okay.
Right.
If it bothers you, you can writea heartfelt note that is very
(29:52):
transparent about what's goingon.
Okay.
It's okay to say something like,thank you so much for all of
your hard work this year.
This year things are tight and Ifind myself unable to provide
cash tips and bonuses, but thisis not a reflection on you or
your support.
I truly appreciate you and Iwish I could do more to say
thank you.
(30:13):
I wish you and yours a beautifulholiday season.
SPEAKER_01 (30:16):
The world is crazy right now.
It's fine.
SPEAKER_03 (30:19):
It happens and people understand it's okay.
And you just need to let thatshame go.
Okay.
Just they don't expect it.
It's not an expectation, it's abonus.
All right.
So no matter what, when it comesto tipping, don't feel anxious
about the amount you tip.
Your anxiety is probably likemine, where it's like you're not
(30:40):
giving enough, but that's justnot the case.
Okay.
Tipping is not a contest.
People just appreciate that youdid anything to show them that
you value the work that they do.
So do what you can.
It's enough.
SPEAKER_01 (30:54):
Nice.
SPEAKER_03 (30:55):
And that's like a good thing to live by.
I think so.
SPEAKER_00 (30:58):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (30:59):
Okay.
Yeah.
Now let's take a break.
For links to resources mentionedin this episode, head on over to
ck and gkpodcast.com/slash blogto find everything you need.
And be sure to follow us onsocial media.
Head over to your favoritesocial media network and find us
at CKNGK Podcast.
And now back to the show.
(31:20):
Okay, we're back.
Yay! Oh your poor voice.
Oh dear.
We're back.
Who are we?
SPEAKER_01 (31:29):
HV.
Okay.
I did that a lot.
I also yelled at the eighthgraders and said, I will not
lose to the lower school in thespirit stick.
Oh.
And the thing is, like, parentsare also invited to this pet
rally.
And so one of the moms looks atme, she's like, That's right.
You will not.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (31:50):
I love when the parents like get it.
SPEAKER_01 (31:52):
Yeah.
Like I had a chance there.
I really didn't realize.
I was like, oh my gosh, maybethese parents are gonna think
that this is a problem.
But no, they were like, No,they're into it.
SPEAKER_03 (31:59):
Yeah, GK series.
SPEAKER_01 (32:01):
She's gonna have she's winning that spirit today.
SPEAKER_03 (32:03):
I remember bumping into one parent at a holiday
event in town, and she was like,Oh, it's Miss Kendra, and she
was like, You know, I love mesome Miss Kindred.
She is all sass.
And I went, Oh my gosh, I lovethese parents.
I feel seen.
I'm so seen was the best.
All right.
Speaking of people that love us,what are we obsessed with?
(32:28):
What?
It's not a good transition, itwas just a transition.
SPEAKER_01 (32:36):
Speaking of bagels, have you ever been to the
driving range?
Goodness.
Oh my gosh.
Okay, so let me tell you whatI'm obsessed with right now.
Um, it's a little bit old.
And guess what?
I'm late to the party on a lotof things, guys.
Yeah, it's because we have kidsand jobs like it's good that
(32:56):
it's old because all theepisodes are out.
SPEAKER_03 (32:59):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (32:59):
So there you go.
Um, Pig Iron from the TortoiseNetwork.
It's a podcast.
SPEAKER_03 (33:07):
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (33:09):
Um, it's a seven episode serial about um, it's an
earbuds in podcast moms.
Okay.
Um, but it's about a reporterwho was a war coverage reporter
who was killed in South Sudan.
(33:32):
Oh.
And the circumstances around hisdeath are ambiguous.
Some people think he was caughtin the crossfire, some people
think that he became a mercenaryand was actually fighting.
And so it's really interesting.
There is no resolution, um,which you know from the
beginning, right?
(33:52):
Like you like give away theending, but it's a deep dive
into this guy's experience andthe world of war reporting.
SPEAKER_03 (34:00):
Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (34:01):
And the girl who does it is a journalist, but not
a world reporter, uh, not a warreporter.
So it's really interesting toget her take on that genre of
journalism and and theexperience that she goes through
learning about it.
Interesting.
SPEAKER_03 (34:22):
Yeah, okay.
All right.
SPEAKER_01 (34:24):
No, it's good.
SPEAKER_03 (34:25):
It's really yeah, I'm I can get into that.
That sounds great.
Um, I also am into a documentarystyle uh thing.
On Netflix, there's a new Zodiacdocumentary.
SPEAKER_01 (34:41):
Oh my gosh.
Like about the Zodiac Killer orabout the signs of the Zodiac.
What is it?
SPEAKER_03 (34:50):
No, it's about the Zodiac Killer and it's about oh
yeah.
Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_01 (34:54):
Okay, so you know Abby just made fun of me the
other day.
She was like, Yeah, put yourhair button at top, not drink
your pumpkin slice latte andlisten to your true crime.
SPEAKER_03 (35:02):
First of all, those things are basic because
everyone loves them.
We've gone into this, right?
SPEAKER_01 (35:07):
But I just looked at her and I was like, you shut
your mouth.
SPEAKER_03 (35:09):
Right.
And why do you know a snapper?
Right.
unknown (35:13):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (35:13):
Okay, anyway.
So yeah, it's it is a theorythat they actually think they
know who this person is.
And we've seen these before,right?
Like there's so many of them,but this one is like pretty
compelling where I'm going, oh,this is these are like
eyewitness accounts of this manbeing in this area at the same
(35:37):
time that someone goes missingand then like walking up to them
with blood on their hands.
Like it is wild.
And I am all in.
And I also started watching theVince McMahon like wrestling
one.
SPEAKER_01 (35:49):
Oh my god! If I had to pick people on this planet to
never watch that, you would beat the top of my list.
SPEAKER_02 (35:59):
I I'm in, I'm all in.
I'm fascinated.
I I'm having like, oh yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (36:05):
Do not tell Johnny or he will talk your ear off the
entire time we're on the ship.
No, don't talk to me.
No, I I haven't watched it.
No, this man loves wrestlingstories.
SPEAKER_03 (36:21):
I well, I did hear the Chris Benoit story finally
for the first time.
SPEAKER_01 (36:25):
If you haven't listened to that, there's an
episode about him and my beyondthe ring or behind the ring or
under the ring or inside thering or whatever it is, the
documentary show aboutwrestling, and like every week
it features another story.
No, I'm not into that.
Loves that.
SPEAKER_03 (36:41):
No, he doesn't know.
SPEAKER_01 (36:41):
Because it is, it's so dramatic.
There's so much behind thescenes.
SPEAKER_03 (36:47):
No, I um I don't care about that.
Does he watch does he listen tothe We Watch Wrestling podcast?
SPEAKER_01 (36:52):
I don't know that he does.
Well, it's Georgia Hard's.
He's so busy listening to UncleDan slash Father Dan, Dan
Patrick.
SPEAKER_03 (37:01):
And he also listens to our show.
Well, there's that.
On occasion, not all the time.
But anyway.
But enough to do that.
Anyway, yeah, no, those are two.
I I cannot recognize so we'vegot Pig Iron by Tortoise Network
uh podcast and then the Zodiacdocumentary and the Vince
McMahon documentary on Netflix.
Those are our recommendationsand obsessions right now.
SPEAKER_01 (37:18):
Okay.
Okay, gems.
All right.
So, like I said, it washomecoming last night.
And it is John's 20th reunion.
SPEAKER_03 (37:28):
He's the whipper snapper.
SPEAKER_01 (37:30):
I know.
He's so young.
He's robbed the cradle on thatone.
One of the things sincerejoining this community that
John has been able to get sometraction on that he has been
working on for, I don't evenknow, a lot of years, is this
alumni effort.
And he's like, look, we gottaget people back in the space
(37:50):
without a financial ask.
SPEAKER_03 (37:53):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (37:54):
In order to re-engage our alumni, we need to
not treat them like a cash cow.
SPEAKER_03 (38:01):
The other thing is, too, like it's sort of cyclical.
Like if they enjoy the alumniassociation events, they will
start to provide money and itwon't be an ask.
It will be a this was fun, let'sdo it.
So it's how organic socialworks.
You build the community and thenthe benefits come.
Like it's just it's just logic.
SPEAKER_01 (38:21):
Yes, yes.
And he has said that multipletimes.
He's like, Don't ask me formoney.
No, ask me to come to a partyand then where I will enjoy
myself and then say, Man, Iwould love to finance these
kinds of things.
SPEAKER_02 (38:36):
Exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (38:36):
So, anyway, um, he has finally got some traction on
that.
Our head of school is very muchin that camp.
Um, he is truly an investor andsays, Look, we have to make the
experience wonderful foreveryone, kids, parents, alumni,
community, everyone.
And then if you build it, theywill come.
(38:56):
Sure.
So um, last night washomecoming, and it was the first
like alumni warm welcomehomecoming I have been a part of
in the 10 years that I've been apart of the high park community.
They had gifts for anyone whoclaimed to have graduated from
there.
(39:17):
Like we weren't checking rostersor anything.
It was like, oh yeah, you'reout, oh, you're an alumna.
Oh, you're an alumnus.
Come on over to our table.
We have a yeti mug for you.
We have a bandana for you.
Let us buy you dinner tonight.
Um, here, get your kids somefree ice cream.
Like it was incredible.
A yeti mug.
(39:37):
Yes, like the cute little travelcoffee ones that like the eating
engraved with alumni on it.
SPEAKER_03 (39:45):
I think they're 12, aren't they?
Like they whatever.
SPEAKER_01 (39:48):
It's yeah, but they look like the nice, like
handheldy one that is not huge.
SPEAKER_03 (39:52):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (39:53):
Um, they were beautiful, and it was like such
a fun gift to give away becauseit's like a real gift.
SPEAKER_03 (39:58):
Yeah, no, it's a nice it's not like a plastic
cheeky one that'll melt when youput your coffee in.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (40:04):
Here's a here's a notepad with our stamp on it,
right?
Like this, no, this is like areal gift.
The worst.
SPEAKER_03 (40:11):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (40:11):
Or magnet calendar or something.
SPEAKER_03 (40:13):
Like we're a real estate agent.
Bad swag is the worst.
And be working in like inevents, like going to events
now.
I'm like, bad swag is the worst,like awful.
No, that's a good gift.
I like it.
SPEAKER_01 (40:26):
It was really cool.
And even like giving the bandanathat's like branded with this
year's homecoming.
Like, it was really cool.
Yeah, it's great.
So fun.
Um, so anyway, during thehalftime show, also congrats to
the homecoming queen who is aformer student of ours, and I'm
so proud of her.
SPEAKER_02 (40:43):
Oh, I love it.
SPEAKER_01 (40:44):
She totally earned it because if it was voting on
who has great spirit and reallycares about the school and cares
about other people more thanherself, it is this woman.
It is Oh, and she's a woman now.
SPEAKER_03 (40:56):
Oh, I met her when she was 12.
Oh, I'm old.
Congratulations, little one.
We love you.
Yes, you're gonna be littleforever in my heart.
unknown (41:04):
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (41:05):
So, anyhow, um after the presentation of the court,
they say, Welcome back, class of14 and 20 and 04, celebrating
your 10 and 20-year reunions.
Um, and they bring everyone, theum, the alumni and their
families out on the field.
And they're standing on the 50and waving, and they play Stand
(41:30):
By Me, and these nearly40-year-old men start throwing
the football around on thefield, yelling and screaming,
pretending to make touchdowns,rolling around.
It was the most playful,beautiful end of the movie
(41:52):
moment.
I love it, it was so great.
SPEAKER_03 (41:56):
Oh, that would have made me emotional if I had been
there.
SPEAKER_01 (41:58):
Oh my gosh, I got a nine-second video that like it's
it that was more than enough.
Like, it was just so beautiful.
And so, as we're leaving, I signout with the head of school and
I was like, Hey, this was agreat party.
Thanks so much.
Like, how cute were and uh werethose guys playing um during
(42:19):
halftime?
He goes, Oh, like little boys,yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (42:23):
Having fun again, just yeah, it was so cute, it
was amazing.
SPEAKER_01 (42:27):
That's really sweet, and it was so fun to be the
hostess of that event, right?
Because I do wear multiple hats.
My job was sitting at the alumnitable, welcoming people back and
getting to pass out thosefabulous gifts, yeah.
And it was just it was a really,really special moment.
But watching those kids likethey were the grown-up sandlot
(42:47):
boys roll around on the footballfield, it was amazing.
SPEAKER_03 (42:52):
I love it.
That's wonderful.
What a nice experience, mygoodness.
As we counter, like, you know,war stories and murder with
something sweet.
SPEAKER_01 (43:02):
So hey, I don't know what happened in the election
yet, but I'm sure it wasn't ahundred percent wonderful.
unknown (43:09):
Oh god.
SPEAKER_01 (43:10):
My heart is beating too much.
SPEAKER_00 (43:12):
You might be really excited about some races and
really depressed about otherones.
Who knows?
Oh my gosh.
That proposition you didn't wantto pass totally did.
Like whatever.
SPEAKER_03 (43:22):
Man, here we go.
Um, I just need to point outthat I came to my desk to work
out and there's a sock on mydesk.
And I don't, it's just one is ita work sock?
It is no, but it is clean.
Oh, hey, bonus, but I don'tunderstand.
It is an ankle uh one lone anklesock, and I don't know why it's
(43:43):
here.
That's my gem.
SPEAKER_01 (43:44):
Okay, so a friend of mine's kid was trying to raise
money to buy um a Lego set, andI told him, Look, I have a
basket of unmatched socks.
I will pay you 50 cents a pair.
Oh yeah.
And it was a normal size basket.
We are not talking about likethis long burger, like takes up
space on your kitchen tablebasket.
(44:05):
Like it, I mean, it's about thesize of a laptop, right?
Sure.
Yeah.
Maybe two VHS tapes puttogether.
Okay.
Oh dear.
SPEAKER_03 (44:14):
Age yourself with one line.
Done.
Thanks.
Moving on.
SPEAKER_01 (44:17):
I specifically chose that reference.
Anyway, he put together 24 pairsof socks in that basket.
SPEAKER_02 (44:26):
Hey oh and my friend was like, you do not need to pay
him$12.
SPEAKER_01 (44:29):
I was like, oh no, no, no, I'm paying$12.
No, no, no.
This is in light of today'sepisode, because he was so fast,
I am going to tip him three moredollars, mostly because I have a
couple of fives in my wallet andno ones.
And no ones.
But that's not important.
Um, but I was like, dude, Ican't believe I had 24 pairs
worth of unmatched socks inaddition to all the other socks
(44:50):
that didn't have a mate in thatbasket.
SPEAKER_03 (44:52):
Yeah, and I bet that basket is like way more normal
now, like not overflowing.
Yeah, it's not overflowing.
Um, here's my gem.
Okay, sorry.
No worries.
Um we have a show to do, guys.
Yeah.
This isn't just likeconversation hour, Jen.
Come on.
Um this is the kind of stuff wedo talk about, by the way.
(45:13):
This is why we are so connectedbecause we talk about sock
baskets and the sock I found onmy desk.
Um, okay, here's mine is acelebration.
The episode about making newadult friends.
I took the advice and I made anew adult friend on Halloween.
It was the neighbor.
Yep.
It was the neighbor that Imentioned in the episode who
(45:35):
I've been wanting to try and Ohmy gosh, you did it.
Yeah, I did it.
SPEAKER_01 (45:39):
And then after you tie that comfort into that
stretch zone nice and fun.
SPEAKER_03 (45:43):
And then right after it was over, and we were both in
our houses.
I sent a message that said thatwas fun.
Would love to get together againsometime.
Let me know if next weekendworks.
So I actually made a real plan.
So I'm hoping that we can makethat happen.
SPEAKER_01 (46:01):
But oh my gosh, I'm so proud of my celebration.
Oh, it's nicely done.
That's amazing.
Did you get her name?
I did get her name.
I'm gonna keep it.
Oh, what's their name?
He's like, Oh, I don't know.
SPEAKER_03 (46:22):
I don't know, but he was wearing a blue shirt and
like and he likes dinosaurs.
And I also yeah, great.
SPEAKER_01 (46:31):
Dinosaur mom.
All right, that is awesome.
Okay, well, when you are takingrisks and trying to meet new
people on your block, make yourchoices.
SPEAKER_03 (46:45):
And when you're tipping people, remember that
this is the season for showinggratitude.
So however you show it, it'sgonna be appreciated.
You can do it.
SPEAKER_01 (46:54):
All right, whatever you do is gonna be enough.
Exactly.
Okay.
It's Tuesday.
Oh my gosh, listen to my voice.
SPEAKER_03 (00:04):
Uh oh.
Do you want to try that one moretime or are you just good with
it?
We'll just roll with it.
We'll roll with it.
I'm gonna drink some coffee andsee if that doesn't fix it.
You guys, we record on Saturdaymornings, and sometimes the
coffee hasn't kicked in, andsometimes we're still a little
sleepy.
SPEAKER_01 (00:18):
So I think that's Oh, you know what?
I'm not gonna be able to fix it.
Yesterday was homecoming.
I actually am not gonna be ableto talk better.
Oh and this has nothing to dowith sleepy voice.
I bet I strained my voiceyesterday.
SPEAKER_03 (00:31):
I bet you did too.
Oh goodness.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (00:34):
I have sexy Phoebe sick voice.
SPEAKER_03 (00:37):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (00:40):
No.
SPEAKER_03 (00:41):
Yes.
I love it.
Well, we're so glad you're heretoday.
It's um, I'm sorry, Halloween isover.
So did you know it's alreadyChristmas?
Right?
unknown (00:51):
Right?
SPEAKER_03 (00:51):
So that means it's holiday tipping.
Don't make no mistake, I loveThanksgiving.
But what I'm saying is all ofthe ads have already turned over
to Christmas.
And I will say, when I was inthe craft stores helping my son
with his project beforeHalloween, there was already
Christmas stuff out.
SPEAKER_01 (01:11):
So oh my gosh, Christmas stuff comes out after
Easter.
Let's be real.
That's very true.
SPEAKER_03 (01:15):
Okay.
Well, today, since it'sChristmas, we're talking about
holiday tipping.
So, who to tip, how much to tipthem, and how to do it without
completely breaking the bank,and what to do if it's just not
in your budget.
Love it.
SPEAKER_01 (01:31):
But first, she might tip 20% of the bill, but she's
got a hundred percent of myheart.
Oh, Caitlin.
SPEAKER_03 (01:40):
Yes.
That's the full service.
Yes.
The service fee.
unknown (01:45):
Yes.
SPEAKER_03 (01:46):
Uh that's Jenny, everyone's favorite brilliantly
flustered cowgirl.
I I don't know.
SPEAKER_01 (01:53):
It's perfect.
Because last night's homecomingwas Western themed.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Okay.
So I did do somewhere in theneighborhood of 18 hours in
cowboy boots.
SPEAKER_03 (02:04):
Oh my.
SPEAKER_01 (02:06):
But I say in the neighborhood because there was a
point at school where I justtook them off and walked the
halls in my socks.
SPEAKER_03 (02:11):
Oh, okay.
Perfect.
That's not gross at all.
SPEAKER_01 (02:15):
No.
That is not even close to beingthe grossest thing I've done as
a medical school assistantprincipal.
SPEAKER_03 (02:20):
Well, please tell me that you had dark socks on
because otherwise the whitesocks were destroyed.
SPEAKER_01 (02:25):
White with sushi.
Oh.
But it's okay because I havethree pairs of exactly the same
socks because my mom gave themto me for Christmas three years
in a row.
She does not have dementia.
She just couldn't remember thatshe already gave me these socks.
That would be a really greatgift.
SPEAKER_03 (02:42):
Ladies and gentlemen, mom brain does not go
away once your kids are adults.
It lingers.
Okay, so do we have anyshout-outs today?
I have one.
I know.
Do you have one?
SPEAKER_01 (02:53):
Yes.
Yes.
So I want to acknowledge thatthis episode is airing after the
election, but it is recordedbefore.
Yes.
And so I know that like no othertime in history, emotions are
really high around elections,particularly those at the
federal level.
(03:14):
And I want to offer support tothose who are unhappy or worried
about the results, whether it bein their local election or um
for their legislators or evenfor the president.
Your vote mattered.
Please, please continue to vote.
Thank you for taking the time toparticipate.
(03:35):
And we are with you.
It doesn't matter what side ofthe aisle you sit on.
We want you to know that yourvote does matter, and we're glad
that you cast it.
SPEAKER_03 (03:43):
That is very well said and appreciated.
So I'm thank you for that.
Um anxieties, if I mean, as youand I are recording this now,
again, it's before the election,my anxiety is very high.
I imagine that some for somepeople after the election, their
anxiety is now high.
So it just do what you can totake care of yourself.
(04:03):
But again, so true, your votedid matter.
You took part in the process.
That's a good thing.
Um, I have one, but mine is it'skind of mental health related, I
suppose.
Um we, if you haven't rated,reviewed, and subscribed,
please.
This is your plug to do that.
Um, someone who is um, I'm gonnaleave their name out of this,
(04:28):
left us a review on Spotify,which you can now do.
That's a new feature.
Yeah.
Um, and we had an episode aboutmaking adult friends.
SPEAKER_01 (04:38):
And this person Thanks to the Junior League of
Austin.
Yes, for doing a whole segmenton that that I could then steal
the content and reuse.
SPEAKER_03 (04:48):
Perfect.
Um, this person commented on theepisode, thank you.
This is helpful.
I've attempted suicide fourtimes and struggle with
depression.
I love the positive, high energyand laughter.
It helps.
May I ask for laughterthroughout future episodes?
Uh, I'd like to say to thatperson, first of all, um, we're
no stranger to mental healthstruggles.
(05:09):
Um suicide and depression arethings that both of us have
experience with.
Um, but just know that laughteris our love language, and we
will definitely continue to makeeach other laugh as much as we
can.
Oh, for sure.
Um, if not, if not because we'rewe're funny, but because it
(05:31):
might we might have made anawkward moment that we just have
to laugh through.
SPEAKER_01 (05:35):
So And like I've said, if nothing else, I'm
around for downward socialcomparison.
Right.
You can always laugh at me, evenif you can't laugh with me.
SPEAKER_03 (05:44):
Right.
You can blame stuff on me, andyou can laugh at me.
That's that's how this thisworks.
SPEAKER_01 (05:50):
So um You had posted on our socials that it was
Jersey Day at our school.
Yes.
So I did go through with it andI did go as snooky.
You did.
SPEAKER_03 (06:01):
I saw the picture, it's perfect.
SPEAKER_01 (06:02):
And I I would hard to put together a snooky look
that is appropriate for school.
Let me just tell you this.
A hundred percent.
But someone said, Oh my gosh,that's amazing.
But also, like how?
And I said, Well, here's thething: I am always just one
decision away from gettingfired.
SPEAKER_03 (06:20):
Yeah.
Also, I have to say, am Iallowed to post that picture on
our socials?
Because there's hundreds.
Okay, there has been demand.
There have been picks where itdidn't happen, and there have
been like, please follow up.
So I will post that.
If you haven't seen it, go toour socials.
It's there.
Um, today we are again talkingabout holiday tipping.
(06:43):
So my sources for today are anarticle from Fidelity, uh
Holiday Tipping Guide 2024, HowMuch to Tip.
Another one from the Wall StreetJournal.
This is Holiday Tipping 2023,which I imagine will get updated
very soon, but the the gistremains the same.
Um, and another article fromReal Simple called Everyone You
Should Remember to Tip Over theHolidays and How Much to Give.
(07:04):
So I'll make sure that those arelinked in the blog post for this
episode.
Yeah.
Okay.
So holiday tipping, who to tip,how much to give them.
It's a whole thing, right?
Um, in terms of tipping, I knowthe basics.
Uh, you always tip your serverat the restaurant, you tip your
hairdresser, unless you have anamazing hairdresser like mine
(07:25):
who says no, don't tip me.
It's included in the servicefee.
Um, generally, I tip the peoplewho do things for me that I
can't do myself, like DwightShroot, right?
Oh, I can't do it myself.
Right?
If I don't do it myself, then Ishould probably tip them for
that.
SPEAKER_01 (07:42):
I think I said this before.
Yeah.
But when I was 16, I was at aRed Sox game at Fenway, sitting
in the cheap seats with a bunchof college kids.
SPEAKER_02 (07:54):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (07:54):
And they were talking about tipping.
And one of them said in his bestBoston accent, what did you do
besides your job?
Okay.
And I was like, that is a greatrule for tipping.
Yeah.
Above it.
Yeah.
Chiching.
SPEAKER_03 (08:14):
There's also this like explosion of tipping
culture, right?
Like where you're being asked totip on things that you've never
would have been asked to tip onbefore.
And it's okay to say no on thosethings.
SPEAKER_01 (08:26):
Have you seen the video where it's a
parent-teacher conference and atthe end she turns the computer
around?
SPEAKER_03 (08:30):
She turns her thing.
This is just gonna ask you acouple of questions.
That's so good.
Like, oi, and we'll get intothat later.
Okay.
So there are rules about tippingthat I did not know.
SPEAKER_04 (08:41):
Ooh.
SPEAKER_03 (08:42):
Uh, in fact, I only recently learned that you're
supposed to tip your hotel staffwhen they clean your room.
SPEAKER_01 (08:49):
Oh, definitely if you're staying more than one
night.
Yes.
Okay, if you're only stayingone, I'm not gonna tell you not
to tip, but I am gonna tell youyou're only staying one night.
But if you are staying multiplenights, little fiver on the bed
makes a big difference.
I just never have cash.
So I just oh well, and that'sthe thing.
Whenever we travel, like that'spart of my job to get ready is
(09:11):
to make sure that I pull cashbecause we'll get to the airport
and we'll do the sky cab.
And we're like, oh, we don'thave any ones to tip for the
bags.
Yeah.
Oh, we just took a cab and nowwe don't have any cash to tip
the cabbie.
Like, I mean, so it's um it'spart of my like travel culture
in my mind is like I have tomake sure that I pull cash and I
(09:33):
go into the bank.
Did you know you can go inside abank?
I used to work at a bank.
So yes, I did know you could goin.
You still can.
You still can in 2024.
And they will give you the moneythat you want.
Yes, you can if it's in youraccount.
SPEAKER_03 (09:48):
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (09:48):
If you have access to that money, they will give it
to you.
But I will say, like, hey, Ineed 10 ones.
SPEAKER_03 (09:54):
Yeah.
Or whatever.
And they'll they'll and they'lleven count it out for you
because they're required to.
Yeah.
I I used to love the people whowould go to the ATM, come back
in with like 220s and say, breakthis up for me.
Because then I don't even haveto do any paperwork.
All I had to do was just belike, that's hilarious.
SPEAKER_01 (10:12):
And it goes faster.
So I'm and you didn't tell them,like, hey guys, you actually
don't have to make this atwo-step process.
We are indeed a one-stop shop.
SPEAKER_03 (10:20):
No, they did it that way on purpose because then they
wouldn't have to fill out thepaper.
They could just do it like,yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (10:25):
Got it, got it.
SPEAKER_03 (10:26):
I loved it.
SPEAKER_01 (10:27):
That actually is smart now.
SPEAKER_03 (10:28):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (10:29):
Okay, sorry.
SPEAKER_03 (10:29):
No worries.
SPEAKER_01 (10:30):
Anyway, um, you know what, Disney, they're not
housekeeping, they'remousekeeping.
Oh, you're definitely gotta tipyour mousekeepers.
SPEAKER_03 (10:36):
Okay, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (10:38):
Sorry, continue on.
Anyway, so there's a way for meto weave Disney, and I will.
SPEAKER_03 (10:43):
Let's be real.
I have to show you my cruisemagnets at some point.
Anyway.
SPEAKER_01 (10:47):
Oh my god, I also ordered some for you.
SPEAKER_03 (10:51):
It's gonna be like office space with the flair.
SPEAKER_01 (10:54):
It is, it is definitely giving flair.
SPEAKER_03 (10:57):
That's amazing.
SPEAKER_00 (10:58):
So good.
Okay, sorry guys, continue on.
SPEAKER_03 (11:01):
Okay, so today we're giving you some guidelines
around tipping, including how tosay thank you.
Another way of tipping justisn't in your budget for
everyone this year, which isunderstandable.
AF.
Okay, right.
So, first, tipping is notobligatory.
That word should where youshould yourself, don't use it
(11:23):
here.
Okay.
A holiday tip is a token ofgratitude for the people who
helped you this year.
It's not tit for tat, okay?
This is not gift givingobligation stress where someone
gives you something that theyfound at TJ Maxx, and then you
also have to go, oh shoot, Ididn't give them a gift.
Let me go to Costco and get yousome Lindor Lints and hand them
(11:46):
off to you.
Like, this is not what this is.
You're laughing because you knowI'm right.
This is what people think.
SPEAKER_00 (11:51):
That is so accurate.
Yeah.
Here is this candle that stillhas the markdown sticker on it.
SPEAKER_03 (11:56):
Right.
And it probably smells terribleif you light it.
Don't light it.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (12:01):
Oh my gosh, that's amazing.
SPEAKER_03 (12:03):
Yeah.
So there's also some stigmaaround the word tipping.
Right.
Uh so if you feel better callingit a bonus, call it a bonus.
That's fine.
That's essentially what a likewhen you work, if you get a work
bonus, it's basically a tip.
So just fine.
Okay.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (12:23):
And I I see it through the lens of bonus as
well.
That like and this is helps.
Um, we'll we'll talk abouttiming a little bit as uh as we
get further in the episode.
But like I always try and makesure that it is a holiday bonus
that arrives before the holidayso that they can spend it on the
holiday.
But we'll talk a little bit moreabout that later.
SPEAKER_03 (12:42):
Yeah, we'll get there.
Yep.
Okay.
Two.
Second, set a budget.
Okay.
Include tips in your overallholiday gift giving budget and
set aside any money that you doplan to give.
Okay.
If you're saying that I'm gonnaspend this much on gifts, carve
out a piece of that and use itfor tipping.
(13:04):
If you can't give therecommended amounts, which we
will get to in a minute, we havea plan for that.
No stress.
Okay.
unknown (13:12):
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (13:13):
Okay.
Third, make a list.
SPEAKER_01 (13:17):
And check it twice.
SPEAKER_03 (13:18):
Gonna find out who it's not Christmas.
It's not Christmas yet.
Okay.
Sorry.
Um who helps you during theyear?
Okay.
The nanny or the babysitter.
Your dog walker or pet sitter.
Your house cleaner, yourdoorman, any maintenance
workers, your personal trainer,your hairstylist.
(13:41):
This list of people for me, Idon't know about you, but for
me, this list of people is long.
Right.
Help me, right?
Who do things for me that Icannot do for myself.
So what you need to do when youlook at this list is start to
prioritize, right?
Prioritize by how regularly youuse their services.
(14:01):
If you're like me and you don'tget a haircut very often, that
person can go lower on your listthan, say, your housekeeper who
might come every two weeks.
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (14:15):
And for me, I do not give a year-end bonus, holiday
tip, whatever we're gonna callthis, uh extra money to either a
dog sitter or my hairstylistbecause I always tip my dog
sitter uh when I come back andmy dogs are alive.
I always send a little extramoney.
SPEAKER_03 (14:33):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (14:34):
And then my hairstylist, I always tip 30%.
SPEAKER_03 (14:37):
Yeah.
So I take care of you all yearlong.
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (14:41):
So I'm fine with not giving her a holiday year-end
bonus.
SPEAKER_03 (14:44):
Sure.
Especially if you go get ahaircut around the you know what
I mean?
SPEAKER_01 (14:49):
Otherwise, you're gonna see that I'm not a natural
blonde.
SPEAKER_03 (14:51):
All right.
So the other thing you canprioritize by is how long you've
known them.
That's great.
All right.
And the biggest life changers.
So if there are some things inthere that that really, really,
really impacted your life in aspecial way or whatever.
SPEAKER_01 (15:10):
They care for your children, something like that.
SPEAKER_03 (15:13):
All right.
Just make sure that you youprioritize people because there
are people who you can move tothe bottom of the list, and
that's okay.
Okay.
When to tip?
This episode's coming out inmid-November.
So, like now?
Yeah.
Now is a good time.
Don't wait until Christmas Eve.
This money is likely gonna gotowards any holiday expenses.
(15:37):
So it might go towards avacation or gifts or whatever.
So use that to help motivateyou.
SPEAKER_01 (15:45):
Trying to pay their property taxes before they're
due mid-January.
Oh no.
SPEAKER_03 (15:48):
Just saying.
Just saying.
Oh Lord.
SPEAKER_01 (15:51):
Just getting it out there.
Right.
Some people don't escrow.
SPEAKER_03 (15:54):
Right.
So here are some guidelines.
These are courtesy of LizziePost as in Emily Post Institute.
Yes.
Lizzie Post is the co-presidentof the Emily Post Institute.
SPEAKER_01 (16:06):
She suggests I had an Emily Post wedding guide.
Yes.
Okay.
How'd that go?
Um, no, no, no.
Someone gave it to me and shesigned it.
Then I signed it and gave it tosomeone else.
And then and like it's beenthrough like five or six brides
with all of our names in it.
It's really cute.
SPEAKER_03 (16:23):
I love that.
SPEAKER_01 (16:24):
Okay, sorry, continue on.
SPEAKER_03 (16:25):
No worries.
She suggests what's called theup to rule.
I love this rule.
This makes so much sense.
Okay.
Look at up to a week's pay or upto one session's pay and
consider this the guiding amountfor your people.
Okay.
Use your discretion for therelationship that you have with
(16:48):
this person to go up or downaccordingly.
Okay.
I love that.
If you're planning to hand out acheck or cash, add a card.
It's festive, it makes it lessawkward.
You're not shoving money intosomeone's hand and saying, you
know, happy holidays.
(17:09):
You're gonna just say, you know,you leave the card out and you
ta-da, there you go.
Okay.
You can come like absolutely tipwithin an app.
When you do that, just include apersonalized message.
That's it.
Totally fine.
If you normally pay yourhousekeeper using Venmo, just
add the cash or add the amountthere and just say like happy
(17:31):
holidays.
Like, you know what I mean?
It's all good.
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (17:35):
I will say something.
Find out how your serviceprovider would like to be
tipped.
SPEAKER_03 (17:42):
Yes.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
SPEAKER_01 (17:46):
Because I do not accept payment for my tutoring
business through anythingbesides check because I like to
have the checks as a documentfor the IRS.
So when people want to Venmo me,I look at them and I'm saying,
I'm really sorry.
I work in the 1980s.
You have to write me a papercheck.
(18:07):
We can also do a bank-to-banktransfer, but I cannot use a
payment app because I do notwant the IRS to look at my
entire Venmo history and try andsift through what is Jenny GK
educational services versus whatis Jenny GK as a person.
SPEAKER_03 (18:25):
Sure.
That makes a lot of sense.
My pet sitter is the same.
She prefers a paper check.
Yes.
Um, and there have been timeswhere we've forgotten to leave
the check before she comes.
And we've said, Can we pay you?
And it doesn't work that way.
SPEAKER_01 (18:39):
So we end up having to get the check over to her a
different way because she's butshe still keeps your cats alive.
Because she understands havingbeen in that seat, not everyone
is a paper check person.
Some people have to dig througha drawer to find one.
Right.
But it is really important to methat I have that documentation.
Totally fine.
(18:59):
This is really important.
If the person runs their ownbusiness, please ask them how
they would like to receive abonus.
That's a good, that's a goodcall.
SPEAKER_03 (19:08):
I like that.
Okay.
Let's get to some recommendedamounts, shall we?
Love it.
SPEAKER_01 (19:12):
That's the most important part.
That's all that people careabout anyway.
SPEAKER_03 (19:15):
Right, exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (19:16):
Oh, I'm sorry.
You guys are listening to thiswhole episode and finding it all
riveting.
My my apologies.
SPEAKER_03 (19:22):
I'm not insulted by the way that I've organized this
episode at all.
Um here are some common things.
SPEAKER_00 (19:31):
No, you're putting the most important part right
there.
Right.
SPEAKER_03 (19:34):
Come on, guys.
Here we go.
And about how much to give them.
Your babysitter or nanny, uh,one typical session or one
week's pay, depending onbabysitter, one typical session,
nanny, one week's pay.
Your daycare staffer, this is abig old oops.
I did not know this was a tip,but I always gave nice gifts.
Okay.
Uh 25 to 75 bucks, depending onhow many hours your child is
(19:57):
with them.
Okay.
Uh hairstylist, cost of oneservice.
In-home caregiver, one week'spay.
SPEAKER_00 (20:05):
Okay.
SPEAKER_03 (20:06):
House cleaner, the cost of one visit is the
recommended amount.
Again, these are also up toamounts, right?
So just up to is okay.
Um a landscaper, which I ain'tgot one.
One session.
SPEAKER_01 (20:20):
Oh man, you gotta use lawn starter.
It's like the Uber of lawnmowing.
Oh.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (20:28):
We'll get to that in a minute.
SPEAKER_01 (20:29):
So usually it put in when you want one, and then
whoever available just comes anddoes it.
Smart.
Okay.
So we don't have like aestablished relationship.
Okay, great.
Yeah, no, sorry, continue on.
Okay.
Uh pool cleaners.
SPEAKER_03 (20:42):
I also don't have one of these.
Um, one session, and they candivide the money amongst
themselves.
If you have a regular massagetherapist, the cost of one
session.
Your manicurist, pedicurist,aesthetician that you see all
the time, if it's a consistentperson, the cost of one session.
(21:02):
Your newspaper delivery persondid not know you were supposed
to tip this person.
I don't, we don't get anewspaper, so there you go.
Uh, about 10 to 30 bucks.
SPEAKER_01 (21:12):
Yeah, I was gonna say, like, should I just tip ATT
internet?
Like, how do I do that?
SPEAKER_03 (21:18):
Uh uh um your personal trainer, which props to
you if you have one.
Good job.
Uh, I don't have one.
The cost of one session.
Your pet sitter, dog walker,groomer, cost of one session,
sanitation workers.
This is a good one to add toyour list.
SPEAKER_01 (21:35):
Uh, 10 to 30 bucks each.
So let me tell you this.
Our neighborhood ralliestogether and tips them all as
one.
SPEAKER_03 (21:45):
We will get to that because that is a great
strategy.
I love that.
Okay.
Yeah, okay.
I'm out.
I'm out.
Yep.
Um, also, a few other people toconsider if you live in an
apartment.
Um, if you're a renter, renterstend to give less than owners.
So just keep that in mind.
Okay.
Um, your super or your residentmanager, 150 to 300 bucks.
(22:07):
That's a lot of money.
It's a lot of money.
So just keep, you know, again,these are we will get to it if
the money is not in your budget.
Okay.
Your door attendant orconcierge, if you have one,$75
to$200.
A porter or handyman ormaintenance staff,$25 to$50.
A garage attendant, especiallyif it's one who regularly looks
(22:30):
out for you and knows you, knowsyour car, those things,$25 to
$75.
Cool.
Um I want to make it very clear.
These are expenses that people,many people, do not opt into.
Um, here's what I mean by that.
If I can't afford to tip myserver at a restaurant, I am not
(22:54):
going to go eat at a restaurant,and neither should you.
If you can't afford the tip atthe restaurant, don't go to the
restaurant Uber eats that messor something, right?
Like it's part of how they makea living.
Okay.
So you that's an opt-in expense,right?
(23:15):
Like you are choosing to go to arestaurant, so you are opting
into paying that tip.
An in-home caregiver or a super,these are not opt-in expenses.
Okay.
Your super takes care of yourapartment regardless of whether
or not you need them all thetime or just one time.
(23:36):
You you are not opting intohaving a super, you have a
super.
That's just how that works.
SPEAKER_01 (23:41):
Um, so and they're not only managing calls that you
make.
Right.
Right?
There could be building widethings that they're handling
that you don't even know theyput that fire out before you got
to it.
SPEAKER_03 (23:52):
Right.
So prioritize expenses forpeople that you you don't opt
into, that you have all thetime, rather than the optional
ones.
Okay.
Now, um, those that's big money.
That's big money, especially ifyou do have all of those people.
That's also um maybe maybe ifyou have all those people you
(24:14):
can afford.
But but if you only have one ortwo of them and you can't, we
got to talk about what to dobecause that's that's big money.
Okay.
Right.
Um, that list isn't evenexhaustive, but there are
definitely some people on itthat you might not be able to
thank with money.
And that's completely okay,right?
(24:36):
And there are people on that,well, not on that list, but
there are people in your lifewho will support you that cannot
accept a cash gift, right?
Or they can't accept a gift overa certain amount.
So they can't accept gift cardsor anything.
Like, for example, your postalworker who you might be very
tempted, because I have aregular postal worker.
(24:59):
Like you might be tempted tooffer them something.
They can't accept it, right?
It's they can't get any morethan 20 bucks per calendar year.
I I did see 50 on anotherwebsite.
I don't know which one isaccurate.
SPEAKER_01 (25:08):
That's interesting.
SPEAKER_03 (25:09):
Yeah.
Delivery drivers are oftendiscouraged from taking cash
tips, even if you have a regularone.
Um, so we'll get to what you cando for them in a second.
But um, you might have to checkwith like in-home care providers
to see what their policies arefor taking money.
So just keep that in mind as youstart prioritizing your life.
SPEAKER_01 (25:33):
It really makes sense.
Um, you know, when I was growingup and we lived on the Air Force
Base, um, the people who bagyour groceries and then bring
them out to your car work fortips.
Yeah.
But if you go to the majorgrocery conglomerate here in
Texas who uh goes by theirinitials, um, they're not
(25:54):
allowed to accept tips.
That was a major culture shiftfor us when we moved here.
We were like, wait, we don't tipyou?
They're like, No, no, no, wecan't accept tips.
Well, that's because they'rebeing paid.
SPEAKER_03 (26:05):
Right.
Yeah.
Very different.
Okay.
So here are some alternatives towarm, soft, beautiful cash.
Here we go.
Cards with heartfelt messagesand/or artwork from your kids.
This, like, there's some reallycute ways to you can do stuff
like that.
(26:25):
Um, baked treats.
I I caution there are people whowill say, Oh, thank you for the
baked treat, but then won't eatit.
Uh, so just something like maybeit's from a bakery and it's
pre-packaged or something likethat.
Okay.
Um, you can leave out snacks andbeverages for delivery drivers
(26:46):
and postal workers.
This is what I do every year.
Uh, I put out like a cooler anda basket, and I have like bags
of chips, and I have fruitroll-ups and candy and things
like that, so that when theycome every 12 to 24 hours to my
house, they get in have a treat.
Yeah?
(27:06):
Okay.
Yes.
Um, I saw this idea.
I thought it was cute.
Work socks.
Okay.
What more?
Like super like padded, nicework socks.
Oh, yeah.
You know what I mean?
Like for inside the boots.
Yeah.
I thought that was a good idea.
SPEAKER_01 (27:23):
Like, I don't even know what a work sock is.
But just something that's yeah,that's like padded or duty, like
socks working.
SPEAKER_03 (27:30):
Yes, like a double, or even something with double
layer so that they don't getblisters.
Like, there's there aredouble-layered socks like that.
That might be a good idea.
I thought that was cute.
Um, you mentioned pooling, as inpooling cash.
SPEAKER_00 (27:42):
Yes.
SPEAKER_03 (27:42):
That is a great way to be budget friendly because
there's always people who aregoing to be willing to give more
than others.
And there's usually arecommended amount, but people
understand if you can't give therecommended amount, they just
appreciate that you gaveanything.
So this is a great way to takeon class gifts for teachers or
collections for apartmentbuilding workers, office
(28:04):
maintenance staff, your localsanitation team, etc.
SPEAKER_01 (28:10):
It's good.
It's good.
Yeah, I like it.
SPEAKER_03 (28:13):
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (28:13):
Yeah, they um they just put a message out in our
neighborhood group, and um, youcan Venmo the person, you can
send cash, whatever, but thenthey put it all together in a
Visa gift card and then deliverit to the team, or you know,
multiple gift cards, I guess.
But deliver that to the teamwith coffee and donuts.
And so there's like a littlesocial if you in the
(28:34):
neighborhood are availableduring that time, you can go and
thank them in person as well.
SPEAKER_03 (28:37):
Yeah, that's perfect.
I love that.
Okay.
That said, when you just can'ttip, right, like nothing.
Like you've got you are paycheckto paycheck.
SPEAKER_01 (28:49):
Or they made it to the bottom of the list.
SPEAKER_03 (28:50):
They are not going to, yeah.
They're not prior, yeah, they'renot in your budget.
Inflation is still a problem.
You might not be able to doanything.
We get it, right?
Chances are the person that youplan to tip gets it too.
Right?
Like they're not going to holdit against you.
A tip is an add-on.
(29:13):
It's not an expectation forthese people, right?
As it is for, say, for example,someone who is your server at a
restaurant, right?
SPEAKER_01 (29:23):
Like it's it's where they are working for$215 an hour
and expect you to supplementthat income with tips.
SPEAKER_03 (29:29):
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (29:30):
Right.
SPEAKER_03 (29:31):
I'm sure that the person who you planned to tip
would rather you just keeppaying for the service, like
with regular support, than bestressed about an optional
holiday bonus.
Okay.
Right.
If it bothers you, you can writea heartfelt note that is very
(29:52):
transparent about what's goingon.
Okay.
It's okay to say something like,thank you so much for all of
your hard work this year.
This year things are tight and Ifind myself unable to provide
cash tips and bonuses, but thisis not a reflection on you or
your support.
I truly appreciate you and Iwish I could do more to say
thank you.
(30:13):
I wish you and yours a beautifulholiday season.
SPEAKER_01 (30:16):
The world is crazy right now.
It's fine.
SPEAKER_03 (30:19):
It happens and people understand it's okay.
And you just need to let thatshame go.
Okay.
Just they don't expect it.
It's not an expectation, it's abonus.
All right.
So no matter what, when it comesto tipping, don't feel anxious
about the amount you tip.
Your anxiety is probably likemine, where it's like you're not
(30:40):
giving enough, but that's justnot the case.
Okay.
Tipping is not a contest.
People just appreciate that youdid anything to show them that
you value the work that they do.
So do what you can.
It's enough.
SPEAKER_01 (30:54):
Nice.
SPEAKER_03 (30:55):
And that's like a good thing to live by.
I think so.
SPEAKER_00 (30:58):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (30:59):
Okay.
Yeah.
Now let's take a break.
For links to resources mentionedin this episode, head on over to
ck and gkpodcast.com/slash blogto find everything you need.
And be sure to follow us onsocial media.
Head over to your favoritesocial media network and find us
at CKNGK Podcast.
And now back to the show.
(31:20):
Okay, we're back.
Yay! Oh your poor voice.
Oh dear.
We're back.
Who are we?
SPEAKER_01 (31:29):
HV.
Okay.
I did that a lot.
I also yelled at the eighthgraders and said, I will not
lose to the lower school in thespirit stick.
Oh.
And the thing is, like, parentsare also invited to this pet
rally.
And so one of the moms looks atme, she's like, That's right.
You will not.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (31:50):
I love when the parents like get it.
SPEAKER_01 (31:52):
Yeah.
Like I had a chance there.
I really didn't realize.
I was like, oh my gosh, maybethese parents are gonna think
that this is a problem.
But no, they were like, No,they're into it.
SPEAKER_03 (31:59):
Yeah, GK series.
SPEAKER_01 (32:01):
She's gonna have she's winning that spirit today.
SPEAKER_03 (32:03):
I remember bumping into one parent at a holiday
event in town, and she was like,Oh, it's Miss Kendra, and she
was like, You know, I love mesome Miss Kindred.
She is all sass.
And I went, Oh my gosh, I lovethese parents.
I feel seen.
I'm so seen was the best.
All right.
Speaking of people that love us,what are we obsessed with?
(32:28):
What?
It's not a good transition, itwas just a transition.
SPEAKER_01 (32:36):
Speaking of bagels, have you ever been to the
driving range?
Goodness.
Oh my gosh.
Okay, so let me tell you whatI'm obsessed with right now.
Um, it's a little bit old.
And guess what?
I'm late to the party on a lotof things, guys.
Yeah, it's because we have kidsand jobs like it's good that
(32:56):
it's old because all theepisodes are out.
SPEAKER_03 (32:59):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (32:59):
So there you go.
Um, Pig Iron from the TortoiseNetwork.
It's a podcast.
SPEAKER_03 (33:07):
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (33:09):
Um, it's a seven episode serial about um, it's an
earbuds in podcast moms.
Okay.
Um, but it's about a reporterwho was a war coverage reporter
who was killed in South Sudan.
(33:32):
Oh.
And the circumstances around hisdeath are ambiguous.
Some people think he was caughtin the crossfire, some people
think that he became a mercenaryand was actually fighting.
And so it's really interesting.
There is no resolution, um,which you know from the
beginning, right?
(33:52):
Like you like give away theending, but it's a deep dive
into this guy's experience andthe world of war reporting.
SPEAKER_03 (34:00):
Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (34:01):
And the girl who does it is a journalist, but not
a world reporter, uh, not a warreporter.
So it's really interesting toget her take on that genre of
journalism and and theexperience that she goes through
learning about it.
Interesting.
SPEAKER_03 (34:22):
Yeah, okay.
All right.
SPEAKER_01 (34:24):
No, it's good.
SPEAKER_03 (34:25):
It's really yeah, I'm I can get into that.
That sounds great.
Um, I also am into a documentarystyle uh thing.
On Netflix, there's a new Zodiacdocumentary.
SPEAKER_01 (34:41):
Oh my gosh.
Like about the Zodiac Killer orabout the signs of the Zodiac.
What is it?
SPEAKER_03 (34:50):
No, it's about the Zodiac Killer and it's about oh
yeah.
Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_01 (34:54):
Okay, so you know Abby just made fun of me the
other day.
She was like, Yeah, put yourhair button at top, not drink
your pumpkin slice latte andlisten to your true crime.
SPEAKER_03 (35:02):
First of all, those things are basic because
everyone loves them.
We've gone into this, right?
SPEAKER_01 (35:07):
But I just looked at her and I was like, you shut
your mouth.
SPEAKER_03 (35:09):
Right.
And why do you know a snapper?
Right.
unknown (35:13):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (35:13):
Okay, anyway.
So yeah, it's it is a theorythat they actually think they
know who this person is.
And we've seen these before,right?
Like there's so many of them,but this one is like pretty
compelling where I'm going, oh,this is these are like
eyewitness accounts of this manbeing in this area at the same
(35:37):
time that someone goes missingand then like walking up to them
with blood on their hands.
Like it is wild.
And I am all in.
And I also started watching theVince McMahon like wrestling
one.
SPEAKER_01 (35:49):
Oh my god! If I had to pick people on this planet to
never watch that, you would beat the top of my list.
SPEAKER_02 (35:59):
I I'm in, I'm all in.
I'm fascinated.
I I'm having like, oh yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (36:05):
Do not tell Johnny or he will talk your ear off the
entire time we're on the ship.
No, don't talk to me.
No, I I haven't watched it.
No, this man loves wrestlingstories.
SPEAKER_03 (36:21):
I well, I did hear the Chris Benoit story finally
for the first time.
SPEAKER_01 (36:25):
If you haven't listened to that, there's an
episode about him and my beyondthe ring or behind the ring or
under the ring or inside thering or whatever it is, the
documentary show aboutwrestling, and like every week
it features another story.
No, I'm not into that.
Loves that.
SPEAKER_03 (36:41):
No, he doesn't know.
SPEAKER_01 (36:41):
Because it is, it's so dramatic.
There's so much behind thescenes.
SPEAKER_03 (36:47):
No, I um I don't care about that.
Does he watch does he listen tothe We Watch Wrestling podcast?
SPEAKER_01 (36:52):
I don't know that he does.
Well, it's Georgia Hard's.
He's so busy listening to UncleDan slash Father Dan, Dan
Patrick.
SPEAKER_03 (37:01):
And he also listens to our show.
Well, there's that.
On occasion, not all the time.
But anyway.
But enough to do that.
Anyway, yeah, no, those are two.
I I cannot recognize so we'vegot Pig Iron by Tortoise Network
uh podcast and then the Zodiacdocumentary and the Vince
McMahon documentary on Netflix.
Those are our recommendationsand obsessions right now.
SPEAKER_01 (37:18):
Okay.
Okay, gems.
All right.
So, like I said, it washomecoming last night.
And it is John's 20th reunion.
SPEAKER_03 (37:28):
He's the whipper snapper.
SPEAKER_01 (37:30):
I know.
He's so young.
He's robbed the cradle on thatone.
One of the things sincerejoining this community that
John has been able to get sometraction on that he has been
working on for, I don't evenknow, a lot of years, is this
alumni effort.
And he's like, look, we gottaget people back in the space
(37:50):
without a financial ask.
SPEAKER_03 (37:53):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (37:54):
In order to re-engage our alumni, we need to
not treat them like a cash cow.
SPEAKER_03 (38:01):
The other thing is, too, like it's sort of cyclical.
Like if they enjoy the alumniassociation events, they will
start to provide money and itwon't be an ask.
It will be a this was fun, let'sdo it.
So it's how organic socialworks.
You build the community and thenthe benefits come.
Like it's just it's just logic.
SPEAKER_01 (38:21):
Yes, yes.
And he has said that multipletimes.
He's like, Don't ask me formoney.
No, ask me to come to a partyand then where I will enjoy
myself and then say, Man, Iwould love to finance these
kinds of things.
SPEAKER_02 (38:36):
Exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (38:36):
So, anyway, um, he has finally got some traction on
that.
Our head of school is very muchin that camp.
Um, he is truly an investor andsays, Look, we have to make the
experience wonderful foreveryone, kids, parents, alumni,
community, everyone.
And then if you build it, theywill come.
(38:56):
Sure.
So um, last night washomecoming, and it was the first
like alumni warm welcomehomecoming I have been a part of
in the 10 years that I've been apart of the high park community.
They had gifts for anyone whoclaimed to have graduated from
there.
(39:17):
Like we weren't checking rostersor anything.
It was like, oh yeah, you'reout, oh, you're an alumna.
Oh, you're an alumnus.
Come on over to our table.
We have a yeti mug for you.
We have a bandana for you.
Let us buy you dinner tonight.
Um, here, get your kids somefree ice cream.
Like it was incredible.
A yeti mug.
(39:37):
Yes, like the cute little travelcoffee ones that like the eating
engraved with alumni on it.
SPEAKER_03 (39:45):
I think they're 12, aren't they?
Like they whatever.
SPEAKER_01 (39:48):
It's yeah, but they look like the nice, like
handheldy one that is not huge.
SPEAKER_03 (39:52):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (39:53):
Um, they were beautiful, and it was like such
a fun gift to give away becauseit's like a real gift.
SPEAKER_03 (39:58):
Yeah, no, it's a nice it's not like a plastic
cheeky one that'll melt when youput your coffee in.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (40:04):
Here's a here's a notepad with our stamp on it,
right?
Like this, no, this is like areal gift.
The worst.
SPEAKER_03 (40:11):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (40:11):
Or magnet calendar or something.
SPEAKER_03 (40:13):
Like we're a real estate agent.
Bad swag is the worst.
And be working in like inevents, like going to events
now.
I'm like, bad swag is the worst,like awful.
No, that's a good gift.
I like it.
SPEAKER_01 (40:26):
It was really cool.
And even like giving the bandanathat's like branded with this
year's homecoming.
Like, it was really cool.
Yeah, it's great.
So fun.
Um, so anyway, during thehalftime show, also congrats to
the homecoming queen who is aformer student of ours, and I'm
so proud of her.
SPEAKER_02 (40:43):
Oh, I love it.
SPEAKER_01 (40:44):
She totally earned it because if it was voting on
who has great spirit and reallycares about the school and cares
about other people more thanherself, it is this woman.
It is Oh, and she's a woman now.
SPEAKER_03 (40:56):
Oh, I met her when she was 12.
Oh, I'm old.
Congratulations, little one.
We love you.
Yes, you're gonna be littleforever in my heart.
unknown (41:04):
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (41:05):
So, anyhow, um after the presentation of the court,
they say, Welcome back, class of14 and 20 and 04, celebrating
your 10 and 20-year reunions.
Um, and they bring everyone, theum, the alumni and their
families out on the field.
And they're standing on the 50and waving, and they play Stand
(41:30):
By Me, and these nearly40-year-old men start throwing
the football around on thefield, yelling and screaming,
pretending to make touchdowns,rolling around.
It was the most playful,beautiful end of the movie
(41:52):
moment.
I love it, it was so great.
SPEAKER_03 (41:56):
Oh, that would have made me emotional if I had been
there.
SPEAKER_01 (41:58):
Oh my gosh, I got a nine-second video that like it's
it that was more than enough.
Like, it was just so beautiful.
And so, as we're leaving, I signout with the head of school and
I was like, Hey, this was agreat party.
Thanks so much.
Like, how cute were and uh werethose guys playing um during
(42:19):
halftime?
He goes, Oh, like little boys,yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (42:23):
Having fun again, just yeah, it was so cute, it
was amazing.
SPEAKER_01 (42:27):
That's really sweet, and it was so fun to be the
hostess of that event, right?
Because I do wear multiple hats.
My job was sitting at the alumnitable, welcoming people back and
getting to pass out thosefabulous gifts, yeah.
And it was just it was a really,really special moment.
But watching those kids likethey were the grown-up sandlot
(42:47):
boys roll around on the footballfield, it was amazing.
SPEAKER_03 (42:52):
I love it.
That's wonderful.
What a nice experience, mygoodness.
As we counter, like, you know,war stories and murder with
something sweet.
SPEAKER_01 (43:02):
So hey, I don't know what happened in the election
yet, but I'm sure it wasn't ahundred percent wonderful.
unknown (43:09):
Oh god.
SPEAKER_01 (43:10):
My heart is beating too much.
SPEAKER_00 (43:12):
You might be really excited about some races and
really depressed about otherones.
Who knows?
Oh my gosh.
That proposition you didn't wantto pass totally did.
Like whatever.
SPEAKER_03 (43:22):
Man, here we go.
Um, I just need to point outthat I came to my desk to work
out and there's a sock on mydesk.
And I don't, it's just one is ita work sock?
It is no, but it is clean.
Oh, hey, bonus, but I don'tunderstand.
It is an ankle uh one lone anklesock, and I don't know why it's
(43:43):
here.
That's my gem.
SPEAKER_01 (43:44):
Okay, so a friend of mine's kid was trying to raise
money to buy um a Lego set, andI told him, Look, I have a
basket of unmatched socks.
I will pay you 50 cents a pair.
Oh yeah.
And it was a normal size basket.
We are not talking about likethis long burger, like takes up
space on your kitchen tablebasket.
(44:05):
Like it, I mean, it's about thesize of a laptop, right?
Sure.
Yeah.
Maybe two VHS tapes puttogether.
Okay.
Oh dear.
SPEAKER_03 (44:14):
Age yourself with one line.
Done.
Thanks.
Moving on.
SPEAKER_01 (44:17):
I specifically chose that reference.
Anyway, he put together 24 pairsof socks in that basket.
SPEAKER_02 (44:26):
Hey oh and my friend was like, you do not need to pay
him$12.
SPEAKER_01 (44:29):
I was like, oh no, no, no, I'm paying$12.
No, no, no.
This is in light of today'sepisode, because he was so fast,
I am going to tip him three moredollars, mostly because I have a
couple of fives in my wallet andno ones.
And no ones.
But that's not important.
Um, but I was like, dude, Ican't believe I had 24 pairs
worth of unmatched socks inaddition to all the other socks
(44:50):
that didn't have a mate in thatbasket.
SPEAKER_03 (44:52):
Yeah, and I bet that basket is like way more normal
now, like not overflowing.
Yeah, it's not overflowing.
Um, here's my gem.
Okay, sorry.
No worries.
Um we have a show to do, guys.
Yeah.
This isn't just likeconversation hour, Jen.
Come on.
Um this is the kind of stuff wedo talk about, by the way.
(45:13):
This is why we are so connectedbecause we talk about sock
baskets and the sock I found onmy desk.
Um, okay, here's mine is acelebration.
The episode about making newadult friends.
I took the advice and I made anew adult friend on Halloween.
It was the neighbor.
Yep.
It was the neighbor that Imentioned in the episode who
(45:35):
I've been wanting to try and Ohmy gosh, you did it.
Yeah, I did it.
SPEAKER_01 (45:39):
And then after you tie that comfort into that
stretch zone nice and fun.
SPEAKER_03 (45:43):
And then right after it was over, and we were both in
our houses.
I sent a message that said thatwas fun.
Would love to get together againsometime.
Let me know if next weekendworks.
So I actually made a real plan.
So I'm hoping that we can makethat happen.
SPEAKER_01 (46:01):
But oh my gosh, I'm so proud of my celebration.
Oh, it's nicely done.
That's amazing.
Did you get her name?
I did get her name.
I'm gonna keep it.
Oh, what's their name?
He's like, Oh, I don't know.
SPEAKER_03 (46:22):
I don't know, but he was wearing a blue shirt and
like and he likes dinosaurs.
And I also yeah, great.
SPEAKER_01 (46:31):
Dinosaur mom.
All right, that is awesome.
Okay, well, when you are takingrisks and trying to meet new
people on your block, make yourchoices.
SPEAKER_03 (46:45):
And when you're tipping people, remember that
this is the season for showinggratitude.
So however you show it, it'sgonna be appreciated.
You can do it.
SPEAKER_01 (46:54):
All right, whatever you do is gonna be enough.
Exactly.
Okay.
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Paper Ghosts: The Texas Teen Murders
Paper Ghosts: The Texas Teen Murders takes you back to 1983, when two teenagers were found murdered, execution-style, on a quiet Texas hill. What followed was decades of rumors, false leads, and a case that law enforcement could never seem to close. Now, veteran investigative journalist M. William Phelps reopens the file — uncovering new witnesses, hidden evidence, and a shocking web of deaths that may all be connected. Over nine gripping episodes, Paper Ghosts: The Texas Teen Murders unravels a story 42 years in the making… and asks the question: who’s really been hiding the truth?
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com