About every 3 or 4 months I indulge myself with a “Hook and Ladder” from Firehouse Subs. A couple of weeks ago I ordered one through my app and went to pick it up. I walked up to the cashier and told him my name. He handed me my sandwich and without pausing for a breath said “That will be $15.09 would like to round up to help our firefighters?” I was thinking $.91, “No thank you, not this time.” He then spins the monitor around for me to see and I quote, “You choose the tip you would like to leave.” I had the choice of 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, or No thank you. I chose “No thank you.” With rounding up and a minimum of 10% tip the young man was asking me to give $2.41 for him to hand me my sandwich.
Literally enjoying our "last best bite", Jean and I eat out a couple of times a week. Whether it’s our monthly trip to Sam's when we go to Cheddars for salmon, celebrating our anniversary at an upscale restaurant with a steak, Chipotle for a birthday celebration with the grandkids, or an ice cream cone at DQ, we enjoy eating out.
According to Facebook, many of you also enjoy eating out. But eating out can be expensive. To offset the increased cost of eating out Jean and I buy restaurant gift cards in advance (4Xs the gas points at Kroger’s), use coupons (Digital and paper), pre-order online, while always on the lookout for specials. Yet eating at a sit-down restaurant a couple of times a week costs us about $70. If you do the math, at 20%, that turns out to be well over $700 a year in tips.
Which brings me to the topic of tipping. I have found a simple, generous, way to tip while still being a good steward of our money, Before I share that, I would like to say this….
FIRST: In a sit-down restaurant I always leave a tip. If the service is (really) bad I leave a minimal tip (no less than 10%) while excellent service gets 20% and beyond.
SECOND: What qualifies me to write a post about tipping? With my wife, my sister, my daughter, many of my friends, and now my grandkids, working their way through school as servers, I have become somewhat of an expert on the ins and outs of tipping those who serve us.
THIRD: My reasons for tipping…
#1. I want the server to know I appreciate the service AND them
#2 Helping the server to live in the real world by seeing the rewards of a job well done
#3 As disciples of Jesus we are called to be givers like Him
#4 It's fun to be generous
#5. I feel good about myself
My philosophy on tipping; If I have to stand to place or pick up my order I usually don't tip. With that said many times God does put it on my heart to tip $10, $20, or more to (mostly the very young or very old) cashiers at fast-food restaurants or to those who are overly polite, kind, or help us to choose better meals or a better price.
One last thought; Why do I NOT feel guilt when I don't round up or give a tip?
I know in my heart and by my actions that I am a generous person. If generosity is your lifestyle, never feel guilty about being a good steward. On the other hand, if you round up or tip out of guilt you might want to re-calibrate your generosity meter.
Now go out and enjoy that last best bite at your favorite restaurant and feel good about yourself by helping someone who is working hard.
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