It's one of the eternal questions: How much should you tip? Is 15 percent too little? Should I tip the delivery guy a percentage or a set amount? Budgets are Sexy suggests you just stop thinking about it and give everyone 20 percent, every time.
As a Brit, the idea of tipping is slightly alien to me. I get it... but I don't... I have no issue with tipping for good service (I'm not tight!), but I realize that many countries tip all the time. But how much to leave? I don't have the time or energy to decide if a waiter's service was worth 10 or 15 percent, so I love J. Money's tip on Budgets Are Sexy to stop thinking about it and just leave 20 percent, no questions asked.
5 years ago I decided to try out a new tipping rule. Instead of always trying to figure out how much to tip someone, I decided it will be a flat 20% no matter what to save me both time and frustration. Even when I get shitty service.
The results so far?
I'm a Freakin' Genius.
Not only do I never have to think about tipping anymore, I feel like it's a strong, fair, amount to leave making all parties generally happy. I hate trying to gauge what someone is owed based on service or what the standard rates are/etc. I just want to eat my food, drink my drinks, get my tattoos, and then leave an acceptable tip and move right along with my life.
Give it a try. No more worrying, no more over thinking, easy math—20 percent every time. You might pay over the odds, and you might overtip for service on occasion, but you'll feel better for it.
My Flat Tipping Rule: Everyone Gets 20% | Budgets are Sexy