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Gifts for Service Providers One gift fits all when it comes to perfect holiday gifts for your hair stylist, your personal trainer, the doorman, and others that provide services throughout the year. The gift, of course, is money. How much to give, however, varies widely depending on where you live, the frequency and quality of service you receive, and your budget. Perhaps you've seen the tipping lists that state such year-end gift amounts as the cost of one workout to your personal trainer, one week's salary to your housekeeper, $10 or more to your hair stylist. Such amounts seem arbitrary and not well thought out. So we've come up with what we think are more equitable and sensible guidelines. To those that perform services for you regularly on a salary or contract basis, give a week's salary or more. These include your dog's walker, your child's nanny or other caregiver, your personal trainer, and the person who routinely cleans your house or apartment. To those that regularly perform services for you on a tip-as-you-go basis, a seasonal goodie or gift certificate will suffice. These include your hair stylist, manicurist, and masseuse. To those that are often overlooked—and generally underpaid—be as generous as you can. These include your newspaper carrier, the locker room attendant at your gym, and your apartment building staff (the doorman, elevator operator, custodian, superintendent). If your budget is tight, tip what you can. If you wish, supplement your cash gift with seasonal goodies. If money seems too crass and you have some idea of what might please the recipient, give a gift certificate to his or her favorite catalog, store, restaurant, or Internet site. Always include a friendly note of thanks and deliver each gift personally, if possible. In addition to a cash gift from you, a small gift from your child to his or her nanny would also be nice. Officially, the U.S. Postal Service forbids gratuities, but many customers wish to say thanks with a gift to their mail carriers anyway. Gifts with a cash equivalent value of $20 or less are probably safe in most cases. A note to the recipient's supervisor or a nomination for a service award or employee-of-the-year award would be a nice gesture. If you can come up with a clever inscription, have your thanks or sentiments engraved on a customized "award." Tiffany & Co., www.tiffany.com, offers many lovely items on which your message can be engraved. These include key rings, paperweights, platters, vases, candlesticks, clocks, mirrors, picture frames, belt buckles, money clips, address books, watches, pitchers, bookmarks, lockets, and more.
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