My husband says I’m a tight wad!

Not all teaxhers get presents. Its more common for primary teachers where the children tend to have the same teacher most of the time. In secondary school it is done occasionally but not always. Certainly no teachers I knew ever expected gifts.

I recently went to a new salon for a root tint and blow dry, as it is blonde I was advised to have a certain brand shampoo which I agreed to have left on for a few minutes, she also trimmed my fringe , the final bill was £80'. I asked why , she said it was extra for the special shampoo, since when was it extra for the shampoo? So I didn't tip as I thought I had paid enough, Thing is , I am pleased with my hair and the stylist was very nice and did a good job and I will probably go back , but being on a pension I will have to save up for next time ,

starbox: I agree with you and think this 'tipping' certain professions is habit - probably borne out of low wages in past? I felt awful NOT tipping my hairdresser but decided she could probably buy and sell me and I have never heard of anyone getting a 'bad' hairdo simply because they haven't tipped - have you? You would just complain, tell all your friends and never go there again!

I feel it is up to individuals what they want to do but I don't think there is any set protocol as such. I don't think there is anything 'should' about tipping in the UK as people are on a living wage. Different in other countries where they rely solely on tips though.

OOOPS - just realised what I've said there and can I just say I am not opening up a debate about what is considered a living wage Just that lots and lots of professions are on the same basic wage that either do not get tipped or cannot accept tips. Taxi drivers can make a fortune but still expect tips as its custom.

Yes, I accept we may give gifts to teachers/ nurses we particularly like, but I think that's entirely different - a) it's entirely optional b) you give what you can afford (if anything) - I've seen people handmaking gifts or buying them biscuits, doesnt have to be costly, it's never hard cash. c) it's not expected. You wouldnt give to a nurse or teacher who gave indifferent help.

After (what seems like a lifetime) of teaching I have never known colleagues receive gifts at the end of the school year. I think this is generally confined to primary school teachers.

I don’t think my teachers would have been allowed to accept gifts, even if we had ever thought of giving them. I suppose a card would have been all right.

I tip taxi drivers, but I wish tipping was illegal. It’s a nuisance, and embarrassing.

My hairdresser has her own business (wedding hairdos) and rents a chair from the salon two or three times a week. I don't tip each time, but give her a big tip at Christmas.

I have stopped tipping hairdressers. I think its outmoded and I doubt if any young women do it. A bit like ironing although I still do that

Always felt self conscious giving a tip but after living in the US for a while I became quite used to it. Used to give hairdresser a fiver for cut, colour, blow dry with a cost of £75 but changed hairdresser recently and now tip a tenner because the cost is now around £120 a trip - just think that around 10% is reasonable also agree with previous GN's that if you find a good one then keep them happy.

When I lived in the UK I had a hairdresser come to the house every 5 weeks and over the years she became a friend and I still gave her a tip. When I went to the hairdresser in the French village where I now live, the first visit I paid by card and put some cash for a tip on the counter. She was surprised and indicated that it was not necessary as I had paid the correct price. In fact, I get presents from her as she runs a loyalty card scheme and every 4th visit I get a small toiletry type gift.

I don't tip anyone. I'm not mean, it's just an outdated custom that causes awkwardness and embarrassment. I have my short hair permed 4 times a year at £95 a time, in between perms I have it cut & blow dried at £40 a time, I always pay by card. My stylist is the owner of the salon. I like the way she does my hair but I think I pay more than enough without adding a tip.

I wish we were like Japan and Australia, where tipping doesn't happen. It is a throwback to service and the class system. Pay people properly so they aren't dependent on tips.

After reading some of these posts, I feel a right tight-wad! I tip my hairdresser £2. (Some here tip £10!) I always feel very embarrassed when tipping people - cab-drivers, etc. My husband is a generous 'tipper' (and I'm always telling him off!) But even he baulked at a restaurant tip, added to our bill recently.

(And why do restaurants think they have the right to just add a 'service charge' to your bill??? Surely their prices reflect the food and their services. Otherwise, we could all go into a restaurant and say, "It's okay, I'll just come into the kitchen, cook my own food and serve myself, thank you." Grrrr! makes me so mad!)

Anyway ... back to our recent restaurant bill. They had added £30 for 'kitchen staff'! (Do they not pay them, then ...?) Husband demanded that they remove this from the bill - Waiter: "I'll have to speak to the Manager." Husband: "You'd better!" He came back with a revised bill, and we left without leaving a tip at all.

I'm sure, that if you've had a couple of glasses of wine, they think that you won't check your bill. I dread to think of how many people have been caught out by this flagrant dishonesty.

We realised we had got “caught” a little while ago in a restaurant. The bill had a space for service charge, which was left blank, but the bill total had 15% extra included. We hadn’t noticed this on our first visit as there had been quite a lot of items, and the OH also left a tip, as he usually does. We spotted it on a subsequent visit, when there were just two of us, and we only had a main course each. Needless to say, they didn’t get a tip again. It was a bit sneaky, we thought.

Years ago we dined at a restaurant where a harpist was playing. Very nice, thought we, until we found a charge of £6 pp on the bill for 'music'

I tip. I do not give a toss whether the person concerned is poor or rich or anything else. I tip because my hairdresser and the manager who does my hair when she is not available are really nice people who do my hair exactly as I want it and always tell me how much they like my style.

My hair is very unforgiving when cut badly looks awful. When I move house or my hairdresser leaves, it can take me up to a year to find another person who can cut it well.

However I have no hesitation about not tipping when the hairdresser, or anyone else, gives poor service.

The shop assistant always serves me well, the nurse looks after me very professionally, the teacher helps my granddaughter, the bus driver gets me safely to my destination. Do any of these people expect a tip ?

The tip is for the service beyond what is required and the person who does it with a smile and concern.

Some professions, like hairdressers and waiting on table are very poorly paid and the attitude and behaviour of the person can make or mar the whole experience.

A driver drives a bus. He could be miserable and morose or as happy as a lark. Even in a driver/ticket seller role his personal characteristics are not always clear. Nurses are often tipped by kind (sweets, flowers etc). We sent a big donation to the hospital my DF was in during his last illness with specific request that it was spent on something to benefit the staff, and we were not alone in doing this.

Similarly teachers get inundated with gifts from pupils, may be not all suitable or wanted, but given, nevertheless.

Agreed sodapop. I hate the whole idea. It's antiquated. Just add a bit to the charge, and pay the employees more.

I have to watch the pennies, and often just have a wet cut to keep the price down. I feel I should tip, but the small amount I can afford seems like an insult. It's all very embarrassing.

See previous posts 're teachers. Sweets, chocs for groups of people are not the same as hard cash given to individual workers
Whilst tipping continues wages will not be increased.

It’s always been the convention that you do not tip the owner.

I've had my hair cut by the owner of the salon since they opened (she used to work from her mum's home salon). I don't tip as I regard her as a friend (she's the same age as my DD) but I do feel guilty but don't know what to do, what do others do

Why on earth should you feel guilty Magrithea your hairdresser is doing her job the same as any other worker. Do you feel guilty about not tipping the shop assistant or the optician for example.

You are a regular customer who spends £50 every 7 weeks. And you think you need to tip?!

I think she is probably more than happy with your regular custom. Don't worry about it