by Christina Hayward

Created on: February 04, 2009   Last Updated: February 07, 2009

How much is enough when you tip? 10%, 15%, or even 20%? It seems like tipping has become more common than it was 10 years ago. You walk into a Starbucks and are expected to tip the "barista." Well, with an important name like that you start to think that maybe they should be tipped. You go into a Panda Express. The teenager behind the cash register has a paper cup next to the till with "Tips" written on it with a black marker. You see a few dollars and some change in it so you think that maybe you should throw your change in it too. At the Chevron station, the person behind the 2 inch thick bulletproof glass has a tip jar sitting next to the lighters and car fragrances. Apparently you are supposed to leave the rest of that $20 you gave him to fill at number 8. It saves you the trip of having to come back inside to get your $3 change.

Tipping has not only become more common but now it has become required. A co-worker of mine told a few fellow employees that he usually does not tip. They jumped right down his throat. They claimed that the people who work these minimum wage jobs need the tips in order to live. If they didn't get any tips then how could they afford groceries, rent, or diapers for their children? My co-worker slinked back to his desk feeling like the scum of the earth.

A tip is something a little extra. This is normally reserved for people who perform a service for you that you could probably do yourself but would prefer to pay someone else to do it (i.e. a waiter or a barber). A tip is not mandatory. It is something that is given only when the customer feels the person providing the service has done something to deserve a little more than their normal pay.

Tips are generally given at sit-down restaurants where the server not only takes your order and brings your meal to you but ideally also checks on you throughout the meal to make sure you have everything you need. Tips are given to barbers and hairdressers because although technically you could cut your own hair, they have the skills necessary to make your hair into whatever style you desire.

An example of when to tip would be: You go to Red Lobster for dinner. The waiter comes to your table, immediately takes your drink order, brings your drinks and bread within a few minutes and then takes your dinner order. Within 5 minutes he returns to let you know that your dinner is almost ready and he asks if you would like some more wine. He brings your dinner, warning you not to touch the plate as it is

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