cost of living – Nurturing Cents

To Tip or Not to Tip?

Julie Boehlke Budgeting, Lifestyle June 16, 2023June 16, 2023cost of living, saving money, savings, tip, tipping

It seems like lately so many food and beverage establishments are adding more options to tip on their cash out screen. But are some places taking it a little bit too far? This goes beyond the traditional tip or gratuity that we make after being served a great meal. The question here is when to tip and when is asking for a tip going over the top?

Always Tip Your Wait Staff

According to TableAgent, anywhere from 15 to 20% of the bill total is the appropriate amount to tip. Less or more depending on how your service was. Keep in mind that this is the pre-tax amount. Many people tip based on the total bill amount, but you should configure the amount before taxes and other fees are added.

If you had an issue with your service or food, ask to speak to the manager. This way, the issue can be addressed directly, rather than by the tip amount or lack thereof.

Tipping at the Drive Thru?

This is where things can get a little dicey. If you tip the drive-thru attendant electronically, do they really get the money? Do they deserve it? Maybe the cook in the back is more deserving than the attendant.

Tipping at the drive thru is a relatively new option. The question remains, who really gets that money? Or does it just go back into the company’s pocket?

A Tip for Carry Out Service?

What about going in to get your food? Should you tip the cashier? I would say no, but there is one exception. If you pre-ordered a lot of food, such as several orders or a catering-type order, you should probably leave a tip.

This is because someone had to work hard to organize and put the order together. Also, if the restaurant you ordered from went the extra mile to pack utensils, sauces or other extra goodies, always be sure to tip well.

Tipping Fast-Food or Cafeteria-Style Food

Even going into a fast-food restaurant or one where you have to go and grab your food at the counter and pour your own drink, they often ask for a gratuity. That is up to you to tip, but again, you may not know who actually gets that tip at the end of the day.

For cafeteria-style food joints or cafes where you grab your food or they hand it to you, a tip is often listed on the total bill. This is another instance where you are not typically required to leave a tip, but you can if you wish.

Most cashiers can’t accept money or cash on the side and pocket the change. The tip has to go into the total order, which means there is no guarantee that person will get that money.

Tipping is becoming more of a hot-topic button lately more than ever. But the question remains; who actually gets that money? If you have to question it, maybe it is best to pass over it. But at the end of the day, if your wait staff works hard for you, and you’re pleased with their service, tip them well.

Here’s to Saving and Thriving Daily!

The Cost of Living is Going Up. How to Survive and Thrive in Tough Times

Julie Boehlke Budgeting October 6, 2021October 6, 2021cost of living, credit cards, food budget, online deals, passive income

The economy is taking a huge hit right now. Those who were getting ahead and paying down their debt each month are now finding themselves treading through some pretty tough waters. While the best you can do is just ride the wave until the economy perks up, you need to get by in the meantime. Here are some things that you can start doing today to generate a better tomorrow.

Focus on Your Food Budget

Whether it’s feeding 6 kids or just dinner for two, one thing in everyone’s budget is food. You have to eat. No matter what! The problem is, the cost of eating is rising steadily. In fact, the price of food is up 31% from 2020. This means now more than ever, you need to focus on what you spend monthly on meals. Here are some savvy tips to try:

Buy bulk at wholesale clubs
Look twice at marked-down food and freeze right away
Start meal planning to eliminate waste
Coupon and compare weekly local grocery ads
Limit eating out to accommodate your budget
Have a grocery list and stick to it

While you may already be doing some of these things, try digging even deeper. Are there other ways to save? Maybe plant a garden or take advantage of free or low-cost meals at your church or community center. Every little bit helps.

Find the Best Deals Online

It’s time to make your monthly household goods order. You know, toilet paper, paper towels, and baby wipes. You always go through one of the bigger online merchants, because you’re dedicated. Now it’s time to think outside of the box. By downloading this app to your web browser, it will alert you if you can save more through another merchant. It’s handy and free! Because prices are on the rise globally, even shaving a few bucks off your order can be a real benefit.

Lower Credit Card Payments

When glancing at what comes out of your checking account each month, those numbers are a little scary. It seems like your credit card payments keep going up, and there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. To keep household expenses down, try lowering those payments. Don’t stop paying them of course! But resist the urge to transfer funds to other accounts that may have hidden fees and outrageous interest rates.

A site called AmOne offers affordable personal loans with a lot less hassle. The good news? It consolidates all of your card balances into one low, affordable payment. It’s easy to apply and they will handle all the technical stuff for you. Don’t worry, you don’t need to have spotless credit either.

Create Some Passive Income

We all want to make money while we sleep. It’s the dream, right? But, it isn’t that easy to achieve for most people, or is it? You can start small and bypass that big investment too. One site that delivers is Inbox Dollars. You may have already heard of them before, simply open their emails and get paid a few bucks. Well it’s changed a bit.

By completing small tasks and watching videos, you can earn up to $200 a month, paid via PayPal or Amazon. When you recruit others and they do the same, you can make a little passive income.

While implementing these changes into your day-to-day may seem miniscule, it can really add up. Shaving a few hundred off your food bill or finding a way to lower your bills by 10% leaves a lot of leftover funds in your bank account. There’s no getting around riding the wave of a turbulent economy. But finding ways to stay afloat can make things that much easier.

Here’s to Saving and Thriving Daily!