Tipping, Oh Tipping

I go into a virtual panic when it comes to tipping. I'm pretty secure on what to tip the waitstaff; I paid my dues as a waitress and I know when I'm getting good service and when I'm not. I can usually tell when my waiter is doing poorly because of bad management (too many tables, covering for someone who isn't being responsive) and when they really aren't focused on the job.

But tipping the taxi or shuttle driver? My hairdresser? The maid at the hotel? I get flummoxed trying to decide what's cheap and what's over the top. Especially when I do tip and come back to my made-up hotel room to find my tip still there.

So I happily anticipated Bankrate.com's A cheat sheet on tipping do's and don'ts. And it was helpful. And overwhelming. There is enough information here to require me to carry a cheat sheet at all times.

Here is my guide: When someone in the service industry goes out of their way to help you out, tip what you can and think is appropriate. I try to keep in mind that most in the service industry are not pulling big salaries; most are trying to pay the bills and might dream of sending a child to college. If they are doing good work, a moderate tip is appropriate. If they are doing great work, well, be prepared to tip accordingly.

Making sure you have the right change is a whole other problem.