How Much Should I Tip the Paperboy at Christmas?

You may have never even seen your paper boy.

You may have never met your paper boy

Tips are a thank-you for a job well done, but it may feel strange tipping your paper boy at Christmas when you have most likely never even met him. In fact, in may feel like your newspaper just appears every morning--it is easy to disassociate the delivery from an actual person, since you may never interact with him.

The paper boy performs a regular service

Whether you get your paper delivered to your home daily or weekly, your paperboy performs you a regular, daily service. While you are not required to tip him every week, it is a thoughtful gesture to leave him a tip at Christmas.

Bottom Line

Etiquette guru Emily Post recommends a tip of $10 $30 or a small gift, "accompanied by a short, handwritten note of appreciation." When in doubt, it is entirely appropriate to call the newspaper's customer service department and ask what is a standard gratuity at the holidays.

References

• Emily Post: Holiday Tipping Is Really Holiday Thanking