Is it embarrassing not to tip??

amother

OP ↓

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 10:59 am

I always tipped and lately I just don't want to.
It's not just the $ amount per counselor, madrich, bus driver, bus teacher, etc. Even if I'm not too generous it still adds up to a few hundred per tipping season. And this is after paying for daycamp.

First half I didn't tip but now I'm feeling uncomfortable.
My dd also yelled at me that she's embarrassed not to tip her counselors.
So I guess I just gotta shell out a few hundred dollars now when I have a ton of expenses right now.

So my question is-is it embarrassing not to tip?

amother

Sunflower ↓

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 11:02 am

Not where I live in Lakewood. My daughter was a counselor. 1/3 tipped. And half of it was $5 or $5 gift cards and she was fine.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 11:04 am

I remember I was an assistant years ago in a daycamp for preschoolers. One mother gave me a tip. I think it was $5 or $10.

So why am I so uncomfortable not tipping??

amother

Beige ↓

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 11:04 am

I do not tip. I can not afford to tip. I am drowning in crazy day camp bills and sleepaway camp bills. My credit card is max out because of the cost of summer camp. We are struggling to pay these crazy prices. There is no way I can afford hundreds more now in tips.

amother

Mocha ↓

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 11:04 am

How many people are you tipping?

You can tip a small amount and write a thank you note. Put it in a sealed envelope and it's no longer your daughter's business.

Tips are appreciated, but most of the people receiving them do understand what it means to be financially limited. (Same reason it's good to tip generously if you can afford it.)

amother

↑ Beige

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 11:05 am

They charge us outrages prices. I have no money left for my own expenses. My kids all still need uniform, school shoes, school supplies... I can not afford to tip.

amother

↑ OP

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 11:09 am

amother Mocha wrote:

I rather not tip than tip small amounts. I'm embarrassed.

amother

Salmon

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 11:13 am

amother OP wrote:

My daughter was a counsler in a Lakewood daycamp first half. Most of her bunk did not tip. She got 50$ total. Few of the kids gave her chocolate, ice coffee... I really dont think you need to tip.

amother

Linen

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 11:14 am

amother OP wrote:

I rather not tip than tip small amounts. I'm embarrassed.

Thats silly, the counselors are excited to get anything. Put in sealed envelope to your child won't know and won't get treated differently since its the last day.
My dd day camp sent out note saying tips aren't necessary and a thank you note will suffice Heart

amother

Cantaloupe

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 11:17 am

amother Linen wrote:

That’s nice. My dd’s main morah (backyard daycamp, married counselor who made it) sent out messages first and second half to make sure to give the counselors something… so felt stupid not giving. Didn’t want to tip her bc I paid so much and didn’t feel like she liked my child, most days she ignored us when I dropped off and picked up. Ended up giving her a small tip bc I felt obligated.

amother

Indigo

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 11:24 am

I tip and it’s important to me since I remember how exciting it was to get them but as a counselor dd did not pay attention to who didn’t tip. It wasn’t a topic of conversation, she didn’t sit there figuring out how many people didn’t tip she just counted her money and treats read the notes and was excited for me to deposit it for her.

amother

Jasmine

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 11:33 am

I agree tips are outrageous today, it should have cost me like 300$ but I told my kids that I only have this amount of $ and u can tip the adults who made ur summer fun
They tipped like 3 people each

amother

↑ Sunflower

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 11:34 am

amother OP wrote:

I rather not tip than tip small amounts. I'm embarrassed.

$5 adds up fast. It’s not embarrassing and really appreciated.

Molly Weasley ↓

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 11:42 am

Times are tough
But the tween or young teen watching your kids aren't getting paid much.

If nothing else, how about a ty letter and some homemade cookies?

amother

Waterlily ↓

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 11:46 am

amother Sunflower wrote:

Not where I live in Lakewood. My daughter was a counselor. 1/3 tipped. And half of it was $5 or $5 gift cards and she was fine.

Good to know. I cannot afford to tip a single counselor this year and I feel terrible...wish I could

amother

↑ Waterlily ↓

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 11:47 am

Molly Weasley wrote:

Times are tough
But the tween or young teen watching your kids aren't getting paid much.

If nothing else, how about a ty letter and some homemade cookies?

Yes, but that's the fault of the adult who hired her, not yours.

↑ Molly Weasley ↓

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 11:54 am

amother Wallflower wrote:

Yes, but that's the fault of the adult who hired her, not yours.

You can’t change the world.
As a parent it’s up to you to show appreciation for the people who worked with your daughter. The fact that the camp is shrinking from their obligations doesn’t diminish yours.

amother

Mistyrose ↓

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 11:58 am

I send my kids (young) to backyard camps for 8 weeks. It’s a little frustrating to me that the most of the counselors only stay for one half so I end up needing to tip twice even though it’s the same camp. And one of the camps has soooo many counselors which is great but adds up. I did $5 tips 🤷‍♀️

Now my kids are in “after camps” for 2 weeks. I hope it’s not expected to tip then too…

amother

Jetblack ↓

Thu, Aug 22 2024, 12:07 pm

Am I the only one that takes no pressure for such things?

I only tip my kids Morah and Rebbe once a year. But to tip someone who is only being involved for such a short time? Makes no sense.