Personal opinion: if you can’t afford a full service dining experience and won’t tip your waiter/waitress then stay tf home or get fast food. It’s insane to me how demanding customers are and how much service they want and then don’t even tip. The service industry gets paid $7.50/hr to try and ensure your meal is pleasant and basically be your b*tch. If you don’t want to pay the extra 18% for the service then DON’T come.

yesss. especially since waitresses get paid like $2 an hour here

🙌🏽

Agreed! I think here waiters/waitresses mostly make minimum wage AND have to claim a set percentage in tips on their taxes whether they make that money or not. So if you tip nothing, they still have to pay tax on money they aren’t getting- meaning they are likely making less than minimum wage for serving you.

My boss used to take our tips in the restaurant I worked in. We used to have to sneak them but if he was around he’d make sure he got them. He was horrid tho and he ended up telling me I had to leave because he had hired too many people - me being the latest. Like get ur sh•t together wtf

This is very culturally dependent. In the UK, tipping isn’t as big a deal - but restaurant employees here are paid near enough a living wage. I do like tipping, but wouldn’t ever consider it rude not to

It depends on the culture, in some countries it is rude to do so. But if it’s culturally appropriate, you should always tip. @jess1010 then order at a fast food restaurant

I think tipping should be optional and your wages need to be raised in the United States. Where I'm from, although such a concept doesn't really exist, you don't tip unless you've had extraordinary service. I think it's messed up and classist to say "if yOu cAnt TiP dOnT eAT oUt." People who don't make that much money should also be allowed to enjoy a nice meal at a nice place once in a while. The only reason why y'all think like this is because your service sector is paid like shite and the expectation is always on the costumer to pay as much as possible.

I agree with @jess1010. Just because you can’t afford to tip the whole 20% then you shouldn’t not be allowed to eat out. A smaller tip is better than nothing at all. I’m also from the UK and rarely tip unless I’m out in a posh city restaurant as it’s not the norm here.

Tipping isn't really a thing here in the UK, so it's not something I do or would really even think to do unless I was somewhere super fancy.

@UncrushableP so because I can’t afford 20% tip all the time I can only eat fast food if I go out? if I can afford to/ have change I will tip. But if I can’t afford to, I’m still going to eat out if I can afford the meal. But I never expect a waiter or waitress to go above or beyond like I said, I expect the bare minimum. Also I live in the UK where tipping isn’t as big of a deal. But I still think it’s really excluding to tell people who might of saved up for a special occasion meal, or a one off, or even who just want to eat out that they shouldn’t if they can’t afford 20% on top. Be considerate of other people’s financial situations. All I’m saying. And I hope that America and other countries start paying their service workers more.

This is not about being “culturally appropriate.” If you live in the US not tipping means your server is not being paid, period. It’s exploitative and basically stealing not to tip. THAT is what’s classist here. A tip needs to be factored into the expected cost of your meal and if you can’t afford that you can’t afford the meal. If you live in a country where your servers are actually paid a legal minimum wage then it’s different.

In the US servers are paid as low as $3 an hour and are expected to make up the difference between that and minimum wage. And sometimes they’re expected to “tip out” the table bussers and/or kitchen (meaning they give them a set percent of the bill as a tip— which is supposed to come from their tip. If they don’t get tipped they may still have to tip out meaning they have PAID to serve YOU). If you live somewhere like that and you don’t tip you are taking advantage of servers and expecting them to subsidize your dining experience. It’s wrong. If you live somewhere where servers aren’t paid a normal minimum wage and you can’t afford to tip then you can’t afford to go to that restaurant. Flat out. That’s all there is to it. Do I agree that servers should be paid a living wage for their work and tips should be an extra bonus for great service? Absolutely. But not tipping because you believe that is still penalizing servers who have bills to pay and rely on tips. Some people seem to think “if we stop tipping it’ll force restaurants to pay servers minimum wage” when in fact, it will not. The restaurant doesn’t give a shit whether their server gets tipped or not because they are still able to save thousands of dollars a year by paying them a below-minimum wage, not tipping the server doesn’t penalize the restaurant, it hurts the server. If you’re really against tipping servers because you (rightfully) think it forces consumers to subsidize business owners and preys on servers, then advocate for that. Vote for candidates that support a living wage for everyone. Vote for candidates that are against “server exemptions” to the minimum wage. But in the meantime, continue tipping servers. Because they are the only ones hurt when you don’t tip. Not the restaurant. Not corporate America. Not lobbyists. Working class service workers are the ones penalized.

“Be considerate of other people’s financial situations” yes like maybe the financial situation of the people serving you

@jess1010 living in the U.K. that is completely different. Your servers are paid a regular minimum wage. In the US where that is not the case, not tipping servers is taking advantage of them. If you can account for sales tax on things you buy then you should also be able to expect to pay a tip. Exploiting service workers isn’t okay. 🤷🏼‍♀️

@aurielle by culturally appropriate, I mean tip where tipping is required (servers don’t make much). I know some asian countries would be offended if you tipped. @jess1010 you can afford to eat out, you can afford the tip. You’re paying for meal therefore you need to pay for service. This is someone’s wage. Obviously UK is different than the US/Canada so tip accordingly

If you can’t afford to tip then you can’t afford to eat out. Plain and simple. If you want a nice meal then cook yourself one at home. Also, this post is very obviously aimed towards people who live in the US or other countries where tipping is the norm and expected.

You need to count the cost of the tip into your budget for eating out then. If you can’t afford to tip then don’t eat out.

@jess1010 then go to eat at a cheaper place where you CAN afford to tip. You can still have a nice lunch/dinner at a more affordable restaurant where you can also tip. You should factor in tips because that’s how waitresses/waiters make their money. Without tip we seriously take NOTHING home. Like I said, $7.50 an hour. While we bust our a*s running around and trying to ensure every customer has a great experience. You may not be a demanding customer but I’ve had customers who make me go back and forth to their table, over dumb sh*t and still don’t tip me. I’m running around like a mad person for f*cking $7 and 50 cents. The entire reason why we’re being paid such a low rate is because customers are expected to tip. At the very least 15%. And if you can afford an $100+ meal than you should be able to afford the 15-20%. And not to mention if you dine out and spend $20-$30, 18% is seriously only $5. You’re telling me you can’t afford an extra $5? SO many times customers will say to me “exceptional service thank you so much” and when I collect the bill, there’s not a dime. On a demanding table with a high bill. I sometimes spend 2 hours at a table running around making sure they have everything they need. And then I’m told “I’m awesome” or gave them “a great service” but apparently my exceptional service isn’t worth a tip off. It’s ridiculous. And I’ll get upset and my manager will say “it’s a verbal tip” and my response is no, f*ck that because $7.50 does not f*cking pay my bills. A verbal tip will not pay for my gas to go to work or my rent. So if you can’t tip please just stay home. I’d rather you not come at all and waste my time and money. It’s not fair for me to bust my as* for you and for you to not even pay me for my hard work and “exceptional” service. Ofc there have been cases where I’m so tied up that I don’t even give a table the service and experience they deserve. And if a table I didn’t give good service to doesn’t tip me than I’m not in the least bit mad. I know that I didn’t deserve a tip at that table because the service just wasn’t there. But if I give you an “exceptional” dining experience and you don’t tip me, screw you.

Yup, there’s that too. I split my tip with the bar, busser, the sushi chef and hibachi chef. I give 50% of my hibachi table tips to the hibachi chef, 50%!!!! And 50% of my tips to anyone who sits at the sushi bar. And on top of that, I also have to tip out the busser and the bartender. So at $7.50 an hour, you tell me how much I actually take home. I have literally left a full day of work with only $35 dollars before. At $7.50 an hour, for 8 hrs that’s $60. After tax (my tips are also taxed) you tell me how much I took home. Definitely not enough to pay any bills. I’m speaking based off of US rates and how it works here. I’m sorry but if you live in the US please tip your waitstaff or stay home.

@bellalasoares I get that you have your opinion about this and that’s fine and I respect that, but for some people $5 is a lot so it seems unfair to say “seriously only $5. You’re telling me you can’t afford an extra $5?” I’ve worked in food service. Yeah it sucks and customers treat you horribly and then you make very little money in return. Employers often break labor laws or there aren’t enough laws in place to ensure livable pay at those jobs. It’s extremely frustrating and disheartening and you feel like you’re just stuck financially and emotionally drained. I still wouldn’t want to force people to stay home if they can’t afford tips. I think it’s fine to say people should do their best to eat at a cheaper place where they can afford the tips, but I’m not going to say “Stay home!” Let’s be honest, most people are probably struggling financially (customers and servers). So I think that “being considerate of others people’s financial situation” goes both ways. If you’re a customer, do your best to tip or try to eat at cheaper places. If you’re a server, you have every right to be annoyed but you should respect that some people are struggling (like you are) and might give a smaller tip. I just really don’t agree with saying “stay home.” It seems like a very blunt and rude way to express that people should do their best to tip more.

@Kazoo I mean it’s blunt but it’s the truth. Truthfully, why would someone who can’t afford an extra $5 go out to eat at all? People don’t tip because they believe that the person who is serving them is doing their job so why should they pay extra for that. Someone above even said that themselves. Saying they can’t afford to tip is a cop out. If they truly can’t afford an extra $5 then they can’t afford to be going out so they should stay home. Plain and simple.

I live in the US and there for I always tip. Even the suckiest of waitress/waiter gets 15%, obviously the better service I get the higher in percentage I go. Back when I was broke my husband and I would rarely go out, there was even times at the beginning where all we would do would be fast food because that’s all we could afford.

This is coming from someone who always tips but how come servers don’t have this same energy towards their employers?? Yea servers have bad days but they also have great days. Most servers still serve because at the end of the week they make more than a minimum wage job. I cant have a job were my check depends on tips, I rather have a job were i make less but is consistent. I understand the server struggle but also don’t tell me how to spend my money.

One more reason to add to my list of why the United States shouldn't be consider as advanced and great as they claim to be.

@gcc1205 Wouldn’t it be a privilege for everyone to get a job that’s more consistent? Not everyone is that lucky. Some people only have this job. You want their services but don’t wanna pay for them? Please.

I was a server and I was working to support my family basically on my own. It was so difficult for me to find another job. Not everything is so simple and easy. Some of y’all straight up lack empathy and it shows.

I agree, if you can’t pay the tip (in the US) you shouldn’t be dining at that restaurant. Obviously in other countries it’s different, but generally the cost of the meal will be higher bc the tip is already factored in. In the US, thinking about it just as part of the meal is the way to go.

yikes i could never be friends with you people who don’t tip in the US, that’s embarrassing. Once my boyfriend and i went on a double date with a couple who tipped less that 5% on a $50+ bill, and my boyfriend and I saw so we made the rest up in our tip. If you can afford to go out, you can afford to give the server a reasonable tip. Get your food to go if you don’t want to tip as much or feel like you can’t afford it (even though you can somehow afford that food??) or just don’t go out

I never realized how important tipping was till my ex started working at a restaurant. After that every time we went to eat we would tip. And he would always leave a bigger tip than I would have. Like for example he would sometimes leave a $10 tip for a $15 meal. But this is because he personally knew what it was like to work in the industry, and knew that sometimes it was hard so he would always try to tip a little extra if he could. Now again, before he started working there I never knew how important tipping could be. Now I know. I think a lot of Americans just don’t know. They’re oblivious to the fact of how little servers get paid. Hell I had no idea. Not that I wouldn’t tip necessarily but I had no idea that someone could be getting paid $3 an hour. That’s insane. I can understand getting frustrated when people don’t tip on a $50+ bill. That’s just rude, but some people just don’t know how important tipping is.

@Kazoo would you go to a store where you can’t afford the merchandise but expect to get a bag or a dress anyway?

Lol @aurielle I understand you have your opinion. I pay for my food when I eat and I tip (don’t worry). I expect to receive the food that I pay for at a restaurant. Your store analogy doesn’t make sense here because the actual dresses cost a certain price which they are labeled with. When I buy a dress at a store, I don’t tip the cashier. I’m not using this as reasoning to not tip at restaurants; I’m just explaining why the analogy doesn’t make sense. I definitely think people should tip but I’m not going to freak out and call them out if they don’t. They’re not dining-and-dashing. That’s different

In my experience people who can more than afford to tip are the ones who don’t. Everyone I know who can barely make rent tips so well, but their parents who have good paying jobs are stingy af

Depends on where ur dining and what staff get paid as others have mentioned UK - no I wouldn’t too - why? Them servers are getting paid the same wage as those who work in retail who can’t take tips - minimum wage is everything - proper sh”t you guys don’t have it in some places tho

@Kazoo okay so would you shop at a store where you could afford the item but not the tax?

You can’t spend $50 on a nice meal in a nice restaurant and then say you can’t afford an extra $8 for a basic tip. In that case order less or go somewhere cheaper, or there’s fast food places like Panera that are a bit nicer but there’s not the expectation of a tip. Otherwise if you’re eating out in the US it’s a slap in the face to not tip your server. It’s a dumb system, I agree, but you certainly are not taking a stand by stiffing your waiter who is just trying to do their job and make ends meet.

@schwa Yes, that has generally been my experience too.

@ssueno_ A{cSIB5QxKy} I love your picture. Ponyo was my daughter’s favorite movie from like 3-6 yrs old. 😊

@schwa omg yesss! At the restaurant I worked out, there were these “regulars” who basically owned their own businesses. The tips they left every waitress would be $1-$2.... AND they’re rude af and make fun of your mistakes, etc!!! The ones that are basically 30 and younger are the ones who leave exceptional tips!! It’s so annoying!! Especially since where I’m from, we make $2.15 an hour....

I always tip even if the service was terrible

I think businesses shouldn’t employ people if they can’t pay the legal minimum wage. And the government should have a law that means ALL workers (regardless of the industry) is paid minimum wage.

Yikes I hope those of you who have a problem with tipping never find yourselves being a server trying to make ends meet. Maybe then your “opinions” will change.

I think it just depends on where you live Here they get proper wages and you aren’t really expected to tip more than 5% I also wouldn’t straight up say If you can’t afford to tip, then you can’t afford to go out That’s just not right, I think it’s important to do some research if you are traveling to another country where waiters only survive on tips Which is why everyone should tip if they live in the US, or in other places where that’s the case Also @aurielle, here, and in most places for example The prices include taxing So you would never find yourself in a situation where you had only 5 dollars to pay for something and then with the added tax, the price gets to 6 It’s only a matter of, knowing how much it cost and being able to afford it or not Just pointing that out But yeah, everyone should tip At least a little bit I always do whenever i eat out, even if the service wasn’t that great

I think opinions change depending where you live. I personally find it silly how the government messing up suddenly makes it the customers responsibility you’re not getting paid enough. I only really eat out every so often like when I kinda have to from other people, and as a broke student I think it’s unfair to expect me to make up for the government paying badly, fair enough if someone has a lot of money and doesn’t tip. In the uk it’s more that you tip of you get good service or have a big table which I think is how it should be x

I don't understand where there is the assumption that people need to spend a lot of money on food alone when they go out. A nice meal for some people can cost €15-20 (or $ if it makes more sense) and that can already be pushing how much they can afford. It's not wrong to want to go out and have something besides fast food as a treat. Of course, if someone is in a country which makes tips obligatory then they should give them when they go out, but I find it absurd to demonize someone if they don't give "enough."

Okay, I obviously didn’t know how extreme the low wage was in the US and other countries so I apologise if I offended everyone. I was just talking personal experience of me going out to eat in the UK. In which tipping isn’t necessary for the server to make a living wage. Again, apologies if I sounded ignorant or offended anyone. I hope the US sorts out their laws and minimum wage

Yeah it’s pretty disheartening seeing people say they’ll tip whatever they want or can. I worked as a server at numerous places and all of my siblings did as primary income or still do. All you have to do is pay the 20%. It’s that simple. And it is what is deserved of the server. Anything less and you are cutting them, truly, because their wage is not there. 20% gets them fair pay. Sometimes when I look at my bill (I love to eat out but I DO budget and only go when I can afford to!!!) and I have to tip I think... okay so 20% is $10, part of my brain thinks I wish I could just leave $5 or $8... but am I really going to notice that $5 being gone from my back account? No. And if it really feels painful, then don’t buy a coffee at Starbucks next time people. This is not that complicated, and that’s what budgeting is. It’s really just stingy if you don’t tip.

Where I work we arent allowed to accept tips. But ,as I work in the uk, I get paid £6.79 an hr (over £2 more than minimum wage for my age) and my coworkers over 18 get £8.20 which is also above minimum wage so no-one at my work minds. Also I work in a motoway service station so it isnt really the environment to tip.