Hip2Save This Holiday: Thoughtful “Tip Gift”

Hip2Save may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you via trusted partners and affiliate links in this post. Prices and availability are accurate as of time posted. Read our full disclosure policy here.


Hip2Save This Holiday Guest Post submitted by reader, Cheryl:

We are probably a family that is more needy than usual when we eat out. Our servers typically have to come back more than once because of water spilling or having to give us extra forks (which were dropped twice or thrice) before our food has come out. We definitely have extra requests during our dinners out because we have toddlers.

This Christmas, we wanted to do something extra for those extra moments the restaurant staff gave us. We have gotten numerous Target Gift Cards from the deals we have scored, thanks to deals you have posted. Since most of the deals we scored were awesome already, we decided to pool these gift cards and create little “tip gift” which we give the servers when we eat out!

As soon as we get the bill, we place the little “tip gift” inside the bill folder (on top of the typical tip we give them of course!) with a note of thank you, and we watch how our servers (who are often more exhausted than usual during a busy day!) light up seeing a little something for them when they come to clear our tables. It is so simple and yet we walk away feeling more blessed having had a chance to say thank you to the wait staff who make families have mealtime relief!


For more information on the Hip2Save This Holiday series and to learn how you can participate in the fun, click here!

Join The Discussion

Comments 38

  1. Kari H.

    That’s a great idea!

  2. Jessie

    This is a wonderful idea! You are so generous! Having worked as a server before myself, and my husband currently having to work as one because he can’t find a better job right now, I know that this would be much appreciated by most servers! It makes up for all the rude people who either don’t tip at all or tip way less than 15 percent.

    • Dana Wessel Edwards

      I had a roommate in college who’s philosophy was “I’m a college student, I can’t afford to tip when I eat out.” To this I said “Then you can’t afford to eat out.” I never was a regular restaurant server (I was a server in a retirement home where I made more than minimum wage and they didn’t tip us) but I know how much they depend on those tips

      • Jesse

        I’m right there with you Dana. If you can’t afford to tip, you can’t afford to eat out.

      • Maria

        I agree.

  3. Stephanie

    That is very generous and considerate of you. This is a great idea!

  4. Priya

    This is so thoughtful! I love it!

  5. Jennifer B.

    This is such a neat idea. I love it! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  6. Sandybebe

    I am a server and when I saw this post, brought a smile to my face. I wish I was your server, I love Target and this is an awesome idea!!

  7. Meg

    Love this idea. It inspires me to do something similar for my UPS man. Between my love of the online deals and my husbands medications I feel like he’s here everyday.

    • Jammie Hermans

      This is a great idea! I feel like the UPS guys is always here and he’s so good to my kids and makes sure that they take turns getting to bring the package in. 🙂

      • Jesse

        I got my USPS mail carrier a $15 iTunes GC. He’s the nicest man and puts up with my aunt’s dog barking like crazy at him (from safely inside).

    • Katie R.

      this made me laugh a little…. it reminded me of when my mother who lives with us when on vacation for a month a few years back… The UPS man thought she died because he hadn’t delivered a QVC box in over a week 🙂

      • 1ferfun

        that is so funny, I too have a QVC addiction~

      • Danielle

        hahahahahahaha. I needed that laugh.

    • Lindsay

      WOW That’s a great idea! I think I’m going to do this for the UPS and FedEx man, I feel like they are always delivering me packages! more than a couple times a week, especially at this time of year, i’m sure they’ll be tickled!

    • Sarah

      Baha, this made me giggle a little. At Thanksgiving, I was saying I felt bad for my UPS guy because I had just ordered a bunch of stuff in many different orders from Amazon. My mom then went on to tell me a story about some lady who fell in love with her UPS guy and ordered stuff online just so he would have to deliver it to her. I think she said they ended up getting married. I don’t know if that’s a true story or not, but I could definitely imagine it happening!

      • Dee

        LOL. My UPS guy literally THROWS my packages because he hears my dog bark (7 lbs. of Min-Pin, Mini Hot Dog mixed, but sounds HUGE) bark and I have a Doberman sign saying “Beware of Dog.” So I guess I don’t blame him for throwing and running but he won’t be getting anything extra, that’s for sure! 🙂

  8. Brittany

    Wow. Awesome idea. I’m going to do this.

  9. Brooke

    Thank you for sharing such a wonderful idea & gift! I am a server and it’s true, not everyone does, can, or is willing to leave a decent tip! This is so very thoughtful that you do this and I am SO sure anyone who serves your family genuinely appreciates it!!!

  10. Christina

    I leave my mailman an garbage man wrapped packages of Girl Scout cookies. I usually put a cute note on them about an extra sweet treat to keep their energy up during this busy season. We try during this season to remember the people who make our lives easier.

    • MJ

      That’s adorable! You’re so sweet.

      I leave “my guys” (I can say that since they are in fact men on my route) mugs with cocoa mix, marshamallows, and a “hug” (hershey) on top with a note explaining how much I appreciate them.

      Last year I ordered something extra special for my son that I had been watching the UPS tracker for. When I saw it was delivered I couldn’t wait to get home. After arriving I didn’t find it. I was devastated. Then I let the dog out the back sliding doors and saw that my UPS guy put it on my deck!!! He had to go through two of our gates to get back there but he must have known this size of a box would tempt people.

      I was so thankful that I called UPS and asked for the branch in my area. I told them the story and they took note. He received accolades for his efforts. Well deserved!

      • Jesse

        That is awesome! giving kudos when due to a manager/supervisor etc. is so appreciated by others. I did this last week for my cashier at my local grocery store- I made sure to let his manager know how great he was.

    • Samantha

      Question: I LOVE this idea,but how do you leave something for your garbage peoples? Mine is in the alley, and I just don’t trust that they would see it! My pick up time is 5:30am, so it’s unlikely that I’ll see them to give it to them!

      • Willa

        Our trash use to be picked up in the alley also. We got a small, inexpensive cooler and taped a large note on the top that said————take the contents, not the cooler. Then we put the items inside with a note they saw easily. But we didn’t just do this at Christmas. During the summer, we left bottles of cold water, soda, etc and during the really cold (zero and below many times)weather either cocoa mix packets and mugs or paper cups or gift certificates for McDonald’s, White Castle, etc so they could stop and get warmed up. Our neighbor would put items in a bag and tie the bag on the fence for the trash collectors. He had to make it really well.

        • sarah

          Yup, I’m totally leaving something for the garbage people. In my opinion, they, of all who serve me, deserve it!

  11. Nicole Z.

    Good for you! That is super sweet!

  12. Marlena

    OFF TOPIC:
    I have $20 Shuterfy gift code if anyone wants to swap for any other $10 gift card/ code.
    email me at marlenka1988@ymail(dot)com

  13. toni

    i love it! i am a server and this time of the year many ppl go out to eat but tip less cause they have to buy for x-mas. any bit helps paid the bills!!! thank you!

  14. Jesse

    I love this idea, and I love that it is on top of the regular tip. I may have to use this idea myself! Thanks for sharing.

  15. michellebelles

    Love this. I just scored a $5 Target GC today and also have been wondering how to thank my mail carrier. Thanks to you, I now know what to do! 🙂

  16. Angela

    As a server/bartender, I want to thank you collin for this post!

  17. Crzycpnldy

    This is a great idea! As a former server, I know how stressful the job is and how unappreciated so many people can make you feel at the end of the day. I’m sure this will brighten many server’s days. I love how positive your blog is, Collin. It’s nice to see people care about one another and help each other, especially when all the news just seems to be so negative these days. This is why your blog is my favorite 🙂

  18. Sherrie

    I am a server! You would make my day! Thank you for the thought!

  19. Steph

    That is what I have been doing with my $5 and $10 giftcards I’ve been getting from Target. I put them with ziploc containers filled with M & M’s I’ve been getting real cheap from the CVS sales.

  20. Candy

    It is nice to know that some people actually thinking about the service their server gives them and not just putting down the obligatory dollar tip. The world needs more people like Collin:)

  21. Erin D.

    I read a local story in our local magazine that said the high school counselor gets requests all the time from students who can’t afford school supplies. He usually hands them a few bucks from his own pocket. That reminded me of this post. These $5 Target gift cards would be great for him to hand out to the kids. We should all consider collecting them to donate to our schools for kids to use on school supplies that they can pick out themselves and get what they need.

  22. Blanca

    Cheryl, thank you for sharing your idea, it is fabulous! Also, Willa (10.2.1) thank you for sharing. As I read this I can hear the garbage trucks getting close to my house. I live in S. FL and the cooler idea is great, we get some crazy hot and humid days! We actully have two trucks come by, garbage and recycling as well as FedEx, UPS and MailPerson. I think they will really appreciate this simple gesture 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

It's not your Grandma's coupon site!

Sign up for a Hip2Save account (it's free) to access all of the awesome features!

Forgot Password?

Don't have an account? Register

Forgot Password

Don't have an account? Register

Become a Hip2Save Insider

Don't Miss Out! Join our large community of insiders - it's totally free! Once you join, you'll be able to save & share your favorite deals, rate posts and recipes and add items to your HipList and Cookbook! What are ya waiting for?!



Already have an account? Login

Thank you for rating!

Would you also like to leave us a comment?