|
Last year I hired a Greek woman who was desperate for some cash to clean my house. She had been a housecleaner in Greece and was canvassing at my daughter's school for work. We can't really afford it, but what the hell, I'm a sucker for a person willing to work hard so I gave up oil changes at the JiffyLube (I can do it myself) and a few other things and voila! I have a house cleaner twice/month.
I hire her to clean my house 2x/month at $60 a pop. She set the price, I didn't.
I tip her $10 cash each time. Also, I make the check for her services out to cash or give her cash since I'm not 100% sure of her residency status.
So today I give her a $20 cash tip in a Christmas card and a huge box of Greek chocolates that I found at a Greek grocery store in Chicago.
Every week that she works for me, I give her a large tupperware of soup for her family, or a ham, or a bagful of handlotions etc. I perceive this as real, direct action charity. Seriously. I have taken this family under my wing and filled out immigration papers, tutored their kids in English, treated the family to a day at the local ballet etc.
So my sister says I am cheap because the standard tip for a housecleaner is a day's wage.
WTF?
Who makes up these rules? Where are they posted? I am so frustrated!!!!
Help!
I recently began seeing a friend who opened her own hair salon. I have always just cut my own hair in front of the mirror at home but began to patronize this woman's salon as a friendly gesture. I was going to bring her a gift basket for her salon with coffees, chocolates, and teas for her coffee cart. Now I am perplexed.
Are there really rules out there and am I a cheapskate??????
Help before I make another (apparently HUGE!!111!!) mistake.
|