XMas Tipping for a Building Manager

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

So, in the past year I've had 3 rather "serious" requests of my building manager (including one plumbing issue where I attempted to fix it on my own but only made it worse and he never made a peep about it). In each case he responded the same day I called. He even never answers the phone and always lets his machine field the calls (which my social anxiety when asking for help appreciates). So, for the first time in my life I really want to give my building manager a card with a holiday card+tip. The max I can handle is $50, but I'd prefer $25. So my question is just this: is $25 kind of cheap? I could include a note mentioning that I'm in grad school and $$ is somewhat tight, but the truth is I make a comfortable living, am going to carry a small manageable cc debt into June anyhow when I'm done with school and should get a hefty raise....

So, just asking for general thoughts.

cheers,
~M

Comments

[heliograph.livejournal.com]

You're making a gesture. The amount isn't really critical. If you give him a $25 gift, he's going to think "Hey, this person appreciates me!" not "Cheap ass college student! They should have given me $100!"

If I were writing the note, I'd say I appreciated his help, but I wouldn't mention how I wish I could give him more money because I'm poor.

[kpht.livejournal.com]

I think that $25 is perfectly fine for someone who doesn't normally expect a tip. Hell, I don't spend $50 on my siblings.

[thespian.livejournal.com]

I had always been taught that 5% of one month's rent was the standard for tipping, with $25 being the minimum no matter how low it went.. So if you're paying $1k a month, $50. $500 or less would be $25, $1500 should be $75, etc.

[marphod.livejournal.com]

Seems perfectly in line with me, too.

If you're worried about seeming cheap, you could always change fr4om a gift card to home-made baked goods (cookies, breads, whatever). Which is, in the end, cheaper, but generally seems cooler and implies that you cared enough to put in some personal time and effort

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I think $25 is fine, but if there is a concern over being cheap, *add on* the baked goods, don't sub with them.

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

Yup. That was also going to be my suggestion. The $25 plus an add-on like baked goods, or basket-of-fruit, or some such thing.

[mizufae.livejournal.com]

Chiming in with the crowd- $25 is just fine. If you know him a little better and can tell if he'd appreciate it (and doesnt have allergies) I'd bake him some cookies in addition. Inexpensive, but homemade cookies take time and really show that you want to repay kindnesses in a tangible way. Even if you are the worst cook in the world, a batch of chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies are very simple and hard to completely mess up.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

*nod*

$25 and cookies will make anyone happy. :)

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

Make sure you pay off your cards as soon as you graduate!

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

heh thanks for the tip, the monthly amount I currently put into school is enough to pay off the cards in 3-4 months, so I'm not too worried :)

[winterhill.livejournal.com]

One year I gave the building super a card and a small wooden crate of clementines. It cost $5.99 and he was totally touched and appreciative. It's the thought that counts.