HERE’s A TIP +
I have been thinking about the stupidity of tipping. Many people complain (like about the weather) but no one does anything about it.
WHY A CASH TIP? When going to a restaurant I now carry CASH in my wallet for the tip. I have a wad of small bills in an envelope at home. Every month I go to the bank teller and trade $60 for ones and fives (mostly ones).
I refuse to put any tip on the credit card pad. Most restaurants give the bill at the table, but if they don’t I can still pay the bill and hand them cash for the tip.
There is a reason we have seen tip costs creep higher … the waiter/waitress doesn’t see all of our credit card tips. Most restaurants subtract credit card costs from what your server receives. The credit servicing company gets part of the tip. Who are you tipping, the server or the card servicing company?
HOW TO PREPARE. Years ago I would carry a pocket of change. So, if the tip came to $2.62 I would leave $2.65 (it was considered rude to leave any pennies). Now the prices of meals are so high that you could safely leave a $8.25 cash for one where you should leave a tip of $8.11. I just carry 3 quarters along with two fives and four ones. A bit of forethought makes it all possible.
I refuse to go to a restaurant that won’t take cash. Its legal tender in America. What are they going to do if you leave a cash tip? Kick you out?
A SECOND REASON. I am worried that America is moving toward a cashless society. It likely won’t happen because of government intrusion. One business owner recently reported that a new hire held up a dime and asked “What is this again?” The next generation is mostly clueless about cash. They don’t know how to use it. One asked, “Where do I sign this bill?” Some have only ever used credit cards (tap your phone and go). I may say here that I once sold something on contract and required check payments. The buyer had to Google how to write a check. So, we will move to a cashless society due to vast ignorance. Paying the tip in cash is one small effort to delay that expected end just a little.
TIPPING IS SENSELESS. If I hired a butler he would receive a WAGE. He would receive that wage no matter what he brought to my table, and no matter the number of time or trips he made. Let’s say I wanted a hot dog. He would receive $30 per hour of work. Or, let’s say I wanted a 7 course meal for myself and 5 of my closest friends. He would still receive $30 per hour of work.
However, at a restaurant, the amount of time, effort, or trips matters not at all. It is the cost of the meal (which, by the way, is entirely out of the control of the server). So, at the bar where I order a slice of pizza the server gets $1.10. While at a fancy restaurant where I order a steak the server gets $11.29? That is really weird!!! Both did the same amount of work, but one deserved more pay? I’d like to see an end to that. Why are some greedy* servers made wealthy while others are kept poor with minimum wage? Why don’t we give a tip based from when the meal is ordered until we pay? Then add a per person charge. $5 per hour, plus $2 per additional person? (* I use this term because political communists use it as an accepted way of referring to those who receive more than others for the same amount of work…I read the same political news you do.)
HOW IS IT WE ARE ASKED TO TIP NON-WORK? I serve myself coffee and a pastry, head to the check out and I’m asked to leave a tip. For whom? Myself? I did the running about, delivered the food to my table, and I threw trash away when I was finished. Sure, someone had to make coffee and stock the pastries, but who? I don’t feel the urgency to provide for people I’ve never met. They should tip me for doing their work. Its the same when confronted by an order kiosk … I’m doing someone else’s job, so I should be paid.
FAIRNESS. If some are tipped, then all should be. That’s fair. Your mailman. The HVAC repair person. The cashier. There would be no end, right! So, what makes a server’s job any different? Why are they paid $2.11 when national minimum wage is $7.50? If they were paid minimum then there wouldn’t be such a push to give 20, 25, 30%! They should be paid by their employer and we would be charged for their employment by a mandatory gratuity (7-10%) added to the price of every meal. Then, if we receive good service we can be thoughtful and the tip will be in our control, as it should be.
HOW CRAZY CAN IT GET? Aldi has ice cubes for sale in its “frozen fool” section. Four cubes of frozen water for $5. I do NOT care what my cubes look like as long as clean water was used. It reminds me of how idiotic I thought “bottled water” was when it became popular.
Here’s the secret: It takes multiple heavy-duty filters and specialty equipment to produce crystal clear ice. Yah! I’m still not impressed! My refrigerator makes as much ice at a cost (electricity and water) of less than $0.15. I’ll go with that.
Will your body will notice the difference? Like, does the Aldi ice have more micro-minerals or selenium? Your body needs selenium, but you can intake enough with ONE Brazil nut (cost per nut is $0.23). Answer: Aldi ice has zero calories, flavoring, sodium, minerals, and no selenium. You pay for water.
OK, let’s make this super clear: On the International Space Station they recycle human waste to make drinkable water and those folks have survived on that process for decades. I think we can do without $5 ice cubes for just as long. Not even worth the “show off” value.
Copyright 2026 Donald Whelpley
[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere.
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