ANCHOR LEAD IN:
'TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY...AND THAT MEANS SPREADING THE WEALTH AROUND TO SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES. BUT WHO GETS WHAT? IN TODAY'S HEADS UP, THE ETIQUETTE OF HOLIDAY TIPPING.

TRACK ONE Length: :06
YOUR HAIRDRESSER, MAILMAN, TRASH COLLECTOR...AT THIS TIME OF YEAR -- TO TIP, OR NOT TO TIP, THAT IS THE QUESTION...

MOS
Length: :02
"I don't think anyone should be overlooked."

TRACK TWO Length: :04
WE ALL WANT TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION TO THOSE WHO HELP US, BUT...

SOT
Key @ : :13 Name: Peter Post, Author and Director of Emily Post Institute
"We have a lot more people providing service to us perhaps now than we used to."

TRACK THREE Length:14
YEARS AGO, WE TIPPED OUR MAILMAN AND BARBER AND LEFT IT AT THAT. NOW, THERE ARE DOGWALKERS AND PERSONAL TRAINERS TO BE REMEMBERED. IN SOME COMMUNITIES, IT'S NOT JUST THE GARBAGE MEN BUT THE RECYLCING CREWS THAT GET TIPPED, TOO...THE LIST IS LONG AND EXPERTS SAY, NOT EVERYONE IS EQUALLY DESERVING.

SOT
Key @ : :35 Name Peter Post, Author and Director of Emily Post Institute
"If someone has been providing you a service of some kind over the year, that's a person you might want to think about tipping."

TRACK FOUR Length: :17
HOW MUCH TO TIP VARIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, BUT POST SAYS TEN TO FIFTEEN PERCENT OF THE COST OF THE SERVICE IS FINE. THAT MEANS A NEWSPAPER PERSON WOULD GET TEN TO FIFTEEN DOLLARS, AND A HAIRDRESSER ABOUT 25. FOR ANYONE WHO GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND, YOU CAN TIP THE COST OF ONE FULL 'SERVICE'.

MOS
Length: :04
"I don't make that much money, but you know you try to give as much as you know, you think is right."

TRACK FIVE Length: :09
AND IF THE SERVICE IS FREE, SUCH AS A MAILMAN OR TEACHER, CHANCES ARE THERE ARE RULES ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN GIVE - SO CHECK FIRST!
AND REMEMBER TO STAY WITHIN A REALISTIC BUDGET...

SOT
Key @ : 1:12 Name: Peter Post, Author and Director of Emily Post Institute
"You don't want to go into debt to giving tips. So make a list of the people that you're going to give tips to that year."

TRACK SIX Length: :06
OF COURSE, NON-MONETARY GIFTS SUCH AS A GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR A MASSAGE OR HOMEMADE TREATS ARE A GOOD OPTION.

MOS:
Length: :05
"They always say don't give fruitcake, but I love fruitcake, so... (laughs)"

TRACK SEVEN Length: :05
THE POINT IS TO GIVE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE TRULY APPRECIATED - AND SPREAD A LITTLE HOLIDAY JOY...

ANCHOR TAG:
REMEMBER THAT SOME WORKERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RECEIVE MONETARY GIFTS BY LAW. SO THINK OF ANOTHER WAY TO SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION. MAYBE YOU CAN OFFER TO TUTOR A CHILD IN MATH OR CHESS. MAYBE YOU CAN OFFER BABY-SITTING SERVICES. IF THE PERSON WHO WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO HELP YOU WORKS FOR A COMPANY, WRITE A LETTER TO HIS OR HER EMPLOYER DETAILING THEIR GREAT EFFORT. TO SOME PEOPLE, TIPS LIKE THESE ARE EVEN MORE MEANINGFUL THAN MONEY, EXPERTS SAY, BECAUSE THEY SHOW YOU TOOK SOME EXTRA CARE OR THOUGHT. CHECK OUT OUR COMPLETE LIST OF TIP IDEAS ON OUR WEBSITE...

For Website:
Graphic:
? Au pair: A gift from your family, or one-week's pay, plus a small gift from your child.
? Baby-sitter: One evening's pay, plus a small gift from your child.
? Barber: Cost of one haircut, and/or gift.
? Beauty salon staffers: $10 to $60 each, giving most to those who provide the most service.
? Child's teacher: Give a gift, not cash. Ideas: gift certificate to a coffee shop or book; fruit basket or picture frame.
? Dog walker: One week's pay and/or a gift.
? Garage attendants and newspaper deliverer: $10 to $30 each.
? Housekeeper: One day's pay.
? Mail carrier: Gifts up to $20 each, but no cash.
? Nanny: One week's to one month's salary based on tenure, plus a small gift from your child.
? Super: $25 to $100.
? Doorman: $10 to $80.
? Handyman: $15 to $40.
? Trash collector: $10 to $30 each (for private service); for municipal service, check local regulations.
Source: Emily Post Institute

Peter Post is director of the Emily Post Institute and author of three etiquette books, including the New York Times bestseller Essential Manners for Men. Peter's new release, Essential Manners for Couples (Collins, November 2005), illustrates how a dash of good old fashioned etiquette helps couples navigate relationship pitfalls and build strong relationships in both their public and private lives. He is the co-author of the second edition of The Etiquette Advantage in Business: Personal Skills for Professional Success (HarperResource, May 2005), a completely revised and updated look at the world of business etiquette.

Contacts:
Press contact:
Dawn Stanyon
802-860-1814
Peter Post
Cell: 802-238-8027