00:00:00 - Jenny GK
It's Tuesday. Oh, my gosh. Listen to my voice.

00:00:04 - Caitlin Kindred
Oh, do you want to try that one more time or are you just good with it? We'll just roll with it.

00:00:07 - Jenny GK
We'll roll with it. I'm gonna drink some coffee and see if that doesn't fix it.

00:00:10 - Caitlin Kindred
You guys, we record on Saturday mornings, and sometimes the coffee hasn't kicked in, and sometimes we're still a little. A little sleepy, so I think that.

00:00:19 - Jenny GK
Oh, you know what? I'm not gonna be able to fix it. Yesterday was homecoming. I actually am not gonna be able to talk better.

00:00:24 - Caitlin Kindred
Oh. Oh.

00:00:27 - Jenny GK
And this has nothing to do with sleepy voice. I bet I strained my voice yesterday.

00:00:31 - Caitlin Kindred
I bet you did, too. Oh, goodness.

00:00:33 - Jenny GK
Okay, I have sexy Phoebe sick voice.

00:00:37 - Caitlin Kindred
Yes.

00:00:40 - Jenny GK
No.

00:00:41 - Caitlin Kindred
Yes. I love it. Well, we're so glad you're here today. It's. I'm sorry, Halloween is over. So did you know it's already Christmas, Right? Right. So that means it's holiday tipping.

00:00:53 - Jenny GK
Like Thanksgiving.

00:00:54 - Caitlin Kindred
I love Thanksgiving. Don't make no mistake. I love Thanksgiving. But what I'm saying is all of the ads have already turned over. Yes to Christmas. And I will say, when I was in the craft stores helping my son with this project before Halloween, there was already Christmas stuff out, so.

00:01:11 - Jenny GK
Oh, my gosh. Christmas stuff comes out after Easter. Let's be real.

00:01:14 - Caitlin Kindred
That's very true. Okay, well, today, since it's Christmas, we're talking about holiday tipping. So who to tip, how much to tip them, and how to do it without completely breaking the bank. And what to do if it's just not in your budget.

00:01:30 - Jenny GK
Love it. But first, she might tip 20% of the bill, but she's got a hundred percent of my heart. Caitlin.

00:01:40 - Caitlin Kindred
Yes. That's the full service? Yes. The service fee. Yes. That's Jennyny, everyone's favorite brilliantly flustered cow girl. I. I don't. I don't.

00:01:53 - Jenny GK
It's perfect, because last night's homecoming was western themed.

00:01:56 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah. Yep. Okay, so I do somewhere in the.

00:02:01 - Jenny GK
Neighborhood of 18 hours in Cowboy boots.

00:02:04 - Caitlin Kindred
Oh, my.

00:02:06 - Jenny GK
But I say in the neighborhood because there was a point at school where I just took them off and walked the halls in my socks.

00:02:11 - Caitlin Kindred
Oh, okay, perfect. That's not gross at all.

00:02:15 - Jenny GK
No, that is not even close to being the grossest thing I've done as a middle school assistant principal.

00:02:20 - Caitlin Kindred
Well, please tell me that you had dark socks on, because otherwise the socks.

00:02:24 - Jenny GK
Were destroyed white with sushi. Oh, but it's okay because I have three pairs of exactly the same socks because my mom gave them to me. For Christmas three years in a row. She does not have dementia. She just couldn't remember that she already gave me these socks. That would be a really great gift.

00:02:42 - Caitlin Kindred
Ladies and gentlemen, mom brain does not go away.

00:02:44 - Jenny GK
Right?

00:02:45 - Caitlin Kindred
Once your kids are adults, it lingers. Okay, so do we have any shout outs today? I have one. I know. Do you have one?

00:02:53 - Jenny GK
Yes.

00:02:53 - Caitlin Kindred
Yes.

00:02:54 - Jenny GK
So I want to acknowledge that this episode is airing after the election, but it is recorded before.

00:03:02 - Caitlin Kindred
Yes.

00:03:03 - Jenny GK
And so I know that like no other time in history, emotions are really high around elections, particularly those at the federal level. And I want to offer support to those who are unhappy or worried about the results, whether it be in their local election or for their legislators or even for the president. Your vote mattered. Please, please continue to vote. Thank you for taking the time to participate. And we are with you. It doesn't matter what side of the aisle you sit on. We want you to know that your vote does matter and we're glad that you cast it.

00:03:43 - Caitlin Kindred
That is very well said and appreciated. So thank you for that. Anxiety is if. I mean, as you and I are recording this now, again, it's before the election, my anxiety is very high. I imagine that some, for some people after the election, their anxiety is now high. So just do what you can to take care of yourself. But again, so true. Your vote did matter. You took part in the process. That's a good thing. I have one. But mine is. It's kind of mental health related, I suppose. We. If you haven't rated, reviewed and subscribed, please. This is your plug to do that. Someone who is. I'm going to leave their name out of this. Left us a review on Spotify, which you can now do.

00:04:31 - Jenny GK
That's a new feature.

00:04:32 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah. And we had an episode about making adult friends. And this person.

00:04:40 - Jenny GK
Thanks to the Junior League of Austin.

00:04:42 - Caitlin Kindred
Yes.

00:04:42 - Jenny GK
For doing a whole segment on that. That I could then steal the content and reuse.

00:04:48 - Caitlin Kindred
Perfect. This person commented on the episode. Thank you. This is helpful. I've attempted suicide four times and struggle with depression. I love the positive high energy and laughter. It helps. May I ask for laughter throughout future episodes? I'd like to say to that person, first of all, we're no stranger to mental health struggles. Yeah. Suicide and depression are things that both of us have experience with. But just know that laughter is our love language and we will definitely continue to make each other laugh as much as we can. Oh, for sure. If not. If not because we're funny, but because it might. We might have made an awkward moment that we Just have to laugh through. So.

00:05:35 - Jenny GK
And like I've said, if nothing else, I'm around for downward social comparison.

00:05:40 - Caitlin Kindred
Right.

00:05:40 - Jenny GK
You can always laugh at me, even if you can't laugh with me.

00:05:44 - Caitlin Kindred
Right. You can blame stuff on me and you can laugh at me. That's. That's how this. This works.

00:05:50 - Jenny GK
So you had posted on our socials that it was Jersey Day at our school.

00:05:55 - Caitlin Kindred
Yes.

00:05:56 - Jenny GK
So I did go through with it. And I did go as Snooki.

00:06:00 - Caitlin Kindred
You did. I saw the picture. It's perfect. And I.

00:06:03 - Jenny GK
It is hard to put together a Snooki look that is appropriate for school.

00:06:06 - Caitlin Kindred
Let me just tell you this 100%.

00:06:09 - Jenny GK
But someone said, oh, my gosh, that's amazing. But also, like, how. And I said, well, here's the thing. I am always just one decision away from getting fired.

00:06:20 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah. Also, I have to say, am I allowed to post that picture on our socials?

00:06:26 - Jenny GK
Because hundreds.

00:06:27 - Caitlin Kindred
Okay. There has been demand there. There have been pics where it didn't happen, and there have been like, please follow up. So I will post that. If you haven't seen it, go to our socials. It's there. Today we are again talking about holiday tipping. So my sources for today are an article from Fidelity holiday tipping guide 2024, how much to tip? Another one from the Wall Street Journal. This is holiday tipping 2023, which I imagine will get updated very soon, but the gist remains the same. And another article from Real simple called everyone you should remember to tip over the holidays and how much to give. So I'll make sure that those are linked in the blog post for this episode.

00:07:09 - Jenny GK
Yeah.

00:07:09 - Caitlin Kindred
Okay. So holiday tipping, who to tip, how much to give them. It's a whole thing. Right. Um, in terms of tipping, I know the basics. You always tip your server at the restaurant. You tip your hairdresser. Unless you have an amazing hairdresser like mine who says, no, don't tip me. It's included in the service fee. Um, generally, I tip the people who do things for me that I can't do myself. Like Dwight Schrute. Right. Oh, I can't do it myself. Right. If I don't do it myself, then I should probably tip them for that.

00:07:41 - Jenny GK
I think I said this before.

00:07:43 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah.

00:07:44 - Jenny GK
But When I was 16, I was at a Red Sox game at Fenway, sitting in the cheap seats with a bunch of college kids.

00:07:54 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah.

00:07:55 - Jenny GK
And they were talking about tipping. And one of them said, in his best Boston accent, what did you do besides your job?

00:08:04 - Caitlin Kindred
Okay.

00:08:04 - Jenny GK
I was like, that is a great role for Tipping.

00:08:08 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah. Above.

00:08:08 - Jenny GK
And we're pleasant and cheerful and helpful. Tip.

00:08:13 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah.

00:08:13 - Jenny GK
Cha Ching.

00:08:14 - Caitlin Kindred
There's also this, like, explosion of tipping culture, right? Like, where you're being asked to tip on things that you never would have been asked to tip on before, and it's okay to say no on those things.

00:08:26 - Jenny GK
Have you seen the video where it's a parent teacher conference, and at the end, she turns the computer, she turns her thing. This is just gonna ask you a couple of questions.

00:08:34 - Caitlin Kindred
That's so good. Like, oh, we'll get into that later. Okay. So there are rules about tipping that I did not know. Ooh. In fact, I only recently learned that you're supposed to tip your hotel staff when they clean your room.

00:08:49 - Jenny GK
Oh, definitely. If you're staying more than one night.

00:08:52 - Caitlin Kindred
Yes. Okay.

00:08:53 - Jenny GK
If you're only staying one, I'm not going to tell you not to tip, but I am going to tell you you're only staying one night. But if you are staying multiple nights, little fiverr on the bed makes a big difference.

00:09:05 - Caitlin Kindred
I just never have cash, so I just.

00:09:07 - Jenny GK
Well, and that's the thing. Whenever we travel, like, that's part of my job to get ready is to make sure that I pull cash. Because we'll get to the airport and we'll do the sky cab, and we're like, oh, we don't have any ones to tip for the bags. Oh, we just took a cab, and now we don't have any cash to tip the cabbie. Like, I mean, so it's. It's part of my, like, travel culture in my mind is like, I have to make sure that I pull cash and I go into the bank. Did you know you can go inside a bank?

00:09:36 - Caitlin Kindred
I used to work at a bank. So, yes, I did know. You could go in.

00:09:40 - Jenny GK
You still can. You still can in 2024. And they will give you the money that you want.

00:09:45 - Caitlin Kindred
Yes, you can.

00:09:46 - Jenny GK
If it's in your account.

00:09:48 - Caitlin Kindred
Right.

00:09:48 - Jenny GK
If you have access to that money, they will give it to you. But I will say, like, hey, I need 10 once.

00:09:54 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah.

00:09:55 - Jenny GK
Or whatever.

00:09:55 - Caitlin Kindred
And they'll. They'll. And they'll even count it out for you, because they're required to. Yeah. I. I used to love the people who would go to the ATM, come back in with, like, two 20s and say, break this up for me. Because then I don't even have to do any paperwork. All I had to do was just be like, that's hilarious, and it goes faster. So I'm.

00:10:13 - Jenny GK
And you didn't tell them, like, hey, guys, you Actually don't have to make this a two step process. We are indeed a one stop shop.

00:10:20 - Caitlin Kindred
No, they did it that way on purpose because then they wouldn't have to fill out the paper. They could just do it like.

00:10:25 - Jenny GK
Got it. Got it.

00:10:26 - Caitlin Kindred
I loved it.

00:10:27 - Jenny GK
That actually is smart now.

00:10:28 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah.

00:10:29 - Jenny GK
Okay, sorry.

00:10:29 - Caitlin Kindred
No worries.

00:10:30 - Jenny GK
Anyway, you know, at Disney, they're not housekeeping, they're mousekeeping. And you're definitely got to tip your mouse keepers.

00:10:36 - Caitlin Kindred
Okay.

00:10:37 - Jenny GK
Yeah, sorry. Continue on.

00:10:39 - Caitlin Kindred
Anyway, so there's a way for me.

00:10:41 - Jenny GK
To weave Disney and I will. Let's be real.

00:10:44 - Caitlin Kindred
I have to show you my cruise magnets at some point. Anyway.

00:10:47 - Jenny GK
Oh my God. I also ordered some for you.

00:10:51 - Caitlin Kindred
It's gonna be like office space with the flare.

00:10:54 - Jenny GK
It is. It is definitely giving flair. That's amazing. So good. Okay, sorry guys. Continue on.

00:11:01 - Caitlin Kindred
Okay, so today we're giving you some guidelines around tipping, including how to say thank you. Another way of tipping just isn't in your budget for everyone this year, which is understandable af.

00:11:13 - Jenny GK
Okay, Right.

00:11:14 - Caitlin Kindred
So first, tipping is not obligatory. That word should where you should yourself. Don't use it here. Okay. A holiday tip is a token of gratitude for the people who helped you this year. It's not tit for Tatum. Okay. This is not gift giving obligation stress where someone gives you something that they found at TJ Maxx and then you also have to go, oh, shoot, I didn't give them a gift. Let me go to Costco and get you some Lindor lints and hand them off to you. Like, this is not what this is. You're laughing because you know I'm right. This is what people.

00:11:50 - Jenny GK
That is so accurate.

00:11:52 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah. Here is this candle that still has.

00:11:54 - Jenny GK
The markdown sticker on it.

00:11:56 - Caitlin Kindred
Right. And it probably puts terrible. If you light it, don't light it. Yeah.

00:12:01 - Jenny GK
Oh my gosh. That's amazing.

00:12:03 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah. So there's also some stigma around the word tipping.

00:12:08 - Jenny GK
Right.

00:12:09 - Caitlin Kindred
So if you feel better calling it a bonus, call it a bonus. That's fine. That's essentially what, like when you work, if you get a work bonus, it's basically a tip. So just fine. Okay.

00:12:22 - Jenny GK
Yeah. And I, I see it through the lens of bonus as well that like.

00:12:27 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah, and this is.

00:12:29 - Jenny GK
We'll talk about timing a little bit as, as we get further in the episode. But like, I always try and make sure that it is a holiday bonus that arrives before the holiday so that they can spend it on the holiday. But we'll talk a little bit more about that later.

00:12:41 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah, we'll get there. Yep. Okay. Two second. Set a budget. Okay. Include tips in your overall holiday gift giving budget and set aside any money that you do plan to give. Okay? If you're saying that I'm going to spend this much on gifts, carve out a piece of that and use it for tipping. If you can't give the recommended amounts, which we will get to in a minute, we have a plan for that. No stress. Okay? Okay. Okay. Third, make a list and check it twice. Gonna find out. It's not Christmas. It's not Christmas yet. Okay, sorry. Who helps you during the year? Okay. The nanny or the babysitter, your dog walker or pet sitter, your house cleaner, your doorman, any maintenance workers, your personal trainer, your hairstylist. This list of people for me, I don't know about you, but for me, this list of people is long.

00:13:46 - Jenny GK
Right.

00:13:47 - Caitlin Kindred
Help me. Right. Who do things for me that I cannot do for myself. So what you need to do when you look at this list is start to prioritize. Right? Prioritize by how regularly you use their services. If you're like me and you don't get a haircut very often, that person can go lower on your list than say, your housekeeper who might come every two weeks.

00:14:14 - Jenny GK
Right. And for me, I do not give a year end bonus holiday tip, Whatever. We're going to call this extra money to either a dog sitter or my hairstylist. Because I always tip my dog sitter when I come back and my dogs are alive. I always send a little extra money.

00:14:33 - Caitlin Kindred
Yes.

00:14:34 - Jenny GK
And then my hair stylist, I always tip 30%.

00:14:37 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah. So I take care of you all year long. Yes.

00:14:40 - Jenny GK
So I'm fine with not giving her a holiday year end bonus.

00:14:44 - Caitlin Kindred
Sure. Especially if you go get a haircut around the house, you know what I mean?

00:14:48 - Jenny GK
Weeks. Otherwise you're going to see that I'm not a natural blonde.

00:14:51 - Caitlin Kindred
All right, so the other thing you can prioritize by is how long you've known them.

00:14:56 - Jenny GK
That's great.

00:14:57 - Caitlin Kindred
All right. And the biggest life changers. So if there are some things in there that, that really, really, really impacted your life in a special way or whatever, they care for your children, something like that. All right, Just make sure that you, you prioritize people because there are people who you can move to the bottom of the list and that's okay. Okay, when to tip. This episode's coming out in mid November. So, like now. Yeah, now is a good time. Don't wait until Christmas Eve. This money is likely going to go towards any holiday expenses. So it might go towards a vacation or gifts or whatever. So use that to help motivate you.

00:15:45 - Jenny GK
Trying to pay their property taxes before they're due mid January. Who knows? Just saying. Just saying.

00:15:50 - Caitlin Kindred
Oh, Lord.

00:15:51 - Jenny GK
Just getting it out there.

00:15:52 - Caitlin Kindred
Right.

00:15:52 - Jenny GK
Some people don't escrow.

00:15:54 - Caitlin Kindred
Right. So here are some guidelines. These are courtesy of Lizzie Post. As in Emily Post Institute. Yes. Lizzie Post is the co president of the Emily Post Institute.

00:16:06 - Jenny GK
She said so I had an Emily Post wedding guide.

00:16:09 - Caitlin Kindred
Yes. Okay, How'd that go?

00:16:12 - Jenny GK
No, no, no. Someone gave it to me and she signed it, then I signed it and gave it to someone else. And then. And like, it's been through like five or six brides with all of our names in it. It's really cute.

00:16:23 - Caitlin Kindred
I love that.

00:16:24 - Jenny GK
Okay, sorry, continue on.

00:16:25 - Caitlin Kindred
No worries. She suggests what's called the up to rule. I love this rule. This makes so much sense. Okay, look at up to a week's pay or up to one sessions pay, and consider this the guiding amount for your people. Okay. Use your discretion for the relationship that you have with this person to go up or down accordingly. Okay.

00:16:52 - Jenny GK
I love that.

00:16:54 - Caitlin Kindred
If you're planning to hand out a check or cash, add a card. It's festive. It makes it less awkward. You're not shoving money into someone's hand and saying, you know, happy Holidays. You're gonna just say, you know, you leave the card out. You tada. There you go. Okay. You can come like, absolutely tip within an app. When you do that, just include a personalized message. That's it. Totally fine. If you normally pay your housekeeper using Venmo, just add the cash or add the amount there and just say like, happy Holidays, like, you know what I mean?

00:17:33 - Jenny GK
It's all good. Okay, I will say something. Find out how your service provider would like to be tipped.

00:17:42 - Caitlin Kindred
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

00:17:46 - Jenny GK
Because I do not accept payment for my tutoring business through anything besides check. Because I like to have the checks as a document for the irs. So when people want to Venmo me, I look at them and I'm saying, I'm really sorry. I work in the 1980s. You have to write me a paper check.

00:18:07 - Caitlin Kindred
Mm.

00:18:07 - Jenny GK
We can also do a bank to bank transfer, but I cannot use a payment app because I do not want the IRS to look at my entire Venmo history and try and sift through what is Jennyny GK Educational services versus what is Jennyny GK as a person.

00:18:25 - Caitlin Kindred
Sure. That makes a lot of sense. My pet sitter is the same. She prefers a paper check. Yes. And There have been times where we've forgotten to leave the check before she comes, and we've said, can we pay you? And it doesn't work that way. So we end up having to get the check over to her a different way because she's.

00:18:44 - Jenny GK
But she still keeps your cats alive because she understands having been in that seat. Not everyone is a paper check person. Sometimes dig through a drawer to find one.

00:18:54 - Caitlin Kindred
Right.

00:18:55 - Jenny GK
But it is really important to me that I have that documentation.

00:18:58 - Caitlin Kindred
Totally fine.

00:18:59 - Jenny GK
This is really important. If the person runs their own business, please ask them how they would like to receive a bonus.

00:19:05 - Caitlin Kindred
That. That's a good. That's a good call. I like that. Okay, let's get to some recommended amounts, shall we?

00:19:12 - Jenny GK
Love it. That's the most important part. That's all that people care about anyway, right?

00:19:15 - Caitlin Kindred
Exactly.

00:19:16 - Jenny GK
Oh, I'm sorry. You guys are listening to this whole episode and finding it all riveting. My. My apologies.

00:19:22 - Caitlin Kindred
I'm not insulted by the way that I've organized this episode at all. Here are some common.

00:19:30 - Jenny GK
No, no, you're putting the most important part right there.

00:19:33 - Caitlin Kindred
Right?

00:19:34 - Jenny GK
Come on, guys.

00:19:35 - Caitlin Kindred
Here we go. And about how much to give them. Your babysitter or nanny, one typical session or one week's pay, depending on babysitter, one typical session, nanny, one week's pay. Your daycare staffer. This is a big old. Oops. I did not know this was a tip, but I always gave nice gifts. Okay, 25 to 75 bucks, depending on how many hours your child is with them. Okay. Hairstylist, cost of one service in home caregiver, one week's pay.

00:20:05 - Jenny GK
Okay.

00:20:06 - Caitlin Kindred
House cleaner, the cost of one visit is the recommended amount. Again, these are also up to amounts. Right. So just up to is. Okay. A landscaper, which. I ain't got one. One session.

00:20:19 - Jenny GK
Oh, man, you gotta use lawn starter. It's like the Uber of lawn mowing.

00:20:26 - Caitlin Kindred
Oh, yeah, we'll get to that in a minute.

00:20:29 - Jenny GK
So you just put in when you want one, and then who's ever available just comes and does it.

00:20:33 - Caitlin Kindred
Smart.

00:20:34 - Jenny GK
Okay, so we don't have, like a established relationship.

00:20:38 - Caitlin Kindred
Okay, great.

00:20:38 - Jenny GK
Yeah, no, sorry, continue on.

00:20:40 - Caitlin Kindred
Okay. Pool cleaners. I also don't have one of these. One session. And they can divide the money amongst themselves. If you have a regular massage therapist, the cost of one session, your manicurist, pedicurist, esthetician that you see all the time, if it's a consistent person, the cost of one session, your newspaper delivery person. Did not know you were supposed to tip this person. I Don't. We don't get a newspaper. So there you go. About 10 to 30 bucks.

00:21:12 - Jenny GK
Yeah, I was going to say, like, should I just tip at&t Internet? Like how do I do that?

00:21:21 - Caitlin Kindred
Your personal trainer, which props to you if you have one. Good job. I don't have one. The cost of one session. Your pet sitter, dog walker, groomer, cost of one session. Sanitation workers. This is a good one to add to your list. 10 to 30 bucks each.

00:21:37 - Jenny GK
So let me tell you this. Our neighborhood rallies together and tips them all as one.

00:21:45 - Caitlin Kindred
We will get to that because that is a great strategy.

00:21:48 - Jenny GK
I love that. Okay.

00:21:49 - Caitlin Kindred
Yes.

00:21:50 - Jenny GK
Okay. I'm out. I'm out.

00:21:51 - Caitlin Kindred
Yep. Also a few other people to consider if you live in an apartment, if you're a renter, renters tend to give less than owners. So just keep that in mind. Your super or your resident manager. 150 to 300 bucks. That's a lot of money. It's a lot of money. So just keep, you know, again, these are. We will get to it if the money is not in your budget, okay. Your door attendant or concierge, if you have one 75 to $200. A porter or handyman or maintenance staff, 25 to 50 bucks. A garage attendant, especially if it's one who regularly looks out for you and knows you, knows your car, those things, 25 to 75 bucks. I want to make it very clear, these are expenses that people, many people do not opt into. Here's what I mean by that. If I can't afford to tip my server at a restaurant, I am not going to go eat at a restaurant and neither should you. If you can't afford the tip at the restaurant, don't go to the restaurant. Uber eats that mess or something, Right? Like it's part of how they make a living. Okay? So that's an opt in expense, right? Like you are choosing to go to a restaurant, so you are opting into paying that tip. An in home caregiver or a super. These are not opt in expenses, okay? Your super takes care of your apartment regardless of whether or not you need them all the time or just one time. You are not opting into having a super. You have a super. That's just how that works. So.

00:23:42 - Jenny GK
And they're not only managing calls that you make, Right? There could be building wide things that they're handling that you don't even know. They put that fire out before you got to it.

00:23:52 - Caitlin Kindred
Right? So prioritize expenses for people that you, you don't opt into that you have all the time, rather than the optional ones. Okay, now those. That's big money. That's big money. Especially if you do have all of those people. That's also. Maybe, maybe if you have all those people you can afford. But. But if you only have one or two of them and you can't, we got to talk about what to do, because that's. That's big money. Okay? Right. That list isn't even exhaustive, but there are definitely some people on it that you might not be able to thank with money, and that's completely okay. Right. And there are people on that. Well, not on that list, but there are people in your life who will support you that cannot accept a cash gift. Right. Or they can't accept a gift over a certain amount, so they can't accept gift cards or anything. Like, for example, your postal worker, who you might be very tempted, because I have a regular postal worker, like, you might be tempted to offer them something. They can't accept it. Right. It's. They can't get any more than 20 bucks per calendar year. I. I did see 50 on another website. I don't know which one is accurate.

00:25:08 - Jenny GK
That's interesting.

00:25:09 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah. Delivery drivers are often discouraged from taking cash tips, even if you have a regular one. So we'll get to what you can do for them in a second. But you might have to check with, like, in home care providers to see what their policies are for taking money. So just keep that in mind as you start prioritizing your groceries.

00:25:32 - Jenny GK
It really makes sense. You know, when I was growing up and we lived on the Air Force base, the people who bag your groceries and then bring them out to your car work four tips. Yeah. But if you go to the major grocery conglomerate here in Texas, who goes by their initials, they're not allowed to accept tips. That was a major culture shift for us when we moved here. We were like, wait, we don't tip you? They're like, no, no. Well, that's because they're being paid, right?

00:26:05 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah. Very different. Okay, so here are some alternatives to warm, soft, beautiful cash. Here we go. Cards with heartfelt messages and. Or artwork from your kids. This. Like, there's some really cute ways that you can do stuff like that. Baked treats. I. I caution there are people who will say, oh, thank you for the baked treat, but then won't eat it. So just something like maybe it's from a bakery and it's prepackaged or something like that. Okay. You can leave out snacks and beverages for delivery drivers and postal Workers. This is what I do every year. I put out like a cooler and a basket and I have like bags of chips and I have fruit roll, UPS and candy and things like that. So that when they come every 12 to 24 hours to my house, they get. And have a treat. Yeah, okay. Yes. I saw this idea. That was cute. Work socks.

00:27:11 - Jenny GK
Okay.

00:27:12 - Caitlin Kindred
What like super, like padded, nice work socks.

00:27:17 - Jenny GK
Oh, yeah. You know what I mean?

00:27:19 - Caitlin Kindred
Like for inside the boots. Yeah, I thought that was a good idea.

00:27:22 - Jenny GK
It's like, I don't even know what a work sock is, but something that's.

00:27:26 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah, that's like heavy duty.

00:27:28 - Jenny GK
Like socks working.

00:27:30 - Caitlin Kindred
Yes. Like a double or even something with double layer so that they don't get blisters. Like there's. There are double layered socks like that. That might be a good idea. I thought that was cute. You mentioned pooling, as in pooling cash.

00:27:42 - Jenny GK
Yes.

00:27:42 - Caitlin Kindred
That is a great way to be budget friendly because there's always people who are going to be willing to give more than others and there's usually a recommended amount. But people understand if you can't give the recommended amount, they just appreciate that you gave anything. So this is a great way to take on class gifts for teachers or collections for apartment building workers, office maintenance staff, your local sanitation team, etc.

00:28:10 - Jenny GK
It's good, it's good.

00:28:12 - Caitlin Kindred
I like it. Okay.

00:28:13 - Jenny GK
Yeah, they, they just put a message out in our neighborhood group and you can venmo the person, you can send cash, whatever, but then they put it all together in a Visa gift card and then deliver it to the team or, you know, multiple gift cards, I guess. But deliver that to the team with coffee and donuts. And so there's like a little social. If you in the neighborhood are available during that time, you can go and thank them in person as well.

00:28:37 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah, that's perfect. I love that. Okay. That said, when you just can't tip, right? Like nothing. Like you've got. You are paycheck to paycheck or they.

00:28:49 - Jenny GK
Made it to the bottom of the list. They are not going to.

00:28:51 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah, they're not. They're not in your budget. Inflation is still a problem. You might not be able to do anything. We get it right, chances are the person that you plan to tip gets it too. Right. Like they're not going to hold it against you. A tip is an add on. It's not an expectation for these people.

00:29:17 - Jenny GK
Right.

00:29:18 - Caitlin Kindred
As it is for say, for example, someone who is your server at a restaurant. Right. Like it's, it's different where they are.

00:29:24 - Jenny GK
Working for 215 an hour and expecting to supplement that income with tips.

00:29:29 - Caitlin Kindred
Right. Right. I'm sure that the person who you planned to tip would rather you just keep paying for the service, like, with regular support, then be stressed about an optional holiday bonus. Okay.

00:29:47 - Jenny GK
Right.

00:29:48 - Caitlin Kindred
If it bothers you, you can write a heartfelt note that is very transparent about what's going on. Okay. It's okay to say something like, thank you so much for all of your hard work this year. This year, things are tight, and I find myself unable to provide cash tips and bonuses. But this is not a reflection on you or your support. I truly appreciate you, and I wish I could do more to say thank you. I wish you and yours a beautiful holiday season.

00:30:16 - Jenny GK
The world is crazy right now. It's fine.

00:30:19 - Caitlin Kindred
It happens, and people understand. It's okay. And you just need to let that. That shame go, okay?

00:30:27 - Jenny GK
Just.

00:30:27 - Caitlin Kindred
They don't expect it. It's not an expectation. It's a bonus. All right? So no matter what, when it comes to tipping, don't feel anxious about the amount you tip. Your anxiety is probably like mine, where it's like, you're not giving enough, but that's just not the case. Okay. Tipping is not a contest. People just appreciate that you did anything to show them that you value the work that they do. So do what you can. It's enough.

00:30:54 - Jenny GK
Nice. And that's, like, a good thing to live by.

00:30:57 - Caitlin Kindred
I think so.

00:30:58 - Jenny GK
Yeah.

00:30:59 - Caitlin Kindred
Okay. Yeah. Now let's take a break. For links to resources mentioned in this episode, head on over to ckngkpodcast.com blog to find everything you need, and be sure to follow us on social media. Head over to your favorite social media network and find us at CKNGK podcast. And now back to the show.

00:31:20 - Jenny GK
Okay, we're back.

00:31:21 - Caitlin Kindred
Yay. Your poor voice. Oh, dear. We're back. Who are we?

00:31:29 - Jenny GK
Hv. Okay. I did that a lot. I also yelled at the eighth graders and said, I will not lose to the lower school in the spirit stick.

00:31:40 - Caitlin Kindred
Oh.

00:31:41 - Jenny GK
And the thing is, like, parents are also invited to this pep rally. And so one of the moms looks at me. She's like, that's right. You will not.

00:31:49 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah. I love when the parents, like, get it.

00:31:52 - Jenny GK
Yeah. Like, I had a chance there. I really realized. I was like, oh, my gosh, Maybe these parents are going to think that this is a problem.

00:31:57 - Caitlin Kindred
But no, they were like, no, they're into it. Yeah.

00:32:00 - Jenny GK
She case. Serious.

00:32:00 - Caitlin Kindred
Serious.

00:32:01 - Jenny GK
She's going to have. She's winning that spirit today.

00:32:03 - Caitlin Kindred
I remember bumping into One parent at a holiday event in town, and she was like, it's Ms. Kindred. And she was like, you know, I love me some Miss Kindred. She is all sass. And I went, oh, my gosh, I love these parents.

00:32:18 - Jenny GK
I feel seen.

00:32:19 - Caitlin Kindred
I'm so seen. That's the best. All right, speaking of people that love us, what are we obsessed with?

00:32:27 - Jenny GK
What?

00:32:29 - Caitlin Kindred
It's not a good transition. It was just a transition.

00:32:36 - Jenny GK
Speaking of bagels, have you ever been to the driving range?

00:32:42 - Caitlin Kindred
Goodness.

00:32:43 - Jenny GK
Oh, my gosh. Okay, so let me tell you what I'm obsessed with right now. It's a little bit old. And guess what? I'm late to the party on a lot of things, guys.

00:32:53 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah. It's because we have kids and jobs.

00:32:56 - Jenny GK
It's good that it's old because all the episodes are out.

00:32:59 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah.

00:32:59 - Jenny GK
So bonus.

00:33:01 - Caitlin Kindred
There you go.

00:33:02 - Jenny GK
Pig Iron from the Tortoise Network. It's a podcast.

00:33:07 - Caitlin Kindred
Okay.

00:33:09 - Jenny GK
It's a seven episode serial about. It's an earbuds in podcast Moms.

00:33:17 - Caitlin Kindred
Okay.

00:33:19 - Jenny GK
But it's about a reporter who was a war coverage reporter who was killed in South Sudan.

00:33:32 - Caitlin Kindred
Oh.

00:33:32 - Jenny GK
And the circumstances around his death are ambiguous. Some people think he was caught in the crossfire. Some people think that he became a mercenary and was actually fighting. And so it's really interesting. There is no resolution, which, you know, from the beginning. Right. I didn't, like, give away the ending, but it's a deep dive into this guy's experience and the world of war reporting.

00:34:00 - Caitlin Kindred
Oh, yeah.

00:34:01 - Jenny GK
And the girl who does it is a journalist, but not a world reporter, not a war reporter. So it's really interesting to get her take on that genre of journalism and the experience that she goes through learning about it.

00:34:21 - Caitlin Kindred
Interesting.

00:34:22 - Jenny GK
Yeah.

00:34:22 - Caitlin Kindred
Okay. All right.

00:34:24 - Jenny GK
No, it's good. It's really good.

00:34:26 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah, I can get into that. That sounds great. I also am into a documentary style thing on Netflix. There's a new Zodiac documentary.

00:34:41 - Jenny GK
Oh, my gosh. Like about the Zodiac Killer or about the signs of the zodiac. What is it?

00:34:50 - Caitlin Kindred
No, it's about the Zodiac Killer and it's about. Oh, yeah.

00:34:54 - Jenny GK
Oh, my gosh. Okay. So, you know, Abby just made fun of me the other day. She was like, yeah, put your hair up in a top knot, drink your pumpkin slice latte, and listen to your true crime.

00:35:02 - Caitlin Kindred
First of all, those things are basic because everyone loves them. We've gone into this.

00:35:06 - Jenny GK
I know, but I just looked at her and I was like, you shut your mouth.

00:35:09 - Caitlin Kindred
Right.

00:35:11 - Jenny GK
And why do you want snapper?

00:35:12 - Caitlin Kindred
Right.

00:35:13 - Jenny GK
Yeah. Okay.

00:35:14 - Caitlin Kindred
Anyway, yeah, Killer. It's it is a theory that they actually think they know who this person is. And we've seen these before, right? Like, there's so many of them, but this one is, like, pretty compelling. Where I'm going. This is. These are, like, eyewitness accounts of this man being in this area at the same time that someone goes missing and then, like, walking up to them with blood on their hands. Like, it is wild. And I am all in. And I also started watching the Vince McMahon, like, wrestling one.

00:35:49 - Jenny GK
Oh, my God. If I had to pick people on this planet to never watch that, you would be at the top of my list.

00:35:59 - Caitlin Kindred
I. I'm in. I'm all in. I'm fascinated. I. I'm having, like.

00:36:04 - Jenny GK
Oh, yeah, do not tell Jenny, or he will talk your ear off the entire time we're on the ship.

00:36:11 - Caitlin Kindred
No, don't talk to me. No, I. I haven't watched it.

00:36:15 - Jenny GK
No. This man loves wrestling stories.

00:36:21 - Caitlin Kindred
I. Well, I did hear the Chris Benoit story finally, for the first time. If you haven't listened to that, there's an episode about him and my.

00:36:28 - Jenny GK
Whatever, like, beyond the ring or behind the ring or under the ring or inside the ring or whatever. It is, the documentary show about wrestling, and like, every week it becomes another story.

00:36:39 - Caitlin Kindred
No, I'm not into that.

00:36:40 - Jenny GK
Loves that.

00:36:41 - Caitlin Kindred
No, because it is.

00:36:42 - Jenny GK
It's so dramatic. There's so much behind the scenes.

00:36:47 - Caitlin Kindred
No, I don't care about that. Does he watch. Does he listen to the we watch wrestling podcast?

00:36:52 - Jenny GK
I don't know that he does.

00:36:54 - Caitlin Kindred
Well, it's Georgia Hard.

00:36:56 - Jenny GK
So busy listening to Uncle Dan slash Father Dan. Dan Patrick.

00:37:01 - Caitlin Kindred
And he also listened to our show. Well, there's that on occasion. Not all the time anyway, but enough anyway. Yeah, no, those are two. I cannot rec. So we've got Pig Iron by Tortoise network podcast, and then the Zodiac documentary and the Vince McMahon documentary on Netflix. Those are our recommendations and obsessions right now.

00:37:18 - Jenny GK
Okay.

00:37:18 - Caitlin Kindred
Okay. Gems.

00:37:19 - Jenny GK
All right, so like I said, it was homecoming last night, and it is John's 20th reunion.

00:37:28 - Caitlin Kindred
He's a whippersnapper.

00:37:30 - Jenny GK
I know. He's so young. Robbed the cradle on that one. One of the things since rejoining this community that John has been able to get some traction on, that he has been working on for, I don't even know, a lot of years, is this alumni effort. And he's like, look, we gotta get people back in the space without a financial ask.

00:37:53 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah.

00:37:54 - Jenny GK
In order to re engage our alumni, we need to not treat them like a cash cow.

00:38:01 - Caitlin Kindred
The other thing is Too. Like, it's sort of cyclical. Like, if they enjoy the alumni association events, they will start to provide money. And it won't be an ask, it will be a. This was fun. Let's do it. So it's how Organic social works. You build the community and then the benefits come. Like, it's just. It's just logic.

00:38:21 - Jenny GK
Yes, yes. And he has said that multiple times. He's like, don't ask me for money.

00:38:27 - Caitlin Kindred
No.

00:38:27 - Jenny GK
Ask me to come to a party and then where I will enjoy myself and then say, man, I would love to finance these kinds of things.

00:38:36 - Caitlin Kindred
Exactly.

00:38:36 - Jenny GK
So anyway, he has finally got some traction on that. Our head of school is very much in that camp. He is truly an investor and says, look, we have to make the experience wonderful for everyone. Kids, parents, alumni, community, everyone. And then if you build it, they will come. Sure. So last night was homecoming, and it was the first, like, alumni warm welcome homecoming. I have been a part of in the 10 years that I've been a part of the Hyde park community. They had gifts for anyone who claimed to have graduated from there. Like, we weren't checking rosters or anything. It was like, oh, yeah, you're out. Oh, you're an alumna. Oh, you're an alumnus. Come on over to our table. We have a yeti mug for you. We have a bandana for you. Let us buy you dinner tonight. Here. Get your kids some free ice cream. Like, it was incredible.

00:39:36 - Caitlin Kindred
A yeti mug.

00:39:37 - Jenny GK
Yes. Like the cute little travel coffee ones that, like the eight ouncers.

00:39:42 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah.

00:39:43 - Jenny GK
Engraved with alumni on it.

00:39:45 - Caitlin Kindred
I think they're 12, aren't they?

00:39:47 - Jenny GK
Like, whatever. Yeah, they look like the nice, like, handheldy one that.

00:39:50 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah, yeah.

00:39:51 - Jenny GK
Is not huge. Yeah, they were beautiful. And it was, like, such a fun gift to give away because it's like a real gift.

00:39:58 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah, no, it's a nice. Not like, it's not like, here's a cheap one that'll melt when you put your coffee in.

00:40:03 - Jenny GK
Yeah. Here's a. Here's a notepad with our stamp on it. Right. Like, no, this is like a real.

00:40:09 - Caitlin Kindred
Get the worst. Yeah.

00:40:11 - Jenny GK
Or magnet calendar or something. Like, we're a real estate agent.

00:40:15 - Caitlin Kindred
Bad swag is the worst. And be working in, like, in events, like, going to events now. I'm like, bad swag is the worst. Like, awful. No, that's a good gift. I like it.

00:40:26 - Jenny GK
It was really cool. And even, like, giving the bandana that's, like, branded with this year's homecoming, like, it was really cool.

00:40:31 - Caitlin Kindred
It's great. So Fun.

00:40:33 - Jenny GK
So anyway, during the halftime show also congrats to the homecoming queen who is a former student of ours and I'm so proud of her.

00:40:43 - Caitlin Kindred
Oh, I love it.

00:40:44 - Jenny GK
She totally earned it. Because if it was voting on who has great spirit and really cares about the school and cares about other people more than herself, it is this woman. It is one nation.

00:40:54 - Caitlin Kindred
She's a woman now. Oh, I met her when she was 12. Oh, I'm old. Congratulations, little one. We love you. Yes. Yours is going to be little forever in my heart.

00:41:04 - Jenny GK
Right. So anyhow, after the presentation of the court, they say welcome back class of 14 and 04, celebrating your 10 and 20 year reunions. And they bring everyone, the, the alumni and their families out on the field and we're standing on the 50 and waving and they play stand by me and these nearly 40 year old men start throwing the football around on the field, yelling and screaming, pretending to make touchdowns, rolling around. It was the most playful, beautiful end of the movie moment.

00:41:53 - Caitlin Kindred
I love it.

00:41:54 - Jenny GK
It was so great.

00:41:56 - Caitlin Kindred
Oh, that would have made me emotional if I had been there.

00:41:58 - Jenny GK
Oh my gosh. I got a nine second video that like it's it. That was more than enough. Like it was just so beautiful. And so as we're leaving, I sign out with the head of school and I was like, hey, this was a great party. Thanks so much. Like how cute were and were those guys playing during halftime? He goes, oh, like little boys.

00:42:22 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah. Having fun again.

00:42:24 - Jenny GK
Just, it was so cute. It was amazing.

00:42:27 - Caitlin Kindred
That's really sweet.

00:42:28 - Jenny GK
And it was so fun to be the hostess of that event. Right. Because I do wear multiple hats. My job was sitting at the alumni table, welcoming people back and getting to pass out those fabulous gifts.

00:42:40 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah.

00:42:40 - Jenny GK
And it was just, it was a really, really special moment. But watching those kids like they were the grown up sandlot boys roll around on the football field, it was amazing.

00:42:52 - Caitlin Kindred
I love it. That's wonderful. What a nice experience. My goodness. As we counter like you know, war stories and murder with right something.

00:43:02 - Jenny GK
And like so hey, I don't know what happened in the election yet, but I'm sure it wasn't 100% wonderful.

00:43:10 - Caitlin Kindred
My heart is beating.

00:43:11 - Jenny GK
You might be really excited about some races and really depressed about other ones. Who knows? That proposition you didn't want to pass totally did. Like whatever it is.

00:43:21 - Caitlin Kindred
Oh man, here we go. I just need to point out that I came to my desk to work out and there's a sock on my desk and I don't. It's just one.

00:43:30 - Jenny GK
Is it a Work sock.

00:43:31 - Caitlin Kindred
It is. No, but it is clean. Oh, hey, but I don't understand.

00:43:36 - Jenny GK
I walked around the school in yesterday.

00:43:38 - Caitlin Kindred
It is an ankle. One lone ankle sock. And I don't know why it's here. That's my gem.

00:43:44 - Jenny GK
Okay, so a friend of mine's kid was trying to raise money to buy a Lego set, and I told him, look, I have a basket of unmatched socks. I will pay you 50 cents a pair. Oh, there you go. Yeah, and it was a normal size basket. We are not talking about, like, this long burger. Like, takes up space on your kitchen table basket. Like it. I mean, it's about the size of a laptop, right?

00:44:08 - Caitlin Kindred
Sure. Yeah.

00:44:08 - Jenny GK
Maybe two VHS tapes put together. Okay.

00:44:11 - Caitlin Kindred
Oh, dear. Age yourself with one line. Done. Thanks. Moving on.

00:44:17 - Jenny GK
I specifically chose that reference. Anyway, he put together 24 pairs of socks in that basket.

00:44:26 - Caitlin Kindred
Hey.

00:44:27 - Jenny GK
And my friend was like, you do not need to pay him $12. I was like, oh, no, no, I'm paying 12. In light of today's episode, because he was so fast, I am going to tip him three more dollars. Mostly because I have a couple of fives in my wallet and no ones. And no, but that's not important. Um, but I was like, dude, I can't believe I had 24 pairs worth of unmatched socks in addition to all the other socks that didn't have a mate in that basket.

00:44:52 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah, and I bet that basket is, like, way more normal now. Like, not overflowing.

00:44:56 - Jenny GK
No, it's not overflowing.

00:44:58 - Caitlin Kindred
Here's my gem.

00:45:00 - Jenny GK
Okay, sorry.

00:45:01 - Caitlin Kindred
No worries.

00:45:03 - Jenny GK
We have a show to do, guys.

00:45:05 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah, this isn't just like, conversation hour. Jenny, Come on. This is the kind of stuff we do talk about. By the way, this is why we are so connected, because we talk about sock baskets and the sock I found on my desk. Okay, here's mine is a celebration. The episode about making new adult friends. I took the advice and I made a new adult friend on Halloween. It was the neighbor. Yep. It was the neighbor that I mentioned in the episode who I've been wanting to try and.

00:45:37 - Jenny GK
Oh, my gosh, you did it.

00:45:38 - Caitlin Kindred
Yeah, I did it.

00:45:39 - Jenny GK
And then after that, comfort into that stretch zone. Nice, right?

00:45:43 - Caitlin Kindred
And then right after it was over and we were both in our houses, I sent a message that said, that was fun. Would love to get together again sometime. Let me know if next weekend works. So I actually made a real plan. So I'm hoping that we can make that happen.

00:46:01 - Jenny GK
But oh, my gosh, I'm so proud of my celebration. That's amazing. Did you get her name?

00:46:13 - Caitlin Kindred
I did get her name. I'm gonna keep it.

00:46:15 - Jenny GK
The problem with Kit right now is he will make friends on the playground and be like, oh, what's their name? He's like, oh, I don't know.

00:46:22 - Caitlin Kindred
I don't know. But he was wearing a blue shirt.

00:46:24 - Jenny GK
Right, right, right, right.

00:46:25 - Caitlin Kindred
I'm like. And he likes dinosaurs. And I also.

00:46:28 - Jenny GK
Yeah, great. Cool.

00:46:30 - Caitlin Kindred
Maybe get the dinosaur mom. Y.

00:46:34 - Jenny GK
All right. That is awesome. Okay, well, when you are taking risks and trying to meet new people on your block, make good choices.

00:46:45 - Caitlin Kindred
And when you're tipping people, remember that this is the season for showing gratitude. So however you show it, it's going to be appreciated. You can do it.

00:46:54 - Jenny GK
All right. Whatever you do is going to be enough.

00:46:58 - Caitlin Kindred
Exactly.

00:46:59 - Jenny GK
Okay, bye.