Pocket worthyStories to fuel your mind

Has Tipping Reached a Tipping Point?

Making sense of when and how much to tip as we head into a new year.

Pocket Editors

Read when you’ve got time to spare.

If you’re in the U.S., you’ve probably noticed a sharp uptick in the businesses now asking you for a tip, thanks to touch-screen payment systems that are programmed to automatically suggest gratuity amounts. These days, it’s not uncommon to be prompted for a little extra moula when buying groceries, grabbing a coffee or picking up takeout. For consumers, adding a tip has become as simple as touching a button — though for many, the choice is fraught with guilt and pressure.

So when is it really appropriate to tip — and when is it okay to save your bucks, especially considering the rising cost of consumer goods? Read on to explore the question from every angle, including advice to help you navigate the economic, psychological and moral aspects of the new tipping culture.

Image by Catherine McQueen/Getty Images.

It’s Just a Tip

You can say no to the tipping tablet. That doesn’t mean you should.

Tipping Is Weird Now

Technology and the pandemic have transformed the meaning of gratuity.

Everyone Wants a Tip Now. Do You Have To Give Them One?

Thanks to touchscreens and the pandemic, tipflation is everywhere — and it’s hard to say no.

America’s Foremost Tipping Expert Hates the Touchscreens

Tipping is as American as baseball or gun violence. The rules governing the practice were never totally straightforward and have always been wrapped up in issues of sex, race, and class.

What Happens When You Abolish Tipping

For more than six years, I ran a restaurant without tips.

How to Tip in 2023, According to Experts & Industry Pros

Tipping is more common than ever these days—you likely see an option to tip at coffee shops, takeout counters, and in all sorts of delivery apps—but is it required? And if so, how much should you leave?

We Need to Stop Talking About Tipping Fatigue

Some people say they're sick of tipping. But tipping is the only way to cover workers' income.

To Tip, or Not to Tip?

Automated payment and the spread of tipping to every corner of the food-service business have helped workers weather the pandemic. But some consumers feel overwhelmed.

Everyone’s Talking About the New Tipping Culture — Here’s What Money Experts Say

Do you really need to tip on that to-go coffee? We have some financial guidance for you.

Wait, Are We Really Supposed to Tip 25% Everywhere Now?

Here are a waiter's tips for how to tip.

The Case Against Tipping in America

The data is clear: Tipping encourages racism, sexism, harassment, and exploitation.

The Psychology That Motivates Tipping

The concept of tipping was born in England and has spread across the world - but why do some of us tip better than others, and why do some countries not tip at all?