"I don't tip."

[kimmylavin]

49. Another good lesson I got from my Dad...

Always tip, and always tip well.
Server goes home happy, and especially if it's a place you frequent, they'll remember you.
(People love my Dad...)
So that's the first lesson I got.

Second one was from my sisters.
They both waited tables at Bennigan's - lot a cheapskates there.
When they got a great tip after getting shafted over and over, it really helped.

Third lesson.
I worked as a restaurant manager, for a restaurant with 8 - count 'em - 8 owners, 6 of whom were pennypinching jerks.
It killed me on those nights when the waitstaff would count up their receipts, turn over their money, and figure out how much they had left for tips.
Couldn't stay.
But every time I go to calculate a tip, I think of their faces.

Fourth lesson was more personal.
After a few experiences, I decided I couldn't date men who tipped badly.
I dated one guy whose parents would run a server ragged, ask for every discount possible, and then leave 10%, maybe.
He thought there was nothing wrong with that.
I took to carrying an extra $20 when I went out with them, and would always stop the server, warn her/him that they were going to be driven nuts, and slip them the money.

My husband?
On our first date, playing pool, he was kind to the waitress and tipped over 20%.
Nine years later, it is still one of the things I list about how I knew he was "the one."

Yes, it's a crappy system.
But until it changes, this is the one that we and the waitstaff operate under.
Just tip.