Tipping in restaurants: Money Manners: ‘The guy I’m dating doesn’t tip when we eat out’

Money Manners is 9honey Money’s weekly column that deals with money etiquette matters that can be the cause of many an awkward encounter.

Submit your Money Manners questions to Jo Abi at jabi@nine.com.au

This week’s question comes via a 9honey reader who is facing a relationship dilemma.

Dilemma: ”My partner doesn’t tip when we eat out, is that bad?’

I’ve been dating my new partner for four months and we mostly catch up at night after work for dinner.

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We don’t eat out at very expensive places, I would describe them as mid-level – good food and reasonable prices for what we get. And we take turns paying because we both work and that just seems fair.

Only I’ve noticed he doesn’t tip.

I always tip, usually $10 or $20 depending on how everything was. I don’t do it on percentages, but I used to be a waitress and I just think it’s a nice thing to do.

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He pays the bill, no tip, even if they are watching him choose the ‘no tip’ option.

I made a comment about it, just sort of asking, and he said tips are an American thing and he hates that it has become an expectation here when our minimum income is higher and it costs so much to eat out as it is.

But I can’t help but feel he is a bad person for this.

Advice: ‘As long has he respects your choice to tip, then this doesn’t have to be an issue’

Not tipping at restaurants doesn’t necessarily make him a bad person. He has his reasons and there are plenty of people who feel the same.

Tipping culture has spilled over from the US into Australia and my understanding is that in America, minimum wage is quite low, so many hospitality workers rely on those tips.

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In Australia we do a bit better by hospitality workers, but I too was a waitress and a bar tender during my university years and getting that extra money via tips certainly made life easier.

It’s a personal choice, and I don’t think it’s a make or break at all.

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If he is overall a decent, respectful and kind man, his choice not to tip doesn’t make him a write-off. As long has he respects your choice to tip, then this doesn’t have to be an issue.

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