Is tipping culture out of control?

As a former waitress, I know what it is like to hustle for tips.?

In fact, at a special birthday dinner this week, I thought our waitress – a college student named Sarah who wants to go into pediatric medicine – provided exemplary service worthy of a bigger-than-usual gratuity. That prompted a heated discussion on the car ride home about tipping. (For the record, my husband would like you all to know he prefers the Japanese model, where the tip is included in the overall price of a meal.)

I consider myself a generous tipper: I always tip New Jersey gas station attendants a few bucks since state law requires them to pump the gas. I leave money daily for housekeeping at hotels with a note that says: “Thank you.” I give our apartment building’s superintendent a monthly gift in addition to a year-end holiday tip.?

Yet it is astounding how often I encounter the touchscreen tip option (with very pricey gratuities) when I buy coffee, pay at the nail salon and even at self-serve checkouts, where no human interaction even occurred!

“People are being asked to tip more than ever,” says Ted Rossman of Bankrate . “There are crazy examples that you would have never even thought of 10 years ago. It’s getting harder and harder to avoid.”

Which is why Americans are apparently fed up, according to a recent Bankrate survey on the subject. In fact, 59% of respondents report they have at least one negative view of tipping.

That might be why, in almost every area you can imagine, the percentage of people who always tip is down compared to 2021. For food delivery folks, that number has sunk from 59% to 51% over that time frame.

For taxi or rideshare drivers, from 48% to 41%. For hotel housekeepers, from 28% to 22%. For coffee shop baristas, from 23% to 20%.

Here are some tips (pun intended) amid an omnipresent demand for gratuities.?

Have you encountered tip creep? Scroll down for our Reuters poll on this subject!

Parent trap: Gen Z relies on family for financial assistance

Are you the parent of a Gen Z adult? I am, so I am troubled by new research from Bank of America which finds this generation is on shaky financial footing because of inflation and rising living costs.

According to Bank of America, 46% of Gen Z adults (aged 18 to 27) rely on financial assistance from their parents and families.

Half of the 1,091 people surveyed by the bank are not on track to buy a home in the next five years. The survey also showed 46% of young people are unprepared to save for retirement and 40% are not ready to start investing in the next five years.

"When I talk to young people, especially Gen Z, I tell them to set a budget and stick with it," said Holly O'Neill , Bank of America's president of retail banking.

I know firsthand how hard it is for Gen Z to get by. My husband and I are assisting three Gen Z adults with various costs, including car payments, health insurance and other incidentals.?

Are you helping your Gen Z kids financially? Why or why not? What areas merit financial assistance from parents? Write to me at [email protected] .

Back-to-school deals are hotter than July

While American children may wish summer vacation would never end, retailers want the back-to-school season to start earlier than ever – preferably now – and are timing promotions ahead of Amazon's Prime Day .

With deals on sneakers, computers, kids' clothing and backpacks, Walmart and Shein hope to entice parents to start back-to-school shopping and capture dollars that might otherwise go to Amazon, which holds Prime Day on July 16 and 17.

Right now you can find deals at Target , which launched a week-long event on Sunday, two days earlier than last year, offering 30% off on school uniforms and backpacks, including from its in-house brand Cat & Jack. Walmart is holding its “largest deals event ever” from Tuesday to Thursday, also two days earlier than last year.

Are you noticing any exceptional deals or taking advantage of early shopping offers? Write to me at [email protected] .

Reuters poll ??

In our last poll, we asked readers how likely you are to change jobs in the coming year . Interestingly enough, the majority of you (34%) said “Maybe,” if offered the right opportunity. By contrast, 29% of you plan to stay put in your current role.?

And now for this week’s poll: Is tipping culture out of control? Take our poll here .

A$K Lauren ????

Do you need to appoint an executor for your estate? Are you shopping for a new credit card? Send questions to [email protected] , and I'll tap my extensive source network and braintrust for expert advice.

Don’t forget to subscribe to this newsletter ! Even better, share it with a friend!

New podcast alert! ???

Subscribe to our newest podcast: Reuters Econ World. Every week, Carmel Crimmins and her guests dive deep into a single economic principle driving global headlines and help listeners understand the ideas and debates shaping the global economic agenda.

Listen here .