It's that time of year again—Black Friday has come and gone, the economy has been declared on the mend (perhaps prematurely, but the hope is we've seen the worst of it) and purse strings are loosening a little bit. If you normally gift the people who are helpers, caregivers or who take care of your beauty and grooming needs, here's a reprise of the tipping guide many people found helpful last year. Remember, it's a guide, not a mandate. Any token of appreciation, however small, is usually received with gratitude because it meant you put thought in to pleasing the recipient.
Best wishes to all for a happy holiday filled with good memories of the season and beyond!
<http://www.theroot.com/views/tips-tipping>
is a Los Angeles-based correspondent for NPR News and co-author, with Karen Elyse Hudson, of The New Basic Black: Home Training For Modern Times (Doubleday).