Around the holidays people tend to become more generous. Spending more, tipping more, etc. Is that you?
I have a tradition. I do one extraneous generous tip / donation / something, then if the rest require money I say bah-humbug. If they require my time I will be glad to be generous and help out a little. Hold the door a little longer for somebody, etc. I think the world needs a little from the heart generosity, that doesn`t mean it can`t be calculated ;-)
Tipping shouldn`t be increased because of the time of year it should be based on the service. Service sucks no tip. I also have a request. Anybody out there that works in an industry that gets tips. Learn how to make change so you can get a tip. If I buy a coffee and you give me $5.38 cents in change back, give me ones or you aren`t getting a tip. It may sound cruel, but learn how human nature works and how it will be EASY for them to stick a buck in your cup. I teach everyone that gives me the 5 instead of 5 ones back and I got back a week later and ALL of them have increased their tips by almost double.
Spending is increased for me simply out of the tradition to buy crap for others that I have grown up with and has propagated itself throughout my family. If it were up to me I would rather have family time than what did I get this year time. I`m sure my mother would fall over if she heard me say that now :-)