How much should I tip at curbside pickup? The social distancing initiative seen during the 2020 worldwide pandemic (COVID-19) forced the food and beverage industry to quickly adapt or risk closing. One of the innovations presented by restaurants was the solution of “curbside pickup”. This new toggle allowed consumers to order online and simply drive their car near the entrance of the restaurant while a representative hand delivered their prepared meal to the trunk/hatch. With a wave of the hand, the consumer drove away feeling like a king being brought the gifts of his people. I continue to...

Should you add to the tip of your elderly parents? I am a middle-aged father of 3 children living in the manicured suburbs of a city. My parents are 75 years old and still live in the same rural midwestern town they were born in. They technically travelled 872 feet from the “hospital” they were born in for a lifetime of shelter. The reason I spotlight our differences in lifestyle is part of a theory I created to validate my father’s default to a universal $1 tip. Even in retirement and managing a fixed income, our parents want to retain the feeling of providing for their children. The last...