Bloggers throughout the Tri-State are currently debating the merits and amounts of their holiday tips. I figured I'd join the fray, too.

My situation is backward from most. I actually tip my super less than I do the doormen/maintenance guys. Why? Because he's worthless. He never helps anyone and constantly cops an attitude. He's literally never done anything for me or gotten anyone else to help. On the contrary, he's a hinderance to building operations. He'll get $20.

The three guys who do help out will get $30 or $40. The head guy is amazing and is always helping people. He also makes sure that the ramp out of the basement of our building is kept snow free so I can escape. Even when we got 14" last weekend it was clear. The other two guys who help him will get $30.

The housekeeper is another story altogether. I like him. He does a decent job and is super nice. Is it true, however, that it's customary to give your housekeeper the equivalent of two weeks as a holiday tip? Can anyone confirm that? If so, I have to give him $80.

I then have to tip my mailman $20 as he carries my mail down to my apartment, something he doesn't do for anyone else. The guys at work also decided that we should each chip in $15 for the UPS driver, too. He's constantly delivering packages for us and even re-routes packages sent to my house without me even asking him to.

In the end my tip expenditure will probably be about equal to my gift expenses. Welcome to the Tri-State...