The bill came to \u00a360. The place wasn\u2019t fancy and we didn\u2019t drink alcohol, but the waiter was great and we\u2019d had a good evening.<\/p>\n
I paid for both of us, and, in a slightly bold move, left a \u00a320 tip. My date was impressed, and I, of course, acted like it was no big deal.<\/p>\n
Later that night, at home, I opened my banking app<\/a>. I had just \u00a324 left, no food in the fridge and a week until payday.<\/p>\n Now I feel a bit ridiculous. Not because the waiter didn\u2019t deserve a good tip \u2013 he was lovely \u2013 but because it was overly generous for the amount paid, and something I knew at the time I couldn\u2019t afford.<\/p>\n I wanted to seem easygoing and generous, when the truth is, I\u2019m just about managing to stay on top of things financially.<\/p>\n I think I was just trying to impress my date, as I really liked them.<\/p>\n I told a friend and she said it was sweet but stupid. I can\u2019t help agreeing. It\u2019s not that I regret being kind; I just wish I hadn\u2019t done it at my own expense.<\/p>\n Will my date expect me to tip just as much as the next time we go out? How can I plan better for next time?<\/p>\n Emily Braeger, The i Paper\u2019s money reporter, replies<\/p>\n You were trying to make a good impression and show appreciation for good service. That comes from a generous instinct. But generosity doesn\u2019t have to cost more than you can afford.<\/p>\n Tipping is a cultural minefield. I hate it.<\/p>\n In some circles, anything under 15 per cent is seen as stingy. In others, anything over a fiver feels flashy. Tipping should reflect both the service and your circumstances, though.<\/p>\n If \u00a320 stretched you beyond your limit, then it wasn\u2019t a kind gesture \u2013 it was a financial risk dressed up as confidence.<\/p>\n Ten per cent is often the standard and you gave more than that.<\/p>\n Performative spending like this is more common than people admit \u2013 I do it too, so you\u2019re not alone.<\/p>\n
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