Americans have become more choosy about whom and how much to tip at the holidays, according to a nationally representative survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.  During the holidays last year, fewer people than in the previous year tipped their newspaper carrier, barber, mail carrier, hair dresser, manicurist, and garbage collector.

A survey they conducted in October of this year shows that the downward trend may continue; 26% of Americans who usually tip or give a gift to a service provider said they would spend less this holiday season than last. Just 6% planned to spend more.  Average cash or non-cash tips were also smaller for some occupations.  The median tip value for manicurists was $10, half the amount given during the prior holiday season; the median tip for per-care providers dropped from $30 to $25.

The cleaning person is the most likely service person to get tipped. 71% gave a tip or a gift to their house cleaners last year.  The second most likely person to get a holiday gift or tip of some sort is your child’s schoolteacher (56%).  Hairdressers came in third with 46% of those surveyed saying they tipped the person who coiffed them last year.

Who gets tipped the least during the holidays?

92% of those surveyed give nothing to the garbage collector, 81% don’t tip the mail carrier and 77% stiff the gardener.

Want to know what others give their service providers during the holidays?  Here is the total median value of what tippers gave last year:

Cleaning person     $50

Child’s schoolteacher    $20

Hairdresser     $20

Manicurist     $10

Newspaper carrier    $15

Pet care provider     $25

Barber     $10

Gardener/lawn-care crew     $30

Mail carrier     $20

Garbage/recycling collector    $20