I've learned to tip 20%, perhaps because my gramps was in the restaurant business as are both my brothers. What I don't get is my mother's newfound insistence to not tip on the tax. I haven't done the math, but I can't see it being that big of a difference (for smaller bills, at least).

When dissatisfied, I give 15% and throw in whatever pennies I have as a chin flick (it makes me feel like not total shit when all I want to do is leave the pennies).

eta that okay, it seems like it's not New new, but her adamantness is.

In your dads' defense, I am pretty sure 10% used to be standard, and 15% was good.

Oh, it was. He just can't get with NOW.

I would never have thought not to tip on the tax if it weren't for the internet.

20% is definitely the NYC norm.

Wasn't 18% the NYC norm thirty seconds ago?

Guys, I'm not going any higher than 20. Seriously. Tip creep has got to stop somewhere. Even in NYC. I tend to over-tip anyway, but we need to leave me some room to do that.

I mean, I thought I over-tipped. Man, I'm losing all my over-tip cred. And, no, I don't tip on the tax.

Are we just talking restaurants? Or taxis and hair dressers too?

I've also heard you don't have to tip on drinks for regular table service (not cocktail). I just tip on 20% of the whole bill. I tend to overtip, but I often have a toddler and overtipping is my way of saying, "Sorry about the mess."

I confess that I don't actually leave 20% a lot of the time -- I round down. Like if the bill is $52, I'd leave $10.

I have 2 8 yo boys in my house. cousins. They have to be up and out of the house by 7:20 tomorrow morning. Chances I am getting to bed in the next 45 min?

I tend to tip high on relatively cheap yet surely unpleasant to do things. Pedicure? Bikini wax? We're rounding up a couple of times.

I don't know what the going rate in KC is. I will tip in the area of 17%-20% on the total including tax.