Tipping culture

Greetings!

Around the month of March this year, our compound was growing grasses sporadically, and none of us in the compound were ready to clear them. Yes, I was among them. It was actually laziness that held me back. One day, I met some young boys, around the ages of 15 to 17 years, who went about with cutlasses seeking people to employ them to clear grasses in their compounds. I engaged them to clear the grasses in our compound, and when I asked them about their charge, they humbly said I should pay them 1,000 naira. I didn't argue; I let them work, and when they were done, I handed over 2,000 naira. They were shocked and started thanking me profusely.

That’s how I approach my tipping culture: it comes willingly, to people who need it, and never as a show-off. I added an extra 1,000 naira to their requested fee because I saw that they needed it, and I knew it would make them happy. Also, the work—farm work—is genuinely hard.

Giving, in general, is something that should come from the heart, not be done forcefully, and never as a show-off thing, just like this era has made showing off in giving a norm. There’s nothing bad about giving, but tipping, especially, is something that one should do out of free will and only when necessary. It’s not something one should borrow money to do just to feel included or recognized.

You know, I’ve been to different occasions, especially birthdays, where people give money to the celebrant, and the MC showers praises on them. As a result, those who don’t give or don’t give large amounts are looked down upon. I hate such scenarios and frown at them so badly. It’s one of the reasons I don’t attend certain birthday celebrations because birthdays are meant for love and merriment, not as a ground for money donations.

Whenever I’m going out, I make sure I have cash with me because I don’t know what scenario might pop up along the way or who I might need to help. I hate situations where I meet someone in dire need and can’t offer financial help. I don’t mean beggars on the street or around bus terminals, no. I mean scenarios like meeting an accident victim and deciding to render help.

I remember a certain period during the days I was at home. I went on an errand to a faraway place, and my bicycle got damaged beyond my control. I became stranded on the road and couldn’t afford to stop a motorcycle to carry me and the bicycle back home. My parents weren’t at home, and I couldn’t board a bike on credit, knowing there would be no one at home to pay when I arrived.

A good Samaritan showed up, stopped a bike, and paid the bikeman to transport both me and the spoilt bicycle back home. I can never forget that day.

Thanks for reading.

Image source 2 & 1