Hi there! I am a long time lurker who is still living up North and many years from retirement. But I wanted to add some comments from a newspaper carrier's perspective. This is not meant to inflame or incite, just inform; I think that many people do not know how paper carriers are paid - I did not until my teen son started a paper route. Carriers are paid a very small sum for delivery (here it is 12 cents, per paper, per day, but that may vary by region). From that fee, your carrier has to buy all supplies for the route - elastics, plastic bags, envelopes, and other supplies -- these basic tools are not supplied by the newspaper. Not to mention the cost of gas and wear and tear on a car, and the fact that there are virtually no days "off". We delivered my son's papers on Thanksgiving and other holidays, and have returned home early from family vacations to be certain that papers are delivered on time.
A paper route appealed to me for my son since I am trying to instill a strong work ethic, encourage him to buy some of his "wants" (I supply the needs of course), and this was a good opportunity for him to learn about money management while he is too young for a part time job. I also had a paper route as a child and relished the experience. In my humble opinion, a paper route is a fine arrangement for a child with no expenses, but a very difficult way to make extra income as an adult.
Again, my intent is not to incite, but I thought this information would be helpful when you are considering a holiday tip for your carrier (assuming that you are happy with the service). They are very much appreciated! Thanks for the soapbox, and I wish you all Happy Holidays!
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