[Boomer]

Oh, never mind. I just deleted my post. I knew I could get caught up in this all afternoon and not get anything done.

[justjim]

Originally Posted by RickeyD

As well as blind. Those born before 1950 have seen the American dream come to full fruition in their lifetime and have ridden the wave all the way to retirement concluding with a well funded defined benefit plan, enormous home equity, corporate & public funded medical benefits AND these very same people were able to sock away a tidy savings WITHOUT needing to have their spouse work outside the home so they could raise their children the proper way instead of having to pay strangers to do it for them. Save me the I grew up poor in the depression speech, heard it a thousand times. Try raising a young family with your spouse HAVING to work because you're spending more then half of your monthly income on a high interest mortgage and high taxes because real estate prices more then quadrupled within a 15 year span driven by the baby boomer housing rush. I feel very fortunate to have bought my first house when I was 25 years old. Today young families are lucky just to be able to afford a house and if they do its not until they are in their thirties or forties. Today young people can expect to change jobs more then 7 times, yesteryear's generation stayed on with just one. Today's employers offer no pension, low wages and marginal medical with the employee having to pay half the cost AND not covering the spouse. May I add these ARE college graduates burdened with enormous student loan debt. Those needing day care for their children are consuming 20% of their take home income doing so. This new generation has a very bleak retirement future indeed because they know they won't be able to.
If people WANT to tip, let them and don't put them down for wanting to. If they want to think of themselves as silent hero's, let them, it's their prerogative to do so.

Rickey, with all due respect, where did you get your data that those born before 1950 had the American Dream and those after 1950 don't? My observation is somewhat different. I was born a decade before 1950. Many my age grew up without Father's because they didn't make it back home following the Big War.

Many fathers came back wounded, hardly able to work And there was no housing available. It was tough for many families. Many of the children from that generation were the first to graduate from college---some after they were married and had children.

Bottom line----every age group has it opportunities and it's stories. The silent generation, baby boomers, generation X, generation y or Millennium generations all have opportunities living in this great country of ours. But---it's not easy and you may have to sacrifice during some of those early years, work hard, save, and never give up and you can capture at least part of the American dream.

Our age group are far from blind, rather we still believe the American Dream still exists but you still must take advantage of the opportunities that come your way and you don't give up because everything isn't given to you on the silver platter.

[KeepingItReal]

Originally Posted by justjim

My last word on "tipping"---just let your conscience be your guide and be thankful to be an American!

Does anyone really think their tip is actually going to change someone's entire life? Most that really tip well don't pat themselves on the back and go telling everyone about it!

[MelZ]

Let's take a break and learn about Christmas spirit from Charles Dickens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRrlurEKg1w

1951 Version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG98tWXAsik

1938 version

BTW do as you please when it comes to tipping, but I love the story

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by RickeyD

As well as blind. Those born before 1950 have seen the American dream come to full fruition in their lifetime and have ridden the wave all the way to retirement concluding with a well funded defined benefit plan, enormous home equity, corporate & public funded medical benefits AND these very same people were able to sock away a tidy savings WITHOUT needing to have their spouse work outside the home so they could raise their children the proper way instead of having to pay strangers to do it for them. Save me the I grew up poor in the depression speech, heard it a thousand times. Try raising a young family with your spouse HAVING to work because you're spending more then half of your monthly income on a high interest mortgage and high taxes because real estate prices more then quadrupled within a 15 year span driven by the baby boomer housing rush. I feel very fortunate to have bought my first house when I was 25 years old. Today young families are lucky just to be able to afford a house and if they do its not until they are in their thirties or forties. Today young people can expect to change jobs more then 7 times, yesteryear's generation stayed on with just one. Today's employers offer no pension, low wages and marginal medical with the employee having to pay half the cost AND not covering the spouse. May I add these ARE college graduates burdened with enormous student loan debt. Those needing day care for their children are consuming 20% of their take home income doing so. This new generation has a very bleak retirement future indeed because they know they won't be able to.
If people WANT to tip, let them and don't put them down for wanting to. If they want to think of themselves as silent hero's, let them, it's their prerogative to do so.

Like

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Like

I think it is an ideological debate. I think it goes further than the surface. I think that many of us really DON'T know others on this forum well enough to judge whether they are right or wrong in their values, and who can judge another's values anyway.


I don't want to outlive my money. I could do with very little and still be happy. Most of us are like that. I know one thing. No one I know has stolen or connived or cheated to get the money they have. We have not harmed others to get where we are. Many of us have children and grandchildren who are heading in the right direction and that we can take a little credit for. If we take care of our own, that is the first responsibility we have. Teach them and turn them loose unless they are disabled.


Our lives teach us many lessons, and bragging about the good we do is usually not something that others admire.


Some of us are very good at reading between the lines in life and on this forum. We know who are decent folks and who are bull ****ters.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I think it is an ideological debate. I think it goes further than the surface. I think that many of us really DON'T know others on this forum well enough to judge whether they are right or wrong in their values, and who can judge another's values anyway.


I don't want to outlive my money. I could do with very little and still be happy. Most of us are like that. I know one thing. No one I know has stolen or connived or cheated to get the money they have. We have not harmed others to get where we are. Many of us have children and grandchildren who are heading in the right direction and that we can take a little credit for. If we take care of our own, that is the first responsibility we have. Teach them and turn them loose unless they are disabled.


Our lives teach us many lessons, and bragging about the good we do is usually not something that others admire.


Some of us are very good at reading between the lines in life and on this forum. We know who are decent folks and who are bull ****ters.

To me, it matters not who said it or whether it was a genuine sentiment of that particular person; it is what they said that matters. I happen to agree with what RickyD said, and also with what Dotti said earlier. Their words convey my sentiments better than I could myself.

And I don't agree that those who have reached a certain financial level would be quite happy with less. Money may not buy happiness, but it sure does make life easier.

[TNLAKEPANDA]

We sent them a gift card so they could enjoy a nice meal. They do a great job. I do not know what they get paid but to my knowledge they bid on the job and it is a set fee... not an hourly rate. Encourage all to give them a little Christmas spiff!

[Diver]

Most of the people who are service workers in the Villages are paid only $9 to $10 per hour. I am working two jobs,one of which is cleaning a rec center. I don't expeict to be tipped, but I would not say no to anyone who did. We are Villages homeowners and are just paying our bills.

[Shimpy]

Originally Posted by JoMar

Really? You don't think the drugs that are at the drug store come by truck on I75?

JoMar......You're right, I never thought of that. Almost all drugs require you to keep them at "room temps" but how are they shipped to us? I would hope like steaks or seafood in refrigerated trucks but really doubt it.

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by Cedwards38

Good points!

And, I might add, how is a minimum wage worker receiving a tip for "doing their job" any different from the hefty company bonuses that many of you used to receive for "doing your job?"

Well the bonus was paid by the employer - not the customer - and only in the good years. The difficult years yielded no bonus. Apples and oranges.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by gomoho

Well the bonus was paid by the employer - not the customer - and only in the good years. The difficult years yielded no bonus. Apples and oranges.

Like.

[RickeyD]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I think it is an ideological debate. I think it goes further than the surface. I think that many of us really DON'T know others on this forum well enough to judge whether they are right or wrong in their values, and who can judge another's values anyway.


I don't want to outlive my money. I could do with very little and still be happy. Most of us are like that. I know one thing. No one I know has stolen or connived or cheated to get the money they have. We have not harmed others to get where we are. Many of us have children and grandchildren who are heading in the right direction and that we can take a little credit for. If we take care of our own, that is the first responsibility we have. Teach them and turn them loose unless they are disabled.


Our lives teach us many lessons, and bragging about the good we do is usually not something that others admire.


Some of us are very good at reading between the lines in life and on this forum. We know who are decent folks and who are bull ****ters.

Like

[JSR22]

I tipped our mail person 30 today and she was very excited. I am very happy I made her happy

[RickeyD]

Originally Posted by Diver

Most of the people who are service workers in the Villages are paid only $9 to $10 per hour. I am working two jobs,one of which is cleaning a rec center. I don't expeict to be tipped, but I would not say no to anyone who did. We are Villages homeowners and are just paying our bills.

I know how you feel. I was forced to restart myself at 40 years old. At 41 I was raising 3 children on minimum wage which was 8 bucks an hour back then. I counted on but never asked for the hundred bucks or so I was getting per week in tips. I really appreciated it and showed my appreciation with a very thankful Thank You. Could I have survived without the tips ? Yes, but it made life a little easier.