In college I was a server at a local restaurant here in Holland, and one of the facets of my job that really fascinated me was the whole concept of tipping.

It started out that I was a host and would receive a portion of the tips (commonly called the server’s “tip out”), in addition to my hourly wage, for the work that I had done that evening. It was nothing much, maybe $20 for the 4-5 hours that I had worked, but it was certainly a reflection of the overall dining experience that our customers had received.

Then I became a server and the stakes were even higher because I was receiving a lower hourly wage and how I did on an evening was largely dependent on the tips I received. Obviously the better the service I gave, the better I did in tips. What I didn’t realize prior to becoming a server in a busy restaurant, however, it just how hard a profession it really is.

You have to be on top of your game at all times. Guests must be greeted promptly, orders need to be 100% accurate, beverages need to be refilled constantly, food must be delivered on time and as ordered… you get the idea. This job is not for the timid, and the more you embrace the fast pace of the job, the more successful you are.

I no longer work in the food service biz, but much of what I learned in that position I’ve really hung on to in my work in college admissions. Most importantly,

The higher the level of customer service you provide, the more you will be blessed in return.

Now, this probably shouldn’t be the main reason that you seek to serve other.  That should come from deep inside your spirit, the part of your heart that wants to give so that others have a better life. But nothing irks me more than the thought of a tippable (spell check indicates this is not a real word) employee not receiving what’s due for the level of service they’ve provided.

When we go out to eat (not too often, but frequently enough) this is always as the forefront of my mind. The funny thing is, because of my background, the bar of service for a great tip is probably lower than others’. It doesn’t take a grand affair to impress Julie and me, you just need to do as best you can.

In many ways, my tipping threshold starts at 20% and goes up and down based on the quality of service. So average gets you an above average tip, in my book anyway. Oh, but if you’re really spectacular, I want to bless you big time, because waiting tables is a hard job.

Positions requiring customer service usually pay less than they should.

Are you seizing this opportunity to bless another?
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Photo Credit: eprater // Creative Commons

Financial Peace Revisited

Dave Ramsey. Viking Adult 2003, Hardcover, 352 pages, $9.87

This is the updated version of the book that preceded Dave’s New York Time bestseller, The Total Money Makeover.  It’s an in-depth look at the “envelope” system of budgeting and the basics of DR’s approach to money management.  From what we understand, this is the “how” and TTMM is more of the “why.”

Thou Shall Prosper

Rabbi Daniel Lapin. Wiley 2009, Hardcover, 370 pages, $13.90

This is another Dave Ramsey recommendation, and I have to confess, I (Andrew) started this book about a year ago, and just have not completed it. Lapin takes you through the tenants of the Jewish tradition that seem to encourage great financial prosperity. The book is well-written and thorough, and as such, it takes some time to work through it.

The Millionaire Next Door

Thomas J. Stanley. Pocket 1998, Paperback, 272 pages, $4.35

From all that we’ve heard, this one’s a classic. This book seeks to describe the commonalities among millionaires in America, things like what do they do, what their shopping and investment habits are, and what their family tree is like. The idea here is that practicing these habits may result in a similar financial outcome. Sounds good to us!

Your Money God’s Way

Amie Streater. Thomas Nelson 2010, Paperback, 224 pages, $10.54

I (Andrew) stumbled across this book on a website called Booksneeze that sends free copies of books to bloggers for review. This one appears to be more about money habits and money myths related to the Christian faith. The author calls these the “counterfeit convictions” that keep Christians broke. Should be an interesting read.  It’s not yet been released, but we’ll probably pick it up after it does come out in September.

What are you reading right now? We want to hear about it!

This might be one of the easiest ways that you can make a positive change in your financial situation.  Maybe you’ve heard it before, but it’s so worth repeating: brown bag it! That’s right, instead of heading out at noon to one of those awesome restaurants within walking distance, or worse, getting in your car to drive to some fast food joint across town, why not bring your lunch to work?

Disclaimer: This post is in no way a person indictment of your lifestyle.  Going out for lunch is awesome and like anything, fine in moderation, it just that it may not be the best financial decision you can make.

So why go through the hassle of (gasp) packing your lunch for work?  Well, besides the fact that it’s totally old school (elementary school style, that is), it also just might make your life a little happier.  Here’s why:

• You’ll almost certainly eat healthier. Instead of knocking down that Big Mac, Cheesy Gordita Crunch, or amazing BBQ chicken pizza from that brewery down the street, maybe you’ll be enjoying leftovers from last night’s home-cooked dinner or a nice sandwich.
• You will save money. It’s much harder to spend money on lunch from home, unless you’re going crazy on processed, packaged foods from the grocery store.  We’re definitely fans of leftovers from supper the night before, but we also do things like make of a big container of a cold salad or get sandwich fixings for the week.  Any of these options will be less expensive than going out.  Imagine that the average lunch out (conservatively) costs $5.  Imagine also that you go out 3 times each week.  That’s $15 per week, and about $65 per month.  We don’t know about you, but that’s a large percentage of our monthly budget (relative to everything else), and it’s just for one person.  Definitely worth thinking about.
• You’ll have more time for lunch. With no travel required, you can simply walk out to your office’s fridge, snag your meal and go to town.  If you were to drive somewhere to have lunch, you’d end up spending half your lunch in the car.  The car is so much more boring than that copy of Fast Company that you brought to peruse during lunch.

We can think of one great reason to go out for lunch, and that’s those occasional times that it’s a social activity.  There are few activities at work that are more fun than going out with your awesome colleagues for laughs and a great lunch.  Just be sure to do this sparingly — trust us, you’ll enjoy it more.

What’s your lunchtime strategy?

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Photo Credit: denverjeffrey // Creative Commons