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Giving a tip to your movers may have you scoffing with disapproval, and we understand why. The process of moving itself is incredibly costly, and it may seem like there is no shortage of surprise fees and extra things to buy. Once moving day draws near, you’ll probably feel like your debit card may break in half from all the exercise it’s been getting. And now, we’re talking about tipping movers, which may not have even occurred to you before now.
Tipping is a touchy subject, but it’s one that should absolutely be discussed. When Americans go out to eat, a tip for the server is almost like a part of the bill for the meal; despite the fact that it isn’t legally mandatory and totally based on the discretion of the customer, it’s still very routine. And why is that? Because it’s common knowledge that servers only make a few dollars per hour, and gratuities are their way of surviving.
Why should movers, who are usually full-time employees with a competitive wage, be in the same category? Because these guys are working tirelessly with your personal things as if they are their own. The amount of hard, manual labor that goes into completing every move is immense, and your movers strive to get your things from A to B with minimal downtime. That’s some serious work ethic, which largely goes unnoticed during the stress of a move.
When your movers have done an outstanding job making your move a success, it’s the right thing to do to show them how much you appreciate their hard work. A good strategy to manage this extra expense is to plan for it ahead of time, or at least make a line item in your moving budget for any pop-up surprises. An appropriate amount to tip your movers is between 5% and 10% of the total moving cost.
Kids are very sensitive to change, so making a long-distance move may seem catastrophic for a child’s development. Making the transition from one place to another is especially stressful, even for adults. Because of this, many parents feel incrediblely conflicted when they are wondering whether to take that job across the country, buy that house in another state, or whatever it is that’s drawing them away from the familiarity of where their child calls home.
But something that many parents fail to realize at the time is that while kids can be sensitive, they can also be amazingly resilient. Issues that sometimes plague adults can be easily brushed away by a child. Kids may seem scared to start at a brand new school, but after a few days, parents just might hear the names of the new friends the kids have made.
Moving long distance is hard enough as it is. There are definitely things you should do with your child to familiarize him or her to the new area (such as showing photos of their new school, planning how they want to decorate their room, focusing on the new rather than the old, etc), However, it’s also important and encouraged to create a sense of closure for your child to say goodbye to the old home, especially if it’s the place they’ve known all their life.
In short, don’t shy away from change because you’re unsure of how it will affect your child. Be honest with your little one and give them lots to do to help with the move so that it doesn’t feel like they are totally powerless in the matter. When you help give them a sense of purpose, it’s incredible how fast and how well they can adapt.