In teh case of waiters and restaurant staff, tipping is not only customary but is factored in to the staff wages - so no, you're not already paying for the service For most restaurant chains (and possibly indies as well) the staff get payed way BELOW the minimum wage, with the legal requirement to pay the minimum waged topped up by punters tips. So I always insure tips are left in cash and go directly to the person providing the service Charity is a completely seperate issue from tipping and shouldn't be bundled in mind you. But tipping isn't really a mugs game - it's quite a good way of redistributing money from well-off to those less well off. And if we can afford to have a meal for two for ?50 + or a haircut for ?70 then that puts us in the well-off category. Noones asking you to make the business-owner richer - it's about helping the little-guy. And we have all been or could be again the little guy so, you know... karma