Prepare your wallet because January is the home stretch for New Years. Since 2024 has only started two days ago, you might as well not spoil your good resolutions (“be more considerate of others” and “give to your neighbor”), so hop on, let’s get out the tickets. But despite all the good will in the world, it is sometimes difficult to know precisely how much to give, and to whom exactly?
Don’t panic, at 20 Minutes, our good resolution is to “help our readers even more”. So as usual, we explain everything to you in this mini-guide.
The building concierge/caretaker
- Why is it important to give?
Because all work deserves wages, and the janitor often does much more than his job. Indeed, since 2017, the building caretaker is no longer obliged to receive parcels and registered letters, a task which he still carries out regularly. And the more generous you are, the less reluctant he will be to do bonus tasks: looking after your keys in your absence, giving them to your family when you are not there…
Finally, because failing to be the guardian of your night’s sleep like Francis Cabrel, he still remains the guardian of the roof where you live, so it is rather important to pamper him.
- How much should you give?
“It is customary to give 10% of the monthly rent, but the practice is being lost and people are giving less and less, often around 5%. For the wealthiest households, you can set the percentage on your income and your rent: 10% of your monthly salary is a good amount for a caretaker,” estimates economist Gabriel Dolin.
- How stingy is that?
“Below 50 euros, it doesn’t sound very serious,” specifies the expert. Except for students, for whom this can happen. But give at least a double-digit amount! »
The firefighters (and their beautiful calendar)
- Why is it important to give?
We reassure you from the outset, the firefighters will still put out the flames in your house in the event of a fire even if you have done nothing. But you probably won’t have missed it: public services are a bit weak in France at the average level, so you might as well “rearm” them yourself, just to use the words of our dear president. And great bonus: to keep your resolutions, checking off the days on which you respect them is a great mental aid, so you might as well have a calendar.
This thinking also works with the postman and La Poste calendars, particularly in rural areas, where he is more identified.
- How much should you give?
“Most of the time, we give the New Year in exchange for the famous firefighters’ calendar, which we buy much higher than its value,” recalls Gabriel Dolin. Between 5 and 10 euros is a recommended amount. »
- How stingy is that?
“I would advise giving an amount greater than 2 euros as a strict minimum, especially since there is a transaction with the calendar.”
The baby/dog-sitter
- Why is it important to give?
Well already, we’re talking about a person in charge of your blood or your four-legged best friend, so you might as well make sure you treat them well. Then, these activities often fall to people with little income, such as students or people working part-time. So don’t hesitate to be generous.
- How much should you give?
“Between 25 and 50 euros for a babysitter, and between 10 and 20 euros for the person in charge of looking after your animals, depending on how often they look after them,” supports Gabriel Dolin.
- How stingy is that?
“I would advise donating at least 15 euros, otherwise don’t give anything. This is not as accepted a practice as for concierges for example, so it is better not to give anything if it means giving so little. »