Word Has It Millennials Are Huge Cheapskates Who Suck At Tipping

Millennials: We need to have a talk.

According to a report from CreditCards.com, we– as a group– are horrific tippers.

Young adults age 18-37 are much less keen on tipping than their older counterparts, according to a new survey by CreditCards.com. The survey shows that millennials’ attitudes and behavior on tipping tend to be stingier across the board.

Even though my generation is willing to spend an inordinate amount of money on a piece of fancy toast (I’m not judging because I totally buy fancy toast and enjoy every last bite), many millennials are total CHEAPSKATES when it comes to tipping a waiter or waitress, which irritates me beyond belief.

According to the report, “ten percent of Americans ages 18 to 37 say they routinely leave no tip,” while “nearly one in three leaves less than a 15 percent tip at restaurants.”

ARE YOU KIDDING ME GUYS? Get it TOGETHER! Grow some class! And don’t even try to explain this away. I’m willing to bet that most of these millennials aren’t basing this on the service they receive. They go into these places KNOWING they’re not going to tip.

I hate that so much. My parents always taught me that if you can’t afford to leave a good tip, you can’t afford to sit in that type of restaurant. Go to the Panera drive-thru if you don’t want to leave a tip. If someone’s providing you a service, you TIP THEM. This isn’t complicated.

“Tipping at sit-down restaurants has always been the standard in the U.S., but that’s not necessarily the case in other countries,” says CreditCards.com senior industry analyst Matt Schulz. “We’re seeing younger adults tipping less, and even showing a greater preference toward eliminating tipping altogether, even if it means paying more on the bill.”

I don’t get that at all. Why would you want to jack up the price of the good? How does that make much of a difference? Won’t it ruin the incentive for waiters and waitresses to give you good service? Think this through, guys.

That data might make it seem as though millennials are just cheap, but a more nuanced explanation is that people with more money tend to tip more, and young adults as a whole have lower incomes than people who are further along in their careers.

“Income predicts tipping,” says Michael Lynn, a tipping expert at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. “Older people really prefer tipping.”

I understand that there’s a correlation between income and tipping, but I don’t think that necessarily determines the size of a tip. Far too many millennials are trapped in a poverty mentality. That’s their problem. Even if you’re on a budget, you don’t have to go around acting like a pauper. Adjust your attitude. Change your perspective.

Either that, or crack open a can of Campbell Soup at home.