It's much the same here, they work black, collect their 430 Euros a month paro, and just about get by. I don't see too much wrong with it.

people gotta eat

"Family" just helping out ?

What about taxi drivers and hairdressers for example? Is it usual to tip them in Spain?

Not used a taxi but if I did I would automatically tip. Hairdressers look at me a little strange when I tip but not as much as the waitresses did.

rosemary

after being there for close on 3 hours the bh gave her hairdresser a tip on saturday............
the colouring had been done but she still hadnt had a cut. Demanded hair be dried then gave her the tip - don't expect me back ever again.

From what Ive seen Spanish dont tip and they dont expect tips , I remember years ago four of us ate at a decent restaurant and the bill was around 200 euros , we tried to give the waiter a 20 euro tip as all was very good but he did not want it and almost seemed offended !he went and spoke to his boss who came over and said it was not necessary but accepted it after we insisted , bizarre !

A compliment seems to be more appreciated than the cash........though things may be about to change under the current financial climate?

Tip may not be expected in some places but I have yet to meet anyone in the world who doesn't appreciate one.

When I went to Cuba, the tips most appreciated were things like small bars of soap, which was almost impossible for most Cubans to buy, rather than cash. And a couple of waitresses I gave part-used lipsticks to were absolutely over the moon.

Used lipstick URGHHHH I would be insulted of somebody offered me that !

If I hadn't heard beforehand that stuff like that was really appreciated, I would have been hesitant to offer. but I guess if we couldn't get hold of these things our perspective might be different.

Not in the third world. We leave everything behind we haven't used, half packets of Rennies, Asprins etc.

When we lived in Africa we weren't allowed to pay our housekeeper more than the official rate. Mobuto thought it would bugger the economy if the westerners started paying over the odds. We used to give him food to take home and other stuff. He even used to wash empty tin cans and take them back to his village.

My Oh left a tip with the payment on a tray and the waitress came after him and wouldnt accept it even though he explained it was for her.

The Cubans also hang on to empty cans, eg from soft drinks. They cut the tops off and take them to get ice cream from the state-run ice cream parlours (one of the few foodstuffs available off-ration) as they have to supply their own containers.

Mind you, my experience is probably well out of date now as it's at least 15 years now since I was there and things have probably changed a lot. I always remember seeing a really big double fronted shop with nothing in the windows but cheese-graters, of all things - but you couldn't buy cheese for love nor money!