By Mike Pulfer
The Cincinnati Enquirer

If consumers stick to the typical pattern in a tight economy, holiday tipping and gift-giving for services rendered will nosedive this season.

People will be checking their lists and thinking twice about giving to letter carriers, newspaper deliverers, hairdressers, baby sitters, school bus drivers, personal trainers and building superintendents, among others.

HOW MUCH TO TIP

What service-industry people nationwide say they expect as holiday gifts or tips. Building superintendent: $50-$100 Cleaning person: $25-$100 Dry cleaner: Fruit baskets, plants, wine Doorman: $100-$500 Gardener: $25-$100 Hairdresser: 30 percent tip-$100 Handyman: Nothing Mail carrier: Small gift or baked goods Nanny: One-two weeks' pay Newspaper carrier: 5-15 percent of annual subscription rate Office assistant: Gift certificate Source: Wall Street Journal survey by Beta Research, Syosset, N.Y.

According to a Wall Street Journal national survey of spending plans conducted by Beta Research of Syosset, N.Y., more than 30 percent of Americans are planning to spend less this year on holiday gifts.

A recent small sampling of Tristaters showed some people will cut back on tips and giving, but some won't let a uncertain financial picture dim their holiday spirit.

"I'm going make an effort to be as conservative as possible this year," says Estella White, 82, of College Hill.

"I'm going to try to be sensible. Things don't look too good, with the possibility of war and the economy."

"I'm not doing anything different than I usually do," said Gloria Pleiman of Fairfield.

"Having children who have worked in the food industry and other services makes you realize how tough they have it."

Charles Walker, a shoe shiner for 25 years at Batsakes, a hat shop downtown, said he usually gets bigger-than-usual tips at Christmas time, but he doesn't know what to expect this year.

Christopher Smith, 38, who lives downtown, says, "The future is not so certain now as at other times. I am having to reconsider what will go into the holiday season, economically speaking."

For service-industry workers, if gifts from the people they serve don't go away, they'll probably shrink or be a little different.

"We are all feeling the economic crunch, says Sheryl Imhoff, 50, of Mason. She says she plans to be creative and "give more from her heart and less from her wallet."

If you're fine-tuning a tipping or a gift list, "The first question to ask yourself is, `What did I give this person last year?' People do keep tabs," says Ann Marie Sabath, author, consultant and founder of AtEase Inc., a local company that specializes in business protocol and etiquette training.

"You can do something thoughtful. You can do more for fewer people," she says.

For example, "When you see that green isn't going to do it for you, take a few dozen bagels and cream cheese to the hairdresser's."

These are among the people you should try to remember, Ms. Sabath says:

The doorman, if you live in a building that has one.

Postal carriers, especially if they're handling extra holiday mail for you.

The maitre d' at your favorite restaurant "who gets you that special table every time."

The hair salon receptionist who bends over backward to get you an appointment at a moment's notice.

Skycaps at the airport.

"Think of those who have rendered a service to you this year," she says. "Anyone who does favors ... who goes above and beyond the call of duty." And if you can't give cash, "think about the person's interests and personalize the gift, so it's really not the money."

Ms. Sabath says that if you normally give a gift of money to someone who provides a service, and "it's not as big as you'd like it to be, include a note that says, `Happy Holidays. Wish I could have added a few 0s here ... I want you to know how much I appreciate you.'

"You can acknowledge them in a tactful manner," she says.

She offers a couple of no-nos for tight economic times: "Don't brag about the bonus you got or drive up to a holiday party in a new car. ... Play it down.

"If you are an employer feeling the economic pinch, give workers a half-day off."

Don't, she emphasizes, follow the lead of one local employer who opted to introduce a cash bar at the office Christmas party.

"A cash bar. Talk about NO!"

Jeanne Middleton, a personal trainer from Madisonville, says she typically gets $25-$30 gifts from her clients during the holiday season - "and it doesn't matter who it is. The $16,000 administrative assistant or the corporate CEO. They give the same.

"It's definitely a little more than the letter carrier ... or the person at the corner store who gives you extra sugar in your coffee. It's above the level of your maid," she says.

Post office employees are allowed to accept unsolicited gifts worth no more than $20 per occasion and no more than $50 from one customer during a calendar year, says Bonni Manies, a spokeswoman for the Postal Service. Snacks and baked goods don't count.

Elementary school teachers may get gifts from students and parents, but for upper grades, that's usually not an issue.

"It was uncommon to get a gift," says Sue Taylor, who taught at Withrow and Hughes high schools for 23 years before signing on as president of the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers. "We would get cards and candy canes. One year, I got a cooler.

"As a parent, I like to give teachers gift certificates for Joseph-Beth (Booksellers)," says Ms. Taylor. "Teachers love to be recognized. We can use books for our professional knowledge or for use by students in the classroom."

But, she says, "the best gift I ever got was a card from a troubled student from the year before. I still have it.

"I know I gave you a rough time," it read. "Thanks for sticking with me."

This year, Ms. Taylor learned the same student had earned an associate degree from a trade school.

"It was just such welcome news," she said.

E-mail mpulfer@enquirer.com.