Let’s say you eat out three times a week, maybe once by yourself and twice with your partner. Under that assumption you might spend $65 a week. Multiply by 50 because a couple of weeks you will be visiting your parents, or going to baseball games, or maybe will be under the weather. So you are spending $3250 during the year on these meals. Tipping 15% means you’ll part with $488 during the year but here is the “payoff” (no pun intended): It only costs you an extra $163 dollars to know, deep in your heart, that you are not cheap or miserly and that you understand that it is difficult to provide good service day-in and day-out. Up the ante to 20% and for the entire year you can walk around with a song in your heart and minimal guilt because you aren’t holding back on the waitstaff. It’s a no brainer, plus the math is easier.