By Megan Riley Booth

If you can’t tip your server — don’t go out to eat!

That’s the message boldly scribbled on a piece of paper, accompanied by a breakdown of a $95.27 restaurant bill that turns into a whopping $133.39 after applying what appears to be a 40% tip. Yes, forty.

So we have to ask:
Has tipping culture just gone absolutely INSANE, or is it just me?

🧾 Let’s do the math:

• Original bill: $95.27

• 10% tip: $9.53

• Multiply by 4 (for a 40% tip?): $38.12

• Total: $133.39

💭 This kind of tip might be generous, but it sparks a real conversation:
Are diners being guilted into overtipping just to compensate for low wages in the service industry? Or is this just the cost of dining out in today’s economy — where generosity meets inflation?

The Dilemma

On one hand, servers often rely on tips as their primary income due to lower base wages. On the other, customers are starting to feel like they’re footing the bill for what should be a restaurant’s responsibility: fair pay.

And now, tip prompts are everywhere — cafés, food trucks, even self-checkout screens — leaving us wondering:
Where’s the line between appreciation and obligation?