Christmas Tips and Thank-You Gifts List

Who this is for

The small Christmas thank-yous, kept in order. Each person you thank gets a row with the gift or tip chosen, its cost, a tick for the card and a tick when it has been given. The summary keeps the total against your own allowance and shows who is still to receive theirs.

Households that thank teachers, carers, the post worker, the cleaner, the hairdresser or the bin crew at Christmas and want to keep track of who has been remembered.

What this helps you track

• Everyone you thank at Christmas, by name or by role
• The gift or tip chosen for each and what it costs
• Whether the card is written and the gift given, and when
• The total against your allowance for these gifts
• How many are still to give before the holidays

How to use it

1. Write the year, your name and the allowance you have set yourself for these gifts, if you set one.
2. Go through the roles listed, cross out any that do not apply and add the people who do.
3. Write the gift or tip and its cost for each; the amounts are your own choice.
4. Tick card written and given as you go, and note the date, especially for people you see only on certain days.
5. The totals and the summary are worked out in the browser and the workbook; keep the sheet as a reminder for next year.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser
• Excel / Google Sheets workbook

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The workbook uses plain formulas only — SUM, IF, COUNTIF and the like — so it opens in Excel, LibreOffice and Google Sheets without anything breaking, and every calculated cell is grey so you can see which figures it worked out.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

How much should I tip at Christmas?

There is no single right amount, and customs differ between places and people, so the list gives none. Enter what you have decided for each person, and the total shows whether it fits your allowance.

Can people who work for an organisation accept tips?

Some employers have rules about gifts or cash for their staff. If you are unsure, ask the person or check with the organisation before choosing a gift.

Why keep a date given?

Some people you only see on certain days, such as a carer on a rota or a school term that ends early. The date makes it easy to see who was missed.

Should I keep last year's list?

Yes. It is the quickest way to start the next one, and it shows who you thanked and what you gave so the list stays consistent.