wages in the USA need a ~50 or 100% increase in most places. Yet the only increase that most workers have seen recently has been an increase to tipping. The amount of places that ask for tips has easily doubled in the last 2 years. There is tipping everywhere now and while I want workers to get more money, I am also a worker. 20% extra on a large amount of purchases I make is pretty rough. Should I tip workers who get paid more than I do? Should I tip while unemployed? Its confusing and awkward to make the decision to tip or not.
It'd be nice to just commit to something clear. What do y'all do?
I would suggest, in your case, only tipping in traditionally tipped situations.
In the last year, my partner and I have both achieved stable employment with pay that would have seen us buying a house ten years ago, but it's now so we're still renting for the foreseeable forever. We both come from working class upbringing and spent years in poverty, so having anything in savings is a weird feeling. I tip freely wherever workers can be tipped, in cash if I can help it to avoid the owners and taxman taking a cut. I can afford it, I've subsisted off of tips and food stolen from work before, so I do what I can. Don't put yourself out if you can't afford it.