Answer These Random Questions and We'll Guess How Much You Tip at Restaurants

By: Jennifer Post
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Answer These Random Questions and We'll Guess How Much You Tip at Restaurants
Image: Steve Debenport / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Since waitstaff are paid a much lower hourly rate than most in the United States, they rely on tips to survive. For a lot of people, this thought gets lost in all of the other thoughts roaming around in their heads, and that's completely normal. 

For people who make a higher hourly rate or are salaried employees, it's easy to forget that that is kind of a luxury when there are jobs that don't subscribe to that pay scale. In most of Europe, servers are paid a livable hourly rate and tipping is not encouraged. This is because the server is expected to give great service and not have to chase tips, and also because, in theory, a higher hourly rate will promote a more positive attitude about serving the general public. Some establishments in the US have begun to subscribe to paying their staff wages that reflect the needs of living in society, but all too often, that is not the case. 

It is fortunate that if someone salaried has a bad day, they don't get paid less. But if a server is having a bad day, their tip decreases. This is obviously ludicrous, since they are still working at their job, which in theory should pay them a reasonable wage for the work they are doing. Additionally, many issues that arise that the server has to deliver are actually issues coming from the kitchen or management, and yet again, the server is the one who suffers. These are all things to think about the next time you're wondering how much to tip (our advice: More than you think!). 

Don't worry, if you're on the low end today, it just means you should only eat out when you can afford to properly compensate your server! Maybe this quiz will give you some new ideas about what it means to work in the service industry, and why equitable wages and unions make such a difference in the life of low-wage workers. We can guess how much you tip in restaurants now, and all you have to do is answer these random questions! 

If you saw someone on the side of the road with a flat tire, what would you do?
I'd change it for them
I'd call a tow truck
I'd look and see if they look like they need help
Keep driving, there isn't much I can do for them

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Do you consider yourself a generous person?
Oh yes, it's a great trait to have
Generous enough
When it's something I care about
I could be better

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What is the best kind of job to have?
One you love
One you don't hate
A job that fulfills you professionally and creatively
One that pays the bills

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How many bath towels do you have?
6, enough for me and any guests
4, 2 for use and 2 for spare
2
Who needs more than 1?

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Thinking back to the last thing you watched on tv, what genre was it?
Stand-up comedy
Office sitcom
Nature documentary
True crime series

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What's your favorite outdoor activity?
Hiking followed by a picnic on the trails
Swimming in a pool
Any kind of team sport pick-up game
Walking from my car to inside my house

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Can you remember all of your dreams?
I remember all of them
For the first two seconds I'm awake
Only the really vivid ones
Barely any

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If you had one million dollars, what would you spend it on?
I'd donate most of it to grassroots organizations that work to dismantle capitalism.
Buying income properties all over the country
Paying off my student loans
A new house

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Which of the below is closest to your go-to karaoke song?
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
Anything by ABBA
"Don't Stop Believin'"
I do not karaoke

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If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
Paris, France
I'd love to try living in Australia
Canada
Somewhere in South America

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Money being no object, what piece of furniture would you add to your home?
A new sectional sofa that can be a bed
A bed frame with storage underneath
I would love new appliances
I'd redo the floors instead

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Are you an adventure seeker?
Yes! I would totally jump out of an airplane
Eh, not so much
Not on purpose
I'd go bungee jumping I think

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Do you like to garden or take care of indoor plants?
I don't have an outdoor garden, but my indoor plants are doing great
I love my succulents! They're so sturdy
I want a vegetable and herb garden eventually
Not particularly, but I like buying cut flowers

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What's your favorite thing to eat for lunch?
A hearty salad that will keep me full until dinner
Sandwich from the local deli
Whatever my significant other makes for me
Fast food chicken sandwich

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When do you like to go to bed?
No later than 10pm
Around 11pm
I hate it but I usually go to bed around midnight
Whenever I'm tired, it varies

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Would you ever get a tattoo?
If I found something that was really meaningful to me
I already have a couple
I totally would, I just can't commit
Nah I'm into piercings more

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Are you a birthday celebration person?
I think I love celebrating other people's birthdays more than my own
They're fun for a while
I'm only in it for the cake
Only for milestone birthdays

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Were you good at sports growing up?
I was Varsity for most of the sports I played
I just played to have fun
I tried sports, but they weren't my thing
I always had to work after school

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Do you like to cook?
I make great breakfast
I love it, even if I'm not the best
I'm good at certain things like pastas and casseroles
I prefer to eat out

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Can you tell when Mercury is in retrograde?
I just go with the flow
Totally, it throws everything off
I know when it is, but it doesn't really impact me
That doesn't really do anything to our lives

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How do you celebrate Valentine's Day?
With a fancy dinner, good wine and flowers
Usually alone, but I buy myself really great chocolate
I like staying in and cooking
I don't, it's a fake holiday

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What would you eat on a cheat day?
I would live at Chick-Fil-A
Every flavor of Ben & Jerry's I could get my hands on
Baked mac and cheese for every meal
Waffles on waffles on waffles with bacon on the side

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Do you like seeing movies in the theater or renting them at home?
I like to rent, theaters are expensive
If it's spoiler-prone, I'll go to the movies
I like the candy at the movie theater
Depends on what the movie is

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When you get bored, what's your go-to way to break up the boredom?
Finding something new to watch
Baking something tasty
Reading one of the many books on my shelf
Take a nap

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How many rings does it take for you to pick up the phone?
I screen all of my calls
I just silence it and don't pick up
I only pick up if it's someone I know, and after the first ring
I ignore it and text that person back

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Is retirement something you're looking forward to?
Not looking forward to, but I am saving for it
I can't wait to not have to work anymore
I feel like I'd get bored
I could go either way

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Do you have any unique talents?
I can touch my nose with my tongue
I can raise one eyebrow and one side of my lip
I can wiggle my ears
Not anything that someone somewhere else can't do

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What's your favorite word out of the choices below?
Superfluous
Barnyard
Frivolous
Decanter

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Which animal would you want by your side during a conflict?
A puppy because everyone loves puppies
A gorilla
A lion to chase people away
A big bird to fly me away from the situation

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Out of the items below, which one could you never live without?
My cell phone
Daily planner
A ruler
Paper towels

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You Got: