Valentine Tip Money. Tip/Budget Planning for Mayo Trip.

Last night’s time at work was pretty freaking crazy – to say the least.

Another waitress had asked if I wanted to work – well, yeah, I’m good and don’t need it off.  I could care less about spending Valentine’s Day out if the option to make money instead is there.  I figured it would be a decent shift to make maybe a little extra in tips.  The last couple, we really weren’t that busy.  A little more than nothing, but nothing crazy.  However, this year we have new management – which meant new/more specials, the fabulous salad bar everyone loves and a little extra advertising.

I’d advertised fairly well for them via Facebook and working the last couple weeks.  If you build it they will come, right?  Thinking this would give us a slight bump in sales which is a slight bump in tips.

Was I ever wrong to think we’d get “a bump”.  More like a mad rush that wouldn’t end.  I was scheduled at 5 and thought I’d be nice and go in at 4:40 p.m. to help get prepped.  Our specials were starting at 5 p.m.  We run 1 waitress from 2 – 5 and then 2 waitresses from 5 – close.  Generally a dinner rush doesn’t really start until 5:30 or later.  So, I walk in at 4:40 p.m. and literally the entire place is full.  Uhhhhh?  Seriously?

The other waitress – B – gives me a quick run down that the back two tables still need drinks.  Got it.  Then she says “Oh, and I haven’t taken anyone’s orders – they all want the specials that don’t start until 5 p.m.  So your whole side needs to order too and you can have them all.”  Ummmmm?  Great?  Her side also hasn’t ordered.  Okay, this is NOT going to work.  I know the specials start at 5, but if they’re ready lets begin.  If not, they can skip to the tickets that can be made right away.  (Like some of the potato options weren’t quite ready until 5 and the Prime was resting until 5.  Whatever.”  She looks at me like I’m crazy and agrees….

Let the chaos begin.  I laugh at servers that complain when they’re double sat.  Ummmmm, I work in a seat yourself place, we have two servers and we cut the place in half and do sides.  Literally.  I was uhhhh, sat times 10 at once?  3 of those tables being 6+?  This happens frequently as it’s like we’re dead and then everyone comes in at once.  This time however, was literally, sat times 10.  Whatever.  Let’s do it.  I begin my 4:45 p.m. orders warning people they may not be able to begin their food until 5 but we can at least get going, get soups/salads done, move on.  Everyone is completely happy with this option.

We then proceeded to run our asses off for 2 hours.  Eventually took the phone off the hook as there was no way we even had the chance for that.  Working with the two of us.  Thankfully, everyone was super nice and SUPER generous.  About 6:45 p.m. it’s cleared out – sigh, B says we’ll probably be slow.  Ummmm, negative, welcome to the restaurant world – Next up is the crowd that couldn’t go out until they go their kids ready for bed AND it’s Ash Wednesday – so we should have the fish and breakfast food rush shortly.  She looked at me like I was crazy.  Not crazy, as predicted – both of these groups appeared and we filled right back up.  Now, being out of Prime Rib, Twice Baked, Regular Baked, Cupcakes.  This wasn’t a huge deal as the Ash Wednesday group really does stick with seafood and breakfast.  Finally, at 9 p.m. – we close as scheduled.  Insanity.  I’m used to Saturday mornings like that – but breakfast is easier to run than dinners that have a million plates and sides to remember, plus soups, etc.

Needless to say, my tips were phenomenal.  A combination of your 10% – 20% tippers.  However, then the generous people that were – A. Thrilled we were working on a holiday and thrilled we had crazy good specials again.  B.  Impressed for the perfect service despite the fact we were literally feeding 20+ tables at a time.  C.  Feeling bad watching the running.  — Or a combination of the 3.  Those put together, left for a good pile of cash.  Basically, making 3 times what I do on a normal weeknight – slightly more.

So, I’ve been doing the math in my head.  And on paper.  And the computer.  Okay, I do math constantly and budget endlessly….

I had to take two nights off this month as I’ll be at Mayo with Zak…..  Essentially, last night’s tipped counted for last night and those two nights.  So, it’s like I have 0 weeknights off.

I work this Saturday which is my usual Saturday.  With that, I really don’t miss a shift this month.  I missed the Thursday I had to take Max to the eye doctor – But assuming the next 3 nights I work are at least decent or close to average it won’t be bad.  My last Saturday I worked was also a little higher than normal.  So, essentially, I’m 150% on target to make everything I normally make this month and quite possibly more.

However, I also picked up an extra Saturday as I’ll miss my first March Saturday.  I’m now thinking I’ll just save those tips and roll them over to March.  A Saturday normally pays as good as 2 or 3 night shifts combined – So, that’ll take care of the 2 nights I’m off in March for also being with Zak at Mayo still.  I generally work 2 Saturdays a month and will still have two Saturdays in March as I’ll work the middle and last one.  Thus, in the end – I actually should be fine tip wise and wage wise….

Of course, this is assuming tips remain their normal average.  Hard to count on, but I’ve tracked every penny for the last 2 1/2 years and my guesses and theories are generally pretty close to right.

Next up is figuring out the cost of the trip and all that.  Ideally, I’ll just get taxes back and can use that.  I still need to figure out how to apply for the income based assistance program to help with the deductible if possible.  A lot of people keep mentioning GoFundMe – I don’t like asking for money.  I could cover it all, but need the help with the $4K deductible he’s going to need to meet.  Someone just did an awesome fundraiser here for someone with no actual medical costs due to Medicaid – but they had travel/lost wages – and they made a LOT.  Conveniently, it was my own mother who assisted in this….  Doesn’t even suggest to me this is an option though.  How nice.  So, I was thinking maybe something like that in the future?  I also asked my mom – who is big in all the volunteering and cancer stuff – if we qualify for any of those programs.  Technically, Zak was diagnosed with cancer.  However, the reason he is having these surgeries is due to a genetic colon cancer disease and if he wouldn’t have had the surgery he would 150% have gotten colon cancer – sooner than later based on the crazy size of the 100s of polyps.  He will also get full blown cancer someday, somewhere else.  So, it’s kind of related.  It’s cancers fault we’re doing this.  I’m just not sure if the fact we started before a full blown diagnosis disqualifies us.  If not – there are two programs that give you a flat assistance amount each year locally.  She said she’d check and has never given me an answer.  So, I guess I’ll ask her again tomorrow or next week.  I REALLY don’t like handouts, but I’m REALLY tired of working my ass off and bleeding money.  I paid ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL of the deductibles and max out of pockets last year myself.  I’ve never gotten assistance.  I haven’t qualified for an ounce of public assistance in 18ish years.

As I tell my clients, it’s there as a hand up, not a hand out.  Take the hand up if it helps you to remain or become self-sufficient, succeed and contribute to society in a positive way. Now I need to take my own advice – These programs and the few people that have said they want to help are a hand up, not a hand out.  Geez, it’s hard accepting help when you’re so used to being independent and relying only on yourself.