If you're looking for ways to cut back this season, holiday tipping might seem like a logical place to start.

We checked with the Emily Post Institute's Lizzie Post to see if crossing the newspaper guy and hair stylist off your give-to list passes muster.

"It's perfectly OK, if you can't afford to give to every service person, that you scale back," she says. "But you must at the very, very least write a thank-you letter for the service they've provided all year for you."

There are instances, however, when a thank-you note is not enough.

"For people you're close with who are in your home on a weekly or daily basis — taking care of a parent or elderly relative, caring for your children — you still need to look into giving them a gift," Post says. "If you can afford to keep an au pair or nanny on hand, then you should be able to afford to give them a holiday tip."

Here are some guidelines:

• If you tip regularly throughout the year at the time of service, feel free to forgo a holiday tip, or just give a small gift

• When deciding how much to tip, consider the quality and frequency of the service

• For most professionals (hair stylist, pet groomer, housekeeper), the cost of one session or service is an appropriate tip

• Recommendations for child-care providers: one week's pay for a live-in nanny; $25-$70 for each staff member of a day-care center; one evening's pay for a regular baby sitter. A small gift from your child is also a nice touch in each case.

• And don't forget the newspaper delivery person ($10 to $30) and yard worker ($20 to $50).

• Don't give your kids' teachers cash. A small gift is a token of appreciation, but anything more sets up an awkward quid pro quo situation.