When the 2007-2008 recession hit, my industry tanked. I went from making 6 figures a year and providing a comfortable living for my family to my wife picking up a retail job while I delivered for a local pizzeria. They also had a small dining area, so sometimes it was waiting tables, being a busboy, etc.

Tips kept food on our table, they paid our mortgage and basically helped us survive until I was able to find a new job in my chosen field. I will always be thankful to the people that helped us make it through that year by their generosity.

To this day when we tip, we always go overboard. Poor service? 25% tip. Great service? 40 - 45%, easily. We never want someone that is providing us service to go home empty handed.