'Tis the season for giving....so are you in the holiday spirit when it comes to tipping? What's considered a good tip these days? Does a 'tip jar' mean we have to leave a tip? Here's what the experts have to say.

From taxis...to restaurants...to bars...leaving a tip is a staple of American culture. Laura Kestner is a career counselor at Marquette University, and en etiquette expert. She explains the history of tipping: "If you look at it, it really did come from giving people extra for the work they did for you."

But what do service workers really expect? Is there any clear rule for tipping? We asked Wisconsin Restaurant Association CEO Ed Lump.

"The rule is...there is no rule. It's a voluntary thing," Lump says.

Most of us know the standard tip at a restaurant is 15-20% of the bill. But what about less obvious service jobs? Does a tip jar automatically mean you need to leave a buck? Nicole Trempt works at the Anodyne Coffee Roasting Company. She says about 50% of her customers leave a tip.

"We don't expect it, but it's definitely nice if they do," she says.

Kestner explains, "I think probably the coffee shop, really just know that spare change is required."

Customer Greg Novak says he usually leaves a buck or two. "They're not just making coffee, sort of doing latte art."

What about that 'To Go' order? You don't really need to leave a tip if you're picking it up, right? Wrong!!

Kestner says, "The rule is you would tip up to 10%."

And with holiday travel, many of us will stay at hotels. It's in your best interest to take care of your bellman. "They are very helpful in a lot of ways. Not just carrying your bags, but giving you directions, giving you suggestions for restaurants," Kestner says.

The general rule...give at least $1 to $2 a bag, and never leave less than $5 total.

So what do some customers have to say?

Tim O'Rourke: "I think I'm a good tipper yes, especially the more wine I have."

Chelsey Pfiffner: "Job needs to be well done to get a good tip out of me. I will always leave a tip, but my tip will reflect what I thought of you."

Kestner says it's also a nice gesture to tip a little extra during the holiday season. "Maybe 1-2 times addition to what you're normally tipping."

Don't forget the people who help you everyday-- Like the paper delivery person, the garbage man, your child's teacher, and your mail carrier. It's a nice gesture to give them a little something extra during the holiday season. A gift certificate is a good idea, so they can buy what they like.

There are some services you don't need to tip for. They include makeovers at the department store, UPS deliveries, and contracting jobs. Our expert says the cost of labor is already built into those jobs.

And if you're still confused...there are tons of websites out there with basic tipping guidelines like tipping.org, realsimple.com, and tripadvisor.com.

Overall, the choice is yours: Whether to be a saint or a scrooge this holiday tipping season!