Anthony Karas

$2,200 rent. $7 eggs. $50K in student debt.

Today’s 20s hit a lot different than 1995.

Older generations love to say, “We struggled too,” and maybe they did in their own way. But the numbers are not the same anymore. The cost of simply existing has gone through the roof.

People in their 20s today are working full-time, picking up side jobs, budgeting every grocery trip, delaying big life milestones, and still feeling like they are falling behind.

It is not because they are lazy.

It is not because they do not want to work.

It is not because they spend too much on coffee or takeout.

It is because rent takes half the paycheck, groceries feel like a luxury, healthcare is expensive, degrees come with massive debt, and job security feels like something from another lifetime.

A lot of young adults are not asking for life to be easy. They are asking for the math to make sense.

Because working hard used to mean you could eventually breathe. Now, working hard sometimes only means barely staying afloat.

The whole practice of tipping needs to end. At this point it feels less like a reward for good service and more like a guilt trip that gets attached to every meal.

When I go out to eat, I’m going because I want to enjoy the food, spend time with family or friends, and have a good experience. I’m not walking into a restaurant expecting to calculate someone else's paycheck on top of my bill.

The part that bothers me is how the responsibility keeps getting pushed onto customers. Restaurant owners hire the staff. Restaurant owners set the prices. Restaurant owners run the business. Yet somehow customers are constantly told it's their job to make sure servers earn enough money.

That doesn't make sense to me.

If a restaurant can't pay its employees a fair wage without relying on customers to voluntarily fill in the gap, then maybe the business model is the problem. Why am I being made to feel guilty because I paid the amount that was literally printed on the menu and on the receipt?

What makes it even worse is when people act like not leaving a tip automatically makes someone rude or selfish. Nobody knows what another person's financial situation looks like. Some people are struggling to afford the meal itself. Some people are dealing with rent, bills, debt, childcare, and everything else life throws at them.

The expectation has gotten completely out of control. Everywhere you go now there's a screen asking for 20%, 25%, or even 30% before you've barely received any service at all.

I don't go to a restaurant to pay employees. I go to buy food. Paying employees should be the responsibility of the business owner, not the customer sitting at the table.

If restaurants simply raised prices and paid their staff properly, everyone would know exactly what they're paying upfront and nobody would have to deal with the awkward guilt, pressure, or arguments that come with tipping.

Since when did 20% become the new tipping standard?

I seriously remember when tipping was just something extra you left because the service was good. You ate your meal, maybe left a couple dollars on the table, said thank you, and went on with your day. Nobody acted like you committed a crime if you didn’t calculate the “correct” percentage.

Now it feels like tipping has turned into a required fee that just isn’t printed on the menu.

You sit down, order food, pay the bill, pay the tax, and then somehow you’re still expected to add another 20% on top like it’s automatic. And if you don’t, suddenly you’re cheap, rude, or you “don’t know how to eat out.”

But when did customers become responsible for making sure restaurant workers get paid enough?

That should be the business owner’s job.

I understand servers work hard. I understand dealing with customers is not easy. I’m not saying people don’t deserve to make money. But the pressure being put on customers is getting ridiculous. It’s not even about rewarding great service anymore. Half the time the tip screen is already flipped around before anything has even happened.

Bad service? Still tip.
Average service? Still tip.
Takeout order? Tip.
Coffee? Tip.
Someone handed you a bag across a counter? Tip.

It feels like every place now expects customers to make up the difference because employers don’t want to pay proper wages.

And then when people get frustrated, the anger gets pointed at the customer instead of the system that created this mess.

A tip used to feel optional.
Now it feels like a guilt charge.

And honestly, telling people “the standard is 20% not 15%” just proves how out of hand this has gotten. If it’s required, stop calling it a tip and just put it in the price.

This waitress decided to tell me that people who don’t leave a tip don’t have manners, as if leaving a tip is some kind of mandatory requirement rather than a voluntary choice. Tipping has always been optional, and it always should be, but too often people are made to feel guilty or judged for exercising that choice. It feels strange that in 2025, we still operate under a system where servers rely on customers’ generosity to make a living, and customers are pressured to tip on top of already paying for their meal. I wish restaurants would just factor the service charge into the price of the food, so that the cost of good service is included upfront and no one has to worry about tipping or being shamed for not doing so. That way, everyone knows exactly what they are paying for, the workers get fair compensation without relying on uncertain tips, and the whole experience would feel less awkward, less entitled, and more straightforward for both parties.

I’m not going to be forced into leaving a tip. Period.

Restaurants that pull stuff like this are exactly why people are getting fed up. If your business model depends on sneaking gratuity onto someone’s receipt because you don’t want to properly pay your own employees, then maybe that business model doesn’t deserve to survive.

Pay your staff yourself. Don’t make customers feel trapped, pressured, or punished because they don’t want to add extra money on top of the bill.

They really tried adding the gratuity like that was just going to slide. 😂

Nope. Never.

I honestly cannot believe a business looked at this sign and thought, “Yes, let’s tape that right on the front door.”

I walked up with my child today, and before we even stepped inside, there was this huge notice basically making families feel like a problem from the start.

And it is not even the idea of asking parents to watch their kids.

I get that.

Nobody wants kids running through a restaurant, screaming, touching everything, or making a mess while other people are trying to eat.

That part is reasonable.

But the way this sign was written felt so cold.

It did not come across like a polite reminder. It came across like a warning that children are only welcome if they sit perfectly still, stay completely quiet, and basically disappear the whole time they are there.

There is a big difference between saying, “Please supervise your children,” and making every parent feel judged before they even walk through the door.

If you own a business that serves the public, families are going to come in. Parents have kids. Kids are humans. They are not always silent little decorations.

Of course parents should be responsible. Of course kids should not be allowed to ruin everyone else’s experience.

But this sign made it feel like the business does not really want children there at all — they just still want the adults to come in and spend money.

Honestly, it felt rude before we even opened the door.

Would you still go in after seeing something like this?

Or would you turn around and spend your money somewhere that actually feels welcoming?

This receipt really highlights how tense tipping has gotten. 😕

The bill came to $74.28, and instead of tipping, the customer left a note saying they have kids, bills, and child support, and that they’re broke.

Life is expensive, and many people are stretched thin. Everyone has responsibilities, and budgets look different.

From a server’s side, though, it’s still tough to provide full service and then see “no tip.” Servers have bills too, and tips are a major part of their income.

It feels like a broken system where customers are frustrated, workers are frustrated, and the person serving takes the hit.

Do you think tipping should always be included in your dining budget, or is this a sign the system itself needs changing? 👀

I saw this sign outside a restaurant and had to read it twice. 😳

It basically said you can’t order water as your only drink, and every guest is required to buy a beverage.

Now, I get it. Restaurants have expenses. Drinks are a big profit item for a lot of places, and staying open isn’t cheap. But making every customer buy something besides water feels kind of wild.

What if someone only drinks water?

What if they don’t drink soda, alcohol, sweet tea, coffee, or anything sugary?

What if they’re already ordering food and just don’t want the bill turning into a surprise attack? 😭

A sign like that changes the vibe before you even walk through the door. Instead of feeling like a guest, it feels like you’re being warned that buying food alone still isn’t enough.

Maybe there’s a backstory. Maybe people were coming in, taking up tables forever, and barely spending anything. Maybe management felt like they had to draw a line somewhere.

But “every guest must purchase a beverage” still seems like the kind of rule that could make people turn around before they ever sit down.

Would this make you rethink eating there, or do you think restaurants are fair to require every customer to buy a drink?

I know some people are going to say, “Come on, this is just common sense. Nobody wants to eat next to someone who smells strongly like weed.”

And yeah, I understand that side of it.

A restaurant should be comfortable for the people eating there and for the employees working there. Nobody wants to sit down for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and have the whole table overwhelmed by a smell coming from nearby.

But at the same time, seeing a sign like this at a place like Denny’s still feels a little weird to me.

Because once you start saying someone can be refused service for a “strong odor,” it becomes a judgment call. There’s no real standard for it. No clear line. No measurement. No proof. Just one person deciding whether another person smells acceptable enough to be seated.

And that’s where it gets uncomfortable.

Denny’s has always felt like one of those places where regular people could walk in as they are. People coming off a long shift. People traveling. People stopping in late at night. People who might not look perfect, smell perfect, or fit some polished restaurant image.

That was kind of the whole appeal. It felt casual. Familiar. Low-pressure. Like you could just walk in, sit down, and eat.

So when a sign like this goes up, it changes the feeling a little bit. Now it’s not just about ordering food. It becomes about whether someone working there decides you’re acceptable enough to stay.

Maybe this sign was put up because they’ve had real problems. I’m sure there are situations where odor can genuinely affect other customers and staff. I’m not denying that.

But vague rules like this can also create new problems. Who decides what counts as “too strong”? Is it only ma*****na? Is it body odor? Perfume? Cigarette smoke? Work smells? Cooking smells?

Where does the line actually get drawn?

I understand wanting a comfortable restaurant environment. I just think policies like this open the door to a lot of awkward judgment calls.

I honestly don’t know who looked at this sign and thought, “Yep, this is the perfect thing to put right outside the front door.” 😅

I was walking with my kids when we saw this huge sign basically warning parents that children need to be quiet, seated, supervised, and perfectly behaved the entire time.

I get it. Businesses do not want kids running around, touching displays, screaming, or disturbing other customers. Parents should absolutely be watching their children.

But the way this was written felt harsh.

There is a big difference between setting respectful expectations and making families feel like they are a problem before they even walk inside.

Maybe the business has dealt with bad situations before. Maybe they were frustrated. But a sign like this does not feel welcoming at all. It gives off the message that kids are only acceptable if they sit silently and do not act like kids.

Maybe I’m being sensitive, but this definitely feels more like “families are tolerated” than “families are welcome.”