Christmas Boxes

You must be in a "posh" bit where you get everyone and anyone asking for money at your door. The bin teams try to out-compete each other (we have 3 - white, green & recycling), and there are a good number of fraudsters why make a healthy buck out of the affair as well.

Ettiquette in this house is they get sod f***-all and a call to the police if they are not in official uniform. The police nabbed the last lot.

Otherwise, they get up to a fiver per team (lots of teams...). But only if I'm 100% sure that they''re genuine.

Beware - even genuine binmen have been known to target "extra" rounds. We had 5 different lots about 5-6 years ago.

It's clear that people take incredible advantage of the lack of awareness of the ex-pat community.
I've been here 20 years and have always lived in rural, non-ex-pat areas. I've never been approached by any of these kinds of people looking for a tip at Christmas.
Since we moved to where I now live, we have had a card from the postwoman - the same lady for 10 years - but there has never been any suggestion that she expects a gift in return.

Oh my! Sorry but the postwoman does not send you a card because you are such a nice person, she sends you a card so you will give her one back with a little something (5 or 10 euro) in it.
I have lived in rural non-ex-pat areas and the bin men expected a tip at christmas.

I live in Lot, rural, non-ex-pat area and have NEVER been asked for a tip. I totally agree with Kasseistamper and would never pay. Belgian workers receive part of theair extra month and 3/4 salary at this time anyway. Why should I pay again just for them to do their job? I already pay my rediculously high Belgian taxes.