Tipping is, literally, a foreign concept to me. I'm gearing myself up for New York by tipping taxi drivers and restaurant staff over here - although to be honest, what started me on that was a Scottish taxi driver who told me New Zealanders were the worst tippers - this being particularly amusing as the Scottish are notorious for the tight grip they keep on their wallets. So I was called a tight-ass by a tight-ass.
Yes - I tipped him - I couldn't not after that conversation, although I did think, briefly, that might just be his way of ensuring tips - "You [insert homeland of passenger] are the worst tippers", but I do find myself increasingly aware of the fact that while I may at times be frivolous and sometimes even generous, I am very aware of how much I am spending.
For the record - yes I tipped last time I was in New York, I couldn't tell you a percentage, but it was definitely $1-2 per drink and probably at least 20% in restaurants and I know I tipped my taxi driver $20 on a $60 fare. Mind you, at the time £1 = $2 so I felt like I was playing with monopoly money.
Anyways, the thing that really bugs me is tax - for fucks sake - can't you just include the tax in the price?