What Do I Tip a Friend?

I think once he has finished school and is licensed then yes you should tip him, and gift cards are a great idea. For now he asked you to help him out so I don't feel it is necessary. When I went to beauty school a million years ago I used everyone as my guinea pig and didn't expect anything, I was grateful they were so brave lol!!!

No tip. Bring over a casserole and let him and his wife eat it. And neither of them will be embarrassed.

He is using your body for the advancement of his education.
Once he gets a license, he can charge you if he chooses.

If you really want to do something nice, offer to babysit their kids if they have them so they can have a night out. Get them a gift card at a nice place where they can have dessert and coffee. Something like that.

When my daughter was going through beauty school, she did lots of people's hair on private time and she wouldn't take any money. She considered it practice. She did, however, accept jars of homemade jelly, baked goods, Starbucks cards. Oh...and jars of pickled beets. Her favorite.
Don't get hung up on the "tipping" idea.
He asked to be able to practice on you.
Doing something nice in return is great, but since you are such close friends, I wouldn't consider it "tipping".
Just do something nice that you know he'd never ask for.
I'm sure he will appreciate it.

Best wishes.

Since he is going to school for this and is not an actual massage therapist, you should just accept the massage because it is giving him the practice he needs to get through school. No payment or tip needed. He will appreciate your willingness to be a "guinea pig". When he and actual therapist, you should offer a tip but don't try to force it on him if he genuinely wants to give it to you.

I think I'd feel awkward tipping a friend, personally. He is not a professional yet, and is using you for practice, so to speak. I would just say "thank you" and let him know that you will spread the word about his skills to everyone you know, once he is licensed.

if you are sure that he won't accept money a grocery gift card is good...........everyone eats!

You never tip a friend.
A true friend would be very insulted if you try.
He practiced on you - he gained experience and you helped him do it.
That's tip enough.
Promote his business - hand out business cards for him - mention him by word of mouth.

Be his advocate, spread the word about his impending business, help him get started (order business cards on VistaPrint, they're cheap!). While all the gift card ideas are lovely, I think direct support of his work might be most appreciated.

You don't tip a friend. And you don't tip in this sort of circumstance. You're being his "practice dummy," so to speak. He IS practicing on you.

The way you repay him is to let him know how good the massage is. Tell your friends about him, and when he graduates and is in business, you get massages from him and THEN you pay him.

But I understand where you're coming from. Just as a friend, I would bring - or send afterwards - a couple of loaves of homemade bread or a batch of cookies.

I would not feel awkward at all, and if MY friend were the one going through this he would at first refuse but also see my point of view. He would accept some small gesture, such as a bottle of wine he wouldn't splurge on himself or he may say I bake some favorite goodie. I'm mixed as to why you can't talk to him about your feelings, if he has been your friend as long as you have. Enjoy you massage:)

What I would do is mail a card and a gift card the day AFTER the massage....just a note saying what a great job he did, etc.

I think if he was already in business as a therapist, I would want to pay for his services. I have a friend who is a hairstylist. I always paid her for her services when she cut my hair, but she refused to let me tip her. But remember that you're doing him a favor too (although good for you!). If you know he won't accept a cash tip, I would say "I know you won't accept a tip, but you are so incredible, I want to do something." Offer something he would like -- food, wine, gift certificate to favorite store, gift for his kids.

You are giving him your body to practice on. You do not need to tip him. However, if you just can't help yourself (lol) then maybe cook him something. What is his favorite meal or dessert that you make? Bring him that.
L.

A gift card sounds neat, better than cash! Or ask his wife if they need something for their household! Being broke myself I always appreciate gifts I can use, even food! You know, nice food that people ordinarily don't buy for themselves unless they are rich, is a cool thing too!

A friend of mine went to massage therapy school too. It was their assignment before graduation that they had to give 10 massages without pay. And the person receiving the massage had to fill out an evaluation survey. I didn't tip. Maybe this is what he is working on.

When my BF was going to massage school she did practice massages on me and I did not give her anything. Now that she is licensed I would give her GC's to restaurants or stores.

You absolutely can tip a friend. I trade services with my friend who is a hairstylist-he comes to my house and cuts my or one of my kids' hair once a month and I trade him 1 entrée, 1 app, 1 dessert and 1 beverage from our menu when we serve our Asian dinners once a month, that's our "deal". I always send him home with an extra dessert and/or an appetizer, and he always tips me $5 for serving him at the restaurant.
In your case, I would buy a bottle of wine for him (if he drinks) or make some cookies or some baked good he likes. Bring them in with you, put them on the counter in the kitchen and tell him you wanted some way to thank him.