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The last year has been incredibly challenging for me financially. It doesn’t help that writing platforms keep changing, leaving me unable to anticipate my earnings. I decided to become a DoorDash delivery driver to help supplement my income. I also signed up for Uber and Lyft to cover my bases. I live in a small town, and I know that there’s more demand for delivery than available drivers from my own experience of trying to have food delivered.

4 Surprising Things I’ve Learned as a Delivery Driver

The experience has been interesting. I don’t mind the work. I turn on a playlist and happily deliver food and groceries. But it has been a surprising experience in some ways.

1. Gratuity is Not Included

I know that the policy is that tipping is appreciated but not expected. Allow me to set the record straight: If someone is providing a service, a tip is expected. We’re not making a killing out here driving around with these gas prices doing deliveries. If I go pick up someone’s chicken biscuit and take it all the way out to their home or office so that they don’t have to get out in the weather, I do expect a tip. Lately, I’ve been turning down offers that don’t include a tip in them. My time is valuable, and gratuity also means appreciation for the work I do.

I’ve noticed that the driver who often delivers pizza to my home is always so thankful for his tip. Based on his reaction to what I consider a standard rate of tipping, he’s not getting a lot of tips from other area residents. I’m only a mile from a pizza place, but when I’m busy or don’t feel like getting out, I still give a reasonable tip for my order because I know the delivery driver had to go get it and bring it to me. It might not be far, but it’s still a service I appreciate.

2. Happy Drivers are an Exception, Not the Rule

Once upon a time, I used to work as a bank teller. Some customers would come in barking “checking account” or “savings deposit” without as much as eye contact or a greeting. Like we were just an automated presence rather than human beings. The same is true of delivery drivers.

In one restaurant, I was told by staff that my friendliness was appreciated because many drivers come in, bark out the customer’s name or order, and leave without as much as a greeting or thank you. I appreciate the workers who can get my order out quickly so that my delivery times aren’t impacted by it. It costs nothing to be kind, even when I’m busy and darting in and out collecting orders.

3. “Never Judge a Book by Its Cover” Applies Here

It might interest you to know that the best tippers aren’t always the ones in the most affluent neighborhoods. One of the best tips I received was to a lower-income neighborhood for a simple order of French fries, while delivery to an upscale doctor’s office resulted in no tip whatsoever. I don’t judge the delivery locations because I know that good manners and tipping etiquette defy socioeconomic status.

My grandmother spent years as a waitress, back before we ever called them servers. She worked in an upscale restaurant and served the likes of Johnny Cash and Luke Perry. I remember her coming home and counting out her tips. I learned early on that tipping is expected and is a matter of simple courtesy. I might have grown up on the low-income side of the tracks, but I was taught that if I can’t afford gratuity, I can’t afford the service. In other words, I don’t order delivery or go out to eat if I can’t afford a standard tip.

4. Side Hustles Are Surprising for People Who Don’t Need Them

I’m a romance writer with an advertisement on my vehicle, and it sometimes surprises people that I deliver food to them when I’m a traditionally published author. Recently, I was in the middle of a rideshare having a conversation with my client when she expressed surprise that I do both rideshares and food deliveries — in addition to teaching yoga at times. This is the life of a freelance writer, particularly when more stable income opportunities are harder to come by despite my level of skills and qualifications.

I’ve never been one to shy away from hard work, and I’ve found that helping other people has been fulfilling. It might not be what I want to do full-time, but it does make me happy to know that I’m providing a service to my community. When I deliver groceries for someone who has been too sick to go out and collect them, I feel good. When I drop off a meal for someone who can’t leave the office, I feel satisfied. It’s nice to know that what I’m doing is appreciated by many, even when I complain about the entitled few.

To Deliver or Not to Deliver?

I’ve found that doing a few deliveries each day helps supplement my income. It might not be paying all my bills, but it doesn’t hurt either. I hope I won’t always have to work this hard just to make ends meet. Yet, it’s nice to know that there are opportunities for people like me— chances to make a little extra when I need it.

I never expected to be doing rideshares or deliveries. The course of my life changed some when I lost my steady, reliable income because of disability discrimination with my chronic illness — an illness that is now completely managed by medication. I’ve had to hustle in ways I didn’t have to before, but I’m a single parent. I’m proud of doing whatever I can to support my children.

Delivery services are beneficial for our communities. They provide convenience in our busy lives. If we don’t use those services and tip well, we’re likely to lose them. I remember this when I place an order, and it’s something I think about when I’m working on the other side doing deliveries. I’m grateful I can supplement my income and provide a service, but it’s nice when it feels appreciated.

Originally published on Medium