[chocolateturtle]

This is long but...

Okay, I have a housemate that doesn't utilize our money for what we actually NEED. We each contributed 50 dollars to buy stuff like foil, trash bins and bags, mops/cleaners, etc, knifes. Things you just need. Instead, she spends a majority of that money on stupid candles, spray paints to paint the furniture, couch covers/sheets, pillows, bowls for the candles, just plain crap and junk for home decorations.

I talked to her yesterday about the $25 she got refunded since we bought a TV stand but we decided to return it. She says she used that money on gas for 3 trips to walmart to get spray paint. I'm like WTF, she says I didn't help but how could I? I had to go home since I was at my university for the whole summer and I wanted to spend one week with my family before school starts. She didn't even ask my input about the spray paint, and I have a cell she could always call.

She says she contributed the most in the house, all she did was bring in two FREE couches that she got from her friends, and some bowls/plates. In the end, we all brought in our fair share, I brought in a wireless internet router [which I'm about to block her access], an expensive vacuum ($500, worth way more than those stupid couches), bowls/plates, cooking ware (pots/pans), more cleaning supplies. My room mate brought in a flat LCD screen TV and some other useful necessities. All I hear from this valley girl is excuses and excuses. I don't have the luxury of a car, but when she asked me and my room mate to go to walmart with her, my room mate for being a pretty smart girl couldn't speak up to say no. As for me, I trailed off because I needed to get stuff for my kitten and then would follow back. But by the time I got back, she already had purchased the stuff. And in the end, I'm always the one that needs to confront our housemate.

What's worse is we have a Korean transfer student who's really ignorant on a lot of things. The girl made her fork over $175 since she didn't have anything to contribute to the household. I was appalled since any international student wouldn't be able to bring much when they're coming from another country. You can't expect that. She just said yes, yes to whatever she said. Every time I confront this valley girl, she makes excuses all the time, saying she knows real estate, made $25 an hour before, clarifying she knows how to use money. GAWDD. Okay I'm done.

I hate valley girls now who suck in math and economics.

This is how are living rooms look like now:

http://img56.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image020ya7.jpg

Edit: We did make a list....she put some of them back when we were checking out -.-

[Melitus]

I like the simplicity design, if the couch is dirt and old it's best to get a cover for it. I do agree with you that she spend too much on silly stuff, I guess it's more of a wants then a need. How many people are living in that apartment? 4? wow..it's bound to have drama.

[FRUITYCHEESECAKE]

Why don't you just let her spend her own money to do more decorations or whatnot instead of contributing a certain amount of money from each of you to have someone else in charge of your money? That's what my roommates and I are doing. I am pretty OK with any kind of decorations so I let my roommates do whatever to our living as long as they don't ask for money to purchase something that I don't find it necessary. As for the situation with the international student - I can see the points of both sides (you and the girl) but the girl was being rude, in my opinion, by asking for money and probably left a pretty bad first impression to the international student.

You guys should make a list of things that can be purchased with the money and anything that's extra would have to be paid by the person who wishes to purchase them.

[Myako]

Dont trust her with your money. If she's going to be a pain, gather all of your housemates and talk to her. It's not going to help if you talk behind her back all of the time because she'll continue to do things you all hate. The only thing that comes out from non-confrontation is a growing passion to rip out her hair and burn all of her belongings. Besides, you all shouldn't be living with a person that makes life a living hell. If she continues to annoy you all and be inconsiderate, kick her out and find a new housemate. It'll make life a lot less stressful.

I had similar issues with my housemates and they were naturally inconsiderate. They had the heater up to 80 degrees everyday ALL DAY and wore shorts and spaghetti straps all of the time.

[4ever_sweet]

I think it's strange that you gals even created this "shared pot" of money. Everyone should just buy their own stuff. Get rid of the pot. This way, when everyone moves out...you know what's yours and can take it with you without bargaining for it later.

That would be my solution.

[erure]

I personally think that whole contributing money for common goods is a poopy idea -- or it was a good idea, until she decided to take advantage of the situation. She could argue that it was for the good of the apartment, but she didn't ask your permission, so that's a big no no. I think that you shouldn't confront her alone -- ask your other housemates if they like what she's doing, and if they don't like it either, then rally them up and confront her with them. If you're the only one that keeps acting out about it and no one else complains (or they do but they're just trying to be nice to the girl), then you'll turn out to be the butthole.

I know how you feel. I lived with four other girls in an apartment my first year and it was hellish. There was a valley girl who was the only car owner out of all 5 of us, and she tried to take advantage of us by suggesting that we all chip in so that she could get a Costco membership card so that we could "all shop together." I knew she wouldn't actually drive us there and that I'd just be throwing money at her, so I refused.

I hate people who want other housemates to chip in for big things, like a TV or a microwave, and then take it for themselves when everyone moves out. They're so manipulative.

[daisy]

ugh I hate my housemates too. It's also about money problems like yourself. Besides the big money problem which I 'd rather not discuss, on several occasions, I come home to an empty house with all the lights on. I understand your pain.

[ananas]

you guys should create a mutual list of items you need and a budget

it's unfair that someone buys an expensive item and expects everyone to chip in because not everyone can afford it or want it and there are always cheaper alternatives

for items not on that list, you buy at your own discretion
and if someone wants to buy something over budget, they can contribute the difference

[koneee]

Like many others have already said, this contribution of money to buy household items isn't working out.
It's a smart idea to make a list and assign everybody to what they should buy (toilet paper, cleaning supplies), and NOTE that these items MUST BE NECESSITIES! Clearly we can all live without spraycans. Smack that into your housemates face. You should have a housemate meeting and tell them what ARE THE NECESSITIES and WHAT AREN'T THE NECESSITIES!

And that the items that people DO want, should be coming out of their OWN pocket and not of their housemates. because that is UNFAIR!

SMACK HER! SMACCCKKK HER!


and this is why I'm so happy to move back home.