Equal But Different
I graduated from college four years ago and live at home with my parents. My sister graduated two years ago and also lives with my parents. We both got jobs pretty much straight out of college. I pay my parents $800/month in rent since my first paycheck. I’m really emotionally charged right now.
Last night my parents were talking loudly about their financial problems in the living room. I overheard and I offered to help by paying more in rent (I was thinking $900-1,000) since it covers utilities/phone/internet. My parents were grateful.
Now, prior to this, I never asked my how much sister pays in rent. I always figured my parents charged us the same. So absentmindedly I asked a follow-up question. Me: How much is [my sister] paying [for rent]? My mom: Nothing. (Long pause.)
Me: What do you mean she doesn’t pay rent? My Dad (visibly angry): Your sister doesn’t pay a thing! My dad explained how my sister recently bought a brand new car and hasn’t paid insurance on it so my dad had to pay for it. She doesn’t pay rent. She doesn’t pay utilities/phone/anything.
So for the past two years, she’s been living rent-free while I’ve been paying my parents. So later that night we had a family sit-down talk. My sister didn’t want to pay rent, especially at how much I was paying. She offered $100.
My parents suggested she pay $300, I pay $800, which my sister and I both rejected. The conversation ended with this: Sister: SCREW YOU. I’M TRYING TO LIVE MY LIFE. So my sister storms off to her room and it’s now me and my parents in the living room.
I’m extremely upset at this because it’s massively unfair. My mom is upset that everyone’s angry at each other and my dad’s angry my sister won’t pay rent and she won’t move out, and both my parents don’t want the authorities involved. So I say my part before leaving.
Me: I’m not going to pay any more rent until she does. (It’s only fair right?) And if I do pay rent, I pay whatever she’s paying. My mom: What if she pays $300 and you pay $800— Me: No. My mom: But, we really need the money… Me: That’s too bad. I get up and go off to my room.
So this morning my dad comes in tells me that I’M A JERK FOR NOT PAYING RENT. That I should pay rent because it’s the right thing to do and all this. I’m like, “What the heck? Make my sister pay rent!”
My mom, who’s listening in.: “You’ve seen her! She won’t listen to us!” Me: WELL THAT’S TOO BAD. My mom (really angry): WELL WE WOULDN’T HAVE THIS PROBLEM IF YOU DIDN’T TRY TO MAKE YOUR SISTER PAY RENT.
That was the last straw that blew it for me. I slammed the door on my parents. As I’m typing this my parents are in the living room discussing how both their children are rotten. Story credit: Reddit