Splitting Electric Bills Equally With Roommates - Woman Asks If Standing Her Ground Is Wrong

It's one thing to share a house, but it's quite another to share expenses. Even the nicest relationships can become stressful if you don't have a clear plan, but living with roommates is a terrific way to save money.

Uncertainty over who owes what or when can easily lead to embarrassing discussions or, worse, financial consequences. You're not alone if you've ever found yourself silently pouting over the utility bill or in a passive-aggressive Venmo standoff.

There are a thousand and one tutorials out there that will explain how to divide expenses with roommates in a reasonable, understandable, and—above all—drama-free manner. To be honest, it's not just about money when it comes to splitting bills; it's also about priorities, routines, and how well everyone shares a living area.

To put it plainly, poor communication is the primary cause of most roommate disputes rather than the actual costs. So it's important to set clear expectations before the first payment is even due is crucial.

In today's story, we see a case of split bills causing an issue. The OP and her roommates split an electric bill for a shared college townhouse.

It’s a two-story home and about 1600sq ft. They all come from different financial situations and have different habits when it comes to using electricity.

The OP says she won't be around and doesn't want to split the electric bill, but her roommates are against it.

The OP writes...

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One is generally more mindful than the other

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The OP was gone most of the month

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They seem set that this is the fairest way

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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the AH:

I might be the AH because I told my roommates that for the upcoming electric billing cycle, when I won’t be living there/using energy, I won’t split the electricity bill evenly and will only contribute to the baseline/always on portion. Even though I agreed to split the most recent bill evenly, my roommates feel that since I’m on the lease and live there, I should continue to pay an equal share regardless of whether I’m present or using electricity.By refusing to do that I may be creating tension and shifting more of the bill responsibility onto them, which is why I might be wrong and them agreeing with each other is also why I’m questioning whether I am ta. Looking for neutral outside perspectives.

And the comments roll in...

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AC will make a bigger difference

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It does not work that way

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The OP cannot calculate every penny

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The OP should pay an equal part

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The bills has already been split

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They all play into utility

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That's a seperate issue to address

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Living with roommates is an option for some people. Others view it as a necessary evil because housing costs are on the rise.

Living with others reduces living expenses for whatever reason. Whether you're moving in with your significant other, friends, or someone you met on Craigslist, having more people means there are more options to divide the shared costs of living, such as utilities, rent, cable/internet, and so forth.

But OP's case has turned out to be a dicey one, even though there was a huge number of people saying she's the AH. Leave your thoughts about this story in the comments section, and share as well.