Should I Ask My Friend to Repay Me for Covering Rent After Their Job Loss?
WIBTA for asking my friend to repay me for covering her rent after a job loss? The dilemma of supporting a friend vs. maintaining financial stability.
It started like a pretty decent roommate moment, one month of rent coverage after Sarah lost her job. OP, a 27-year-old living with her friend Sarah in a two-bedroom apartment, stepped in to help her catch up, and Sarah promised she would repay as soon as she found work.
But months turned into a long stretch, and Sarah still hasn’t landed a new job. OP has kept covering Sarah’s share of the rent and bills, even as it starts to mess with her own budgeting and savings. Now she’s stuck between being a good friend and protecting her own financial stability, and she’s wondering if asking for repayment makes her the bad guy.
And the real twist is, the “temporary” favor is still running.
Original Post
So I'm (27F) living with my friend, let's call her Sarah (28F), in a two-bedroom apartment. We split the rent and bills evenly, which has been working well for us.
Recently, Sarah lost her job unexpectedly due to company downsizing, and I empathized with her situation. I offered to cover her share of the rent for a month so she could catch up on her finances.
She thanked me and said she'd pay me back as soon as she found a new job. Fast forward a few months, Sarah still hasn't found a job.
I've been covering her share of the rent every month, and it's starting to put a strain on my own finances. I work hard to budget and save, and having to cover extra expenses is taking a toll on me.
I'm torn between wanting to support my friend during a tough time and needing to look out for my own financial stability. I need that money back to maintain my own financial health.
Would I be the a*****e if I asked Sarah to start repaying me for the months I've covered her rent? So, AITA?
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It gets messy like the AITA debate over splitting rent fairly with an unemployed friend, where the “even split” promise turns into a fight.
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OP offered to cover Sarah’s rent for a month, and that’s where the good intentions began to quietly pile up.
Months pass, Sarah’s still jobless, and OP is the one paying for the extra burden every single month.
The promise of “I’ll pay you back when I get a new job” turns into a vague timeline, just as OP’s savings start shrinking.
Now OP is considering asking Sarah to start repaying the months she covered, right when her own finances can’t take any more delays.
Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section.
Nobody wants to keep subsidizing rent for a roommate who is still waiting on “as soon as I find a job.”
Still unsure about pushing Sarah to repay after she lost her job? Read what happened when someone asked a friend to repay despite financial struggles. Should I Ask My Friend to Repay Money Despite Financial Struggles?
