Real-life MMD: Should I be let off houseshare cash for a week?

Herbalus

If you didn't bring it up before (not wanting to make a fuss), then I suspect you won't want to bring it up now, regardless of whether it's right or not.

At the end of the day, they've decided to get together and help out, so be happy that it's an improvement on you buying everything in the first place.

lazer

If there is anything you have bought that hasn't be opened yet, I would take to your room.
And then after the kitty is up and running, take the things to the kitchen or wherever and take the money for them from the Kitty.

£10 does seem a bit extreme for a Kitty - but it depends is it only for washing up type stuff or would it cover saucepans etc as mentioned above? (In the example mentioned above - If I had have been the housemate that didn't use the frying pan I wouldn't have been happy about the kitty being used to cover it - it needs to be agreed in advance what the kitty is for and IMO it should only be for things that everyone uses - washing up stuff, cleaning products, toilet roll, soap etc)

For the sake of household harmony - pay up now

cheerful

As with so many MMDs this appears to be the result of people not communicating with each other. I agree with the other replies - you should have raised the matter of the cost of shared items when you first paid for them.

Pay your share but make sure there is a clear record kept of income and expenditure (simply insist on all receipts being kept). It's worth the effort because arguments about money in a shared house can cause all sorts of problems.

If it really bothers you, you could mention your previous expenditure when you pay your first share. The others may not have realised this or they may have paid for things of which you are unaware. Either way, I would still pay the first ten pounds without argument.

pennypinchUK

We've had this same dilemma many times.

1. Decide if it's worth making a fuss for just £10.
2. If so, talk to them. If not, just be thankful they're now starting to step up to their responsibilities, even if you've shelled out many times already in the past.

DigForVictory

In every shared endeavour, have a kitty. You say in the past you did it - well done, up to a point.
As they've started a kitty - either someone's had a quiet word ("how can that be fair?!") or someone's unhappy with some of your choices - either way, here is the smart path forward & while a tenner is a lump, it's the start of the pay month so swallow hard, pay up & be clear your money includes receipts being kept.

janiebquick

Just pay up. It isn't worth arguing about.

Tiptaker

I don't understand why, if you were previously prepared to fork out for everything you bought for the house share, why you should be complaining at contributing to a kitty now. Surely it will be an improvement on paying for the whole lot yourself? The time has past to put in a claim for previous expenditure, you should have done it at the time.

florere

Heave a sigh of relief that the rest of them are going to start paying,:) I don't know why you didn't organise a kitty for this sort of stuff in the first place.You have a reasonable point about being let of the first payment, but is it worth the hassle. Cost more for a round of drinks.

gloriouslyhappy

florere wrote: »

Heave a sigh of relief that the rest of them are going to start paying,:) I don't know why you didn't organise a kitty for this sort of stuff in the first place.You have a reasonable point about being let of the first payment, but is it worth the hassle. Cost more for a round of drinks.

Absolutely - big sigh of relief, pay up, keep a record of who's paid, what it's spent on and keep the receipts, and then enjoy the new more organised household.

Here's to better communications and hassle-free house-mate relationships!

Ebenezer_Screwj

You can't be that organised if you failed to ask the others for their share of the expenses in the first place! Why have they suddenly started a kitty when you were previously such a soft touch? Have you got a record of how much you previously spent so that you can adjust your contribution to the kitty accordingly? I wouldn't hold your breath on this one.