Scruples #5 - Friends and Money

[PinkCashmere]

Situation: You and your friend are roommates. You split rent and all of your utilities in half. You apply for a part-time job at the apartment complex where you work and get it. You are paid a small weekly stipend and they allow you to live in your apartment rent free. Because you no longer have to pay your share of the rent, your friend wants you to help out with the rent that she/he is paying.

Question: Do you agree to pay half or some of the rent that your roomie is paying? Do you not mix money and friendship? What would you do?

[NUPE4LIFE]

This is a very hard question. In one way, I can see how if you and the person plan on splitting the rent, you should still split the rent. That's the only fair thing to do. However, if part of your pay is living rent free, then hey I don't know what to say. Here in Tallahassee, FL since we have both FSU and FAMU a lot of reality places have individual lease plans. This is very popular among college students like myself. If you don't know what it is, it's like all the roommates have a flat rate. Let's say the rent for a 4 bedroom 4 bath a place here called Campus Lodge is around 450 a month. That means that each person has to pay 450. Therefore if roommate A doesn't pay his/her 450, your living situation is not put in jeopardy. Worse case scenario, they get evicted and a new roommate is placed in your apt. Now I know you're like damn 450. But places like these are all inclusive. Everything is included in your rent. All Utilities including basic phone (no long distance) and cable. Depending how you look at, it could be a good deal....

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[AKAtude]

I don't think the roommate should have to split the other roommate's half of the rent. It's not as though the roommate isn't doing something in return for the free rent. She is earning that benefit as an employee.

[Eclipse]

I don't see this as a hard question...If my free rent is a part of my compensation package, I see no obligation to share it with my roommate. That's like getting a job at the mall and your roommate expecting 1/2 of your salary just 'cause!!

[ZChi4Life]

Hello everyone!

I agree with the previous post. If they're getting free rent, they shouldn't have to help out their roommate who still has to pay. I think that as long as the rent free person is still splitting the other expenses (groceries, bills, etc), then that's fine. But I think it could be a nice gesture for the person who doesn't have to pay rent if they, say, paid for either one or both of the utilities or something. But that's just if they wanna be nice Otherwise, I say the roomie who has to pay rent has to still pay it by themselves.

[This message has been edited by ZChi4Life (edited August 28, 2000).]

[AKA2D '91]

Heck no! I don't think the employed roommate should split anything! Seems like the other roommate needs to get her a job at the complex, too!

[mizzkes]

Nupe4Life: I feel you, I did the Jefferson Commons thing.
To answer, no I would not split their part of the rent. I don't see them splitting my part of the work I do in the complex, therefore....no deal.

[Sexy Mocha]

Like Cedric the Entertainer said... us black folk live by the "Wish Factor" .......
I WISH A MOTHERF***KER WOULD ask me to pay half of their rent!!!!

[The Original Ape]

Originally posted by PinkCashmere:
Situation: You and your friend are roommates. You split rent and all of your utilities in half. You apply for a part-time job at the apartment complex where you work and get it. You are paid a small weekly stipend and they allow you to live in your apartment rent free. Because you no longer have to pay your share of the rent, your friend wants you to help out with the rent that she/he is paying.

Question: Do you agree to pay half or some of the rent that your roomie is paying? Do you not mix money and friendship? What would you do?

I don't see the logic in asking this kind of question when your other scruples were pretty good. This one is just plain common sense. A REAL FRIEND would know not to confuse business with friendship; also, a friend wouldn't had that kind of boldness to suggest something so stupid. In my opinion, it's really an insult. I would flat out tell the friend to pay or get the hell on! I assume the friend is in school; therefore this friend should know nothing comes free.

[ZChi4Life]

Hey everyone,
I've been reading the posts and I've thought about the question a little more. Since this is supposed to be a "friend", I think if my friend was desparately needing some help w/ the rent, then maybe I would help out. If this is supposed to be your "friend", why wouldn't you consider helping them out? I guess it depends on what kind of friends you are in this situation. I mean, if this is just like a friend that's more of an acquaintance, then ok, I would not feel that they should ask that. But, if this was your boy/girl from back in high school or even further back, and ya'll went to college together and got a place, ya'll wouldn't even think about helping them out? I mean, maybe not w/ the rent, but maybe paying one of the utilities or something. I know the question isn't asking all this, but for those that are greek what if your friend was also your soror or bruh? I think this situation really depends on what kind of "friend" this is.

[DELTABRAT]

Hello Ladies of AKA and SFs:

I would not feel obligated to pay her portion of the rent at all. If I am WORKING and part of my compensation is rent then, in essence, my rent is not "free" at all. Additionally, I would probably not go running around telling everyone my rent was "free" including my roommate. If it came up, I wouldn't lie. But I wouldn't come running home ranting and raving about how I don't have to pay rent anymore either. If I normally gave the other person my portion of the rent and THEY actually mailed it off/walked it down to the office, I may have to tell. If I take care of my portion of the rent myself and she hers, then she would just have to think I was still paying...why not?

Would the stry be any different if my parents paid all my bills? Would she expect me to kick in since (technically) I am not paying out of my pocket?

Just my opinion.

PEACE

[This message has been edited by DELTABRAT (edited August 29, 2000).]