'What do you mean she doesn't pay rent?': Woman goes on rent strike after finding out sister doesn't pay a cent

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Jul 2, 2023 11:00 AM EDT

These parents had a great arrangement with their kids regarding rent, until they actually talked about their financial situation. 

Living with your parents used to be the kind of thing that lots of people only did until they were in their late teens or early twenties. But these days, it's more common than ever to live with your parents well into adulthood. Millennials and Gen Z know this all too well, since both generations are living with their parents way longer than previous generations. While previous generations got to move out and start families, the younger gens are struggling to afford a latte. It's hard out here financially, and it's basically become the norm to work multiple jobs and live with your parents indefinitely. 

This person thought they had a good place to live at first — they began paying their parents $800 per month as soon as they got their first paycheck. In fact, the OP wrote that they even offered to pay up to $200 more per month to help their parents out with their money problems. The parents were arguing loudly about it in a way that the OP couldn't help but overhear. But the parents' talk really backfired, because the OP discovered a terrible truth about their sibling. 

After you check out this story, plus commenters who supported the OP, read this tale of a boss who had the bright idea to cut his employees' paychecks in half. 

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  • 01
    Cloud - 'We wouldn't have this problem if you didn't try to make your sister pay rent'
    via Redd F on Unsplash
  • 02
    Font - AITA for demanding my sister pay rent for living- at-home with my parents and refusing to pay my rent until she does? Not the A-hole Background: I graduated from college 4 years ago live at home with my parents. My sister graduated 2 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.
    via u/deleted
  • 03
    Font - This is a throwaway and it's still fresh and 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 $900-1000) 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 questio
    via u/deleted
  • 04
    Font - Me: How much is [my sister] paying [for rent]? My Mom: Nothing. long a pause. Me: What do you mean she doesn't pay rent? My Dad (visibly angry): Your sister doesn't pay a f ing thing!
    via u/deleted
  • 05
    Font - 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 2 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 reje
    via u/deleted
  • 06
    Font - The conversation ended with this: Sister: F YOU. I'M TRYING TO LIVE MY LIFE. [These were her exact words which ped me the fuk off to holy h So my sister storms off to her room and it's now me, 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 to police involved.
    via u/deleted
  • 07
    Font - 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 being. My mom: What if she pays $300 and you pay $800- Me: No. My mom: But [me], we really need the money... Me: That's too bad. I get up and go off to my room.
    via u/deleted
  • 08
    Font - So this morning my dad comes in tells me that I'M AN A FOR NOT PAYING RENT. That I should pay rent because it's the right thing to do and all this s I'm like, "what the hell? 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.
    via u/deleted
  • 09
    Font - 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.
    via u/deleted
  • 10
    Font - As I'm typing this my parents are in the living room discussing how both their children are rotten and S s was better back in the home country/back in their day when kids listened to their parents. Like wtf?
    via u/deleted
  • 11
    Rectangle - foibleShmoible Judge, Jury, and Excretion... ΝΤΑ You've paid about $19000 in rent while your sister has paid nothing? Oh h no. Your parents are being ridiculous, and your sister is a user. How financially difficult would it be for you to leave? I wouldn't want to stay with them if it was me.
    via u/foibleShmoible
  • 12
    Font - Edit: People keep pointing out that OP has paid roughly $38000 in the last 4 years. It isn't that I can't do maths, I was making the point that OP paid $19000 while the sister has lived there for free over the last two years. Edit 2: my first ever silver! Thank you kind stranger! And my first comment thanking a stranger for silver, so many firsts in one day! 27.7k Share
    via u/foibleShmoible
  • 13
    Font - tlrin A 2 S Enthusiast [7] ESH. Move out. Get a roommate if you can't afford it on your own. EDIT for those asking why hes (shes?) an a too: because if he can pay upto $1000 a month for rent and hes throwing a fit like this then he needs to grow the hup and move out. Yea it's not fair but stop complaining and take action. The parents and sister are obviously more TA than OP but hes not innocent in this either.
    via u/tlrin
  • 14
    Font - Zimi231 A: 32 Aficionado [14] ESH. You've been graduated for 4 years and can pay $800+ rent to your parents. It's time to move out and adult on your own.
    via u/Zimi231
  • 15
    Font - Devourer_of_felines. Certified Proctologist [29] ΝΤΑ Your sister's held a job for 2 years and in all that time your parents didn't bother to demand rent payments from her? Why? E: regarding your parents loudly complaining about their financial problems - they did not "have to" take on the insurance payments, they didn't "have to" pay for her phone ffs. And they would've happily accepted your offer to up your payments so you can subsidize your sister "living her life"? H no.
    via u/Devourer_of_felines
  • 16
    Font - 21 UU cyfermax Prime Ministurd [496] NTA, but your parents caused this situation my sister recently bought a brand new car and hasn't paid insurance on it so my dad had to pay for it No he didn't. He didn't HAVE to pay her insurance at all. He's contributed to this by letting your sister get away with it so long. I can't believe they let you pay and not her. I would be sup unhappy in your situation at the injustice of paying so much while she pays absolutely nothing AND gets extras on top
    via u/cyfermax
  • 17
    Font - whatforthen A ESH Enthusiast [8] You gotta move out man. You can't just expect to live there rent free, because whether its "fair" or not, its still their house and you would be just as much of an as for expecting to mooch "because someone else is" but they should be fully prepared for the consequences of you choosing to move out.
    via u/whatforthen
  • 18
    Font - tootthatthingupmami Parta ipant [1] Holy st. Your sister runs the house and it has probably been like that since she was born. This is so insane and I am so sorry you have to deal with that. You are NTA and you should really move out. They will realize what a pile of s they are in when you do
    via u/tootthatthingupmami
  • 19
    Font - alissa2579 Colo-rectal Surgeon [37] For the amount of rent you are paying, you could find another place to live. NTA
    via u/alissa2579
  • 20
    Font - matt120501 A huge NTA here. Your parents need to sit down with her. Either she pays rent like you do or she goes. That is what is fair and should be fairly straightforward but sounds like your sister is a little delusional. What does she do with all of her money?
    via u/matt120501
  • 21
    Font - Azuzu88 A Enthusiast [4] I'm not going to tell you that you're an AH because this situation is very unfair. You could have handled it better but really this is your parents fault. They allow your sister to get away with this and that's the only reason she can. Your only option here I think is to move out. That way you don't have to pay your parents unfairly and they still have to put up with your sister. She's incredibly entitled and this is going to come back to bite her at some point. N
    via u/Azuzu88
  • 22
    Font - Blastoisealways Certified Proctologist [24] ESH. You're an adult, move out. Paying that much in rent surely you'd be better off with your own place anyway
    via u/Blastoisealways
  • 23
    Font - So this morning my dad comes in tells me that I'M AN A FOR NOT PAYING RENT. That I should pay rent because it's the right thing to do and all this s I'm like, "what the h? 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.
    via u/deleted

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family drama housing FAIL house parenting rent family renting sister free parents Parenting FAILS aita
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