Man Unplugs Neighbor’s Christmas Lights After Rejigging Their Lights, Neighborly Dispute Arises

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Dec 12, 2024 4:00 PM EST

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. Christmas is the season for merriment, joy, love, giving, and family get togethers. It's the season to be overly nice and happy towards everyone. The season of gifts, gestures, and gentleness. It's also the season of lights; many people decorate the outside of their homes with bright, lurid colors, strings of lights looping all around their roof, and even some decorations on the lawn. Though having a string of lights around one's roof looks beautiful and festive, it isn't cheap. 

This brings us to the Reddit thread. In this story, the original poster (OP) is a man who tells an anecdote from Christmas a year ago, one where his neighbor asks if he can use OP's plug for his lights. In light of the Christmas spirit, OP allows him. This time he takes it too far though, and plugs in his lights without asking. 

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  • 01
    So now, this year, without asking, they plugged their lights in. We rejigged our lights to use all the outlets and left their Christmas lights (just the ones on the right side of the house) unplugged and dangling.
    via Canva
  • 02
    r/AITAH⚫ 11 hr. ago Zygiella2 AITA for unplugging my neighbours Xmas lights from my house
    via u/Zygiella2
  • 03
    Last year, my neighbour asked if he could use my outlet to plug one side of his lights. I didn't know and said, "let me ask my wife" she does all the lighting.
    via u/Zygiella2
  • 04
    I didn't hear back from my wife (maybe I forgot to ask), but they had rejigged our lights to plug in theirs. We decided to just let it slide...Christmas spirit and all.
    via u/Zygiella2
  • 05
    They do have an outlet at the front of their house. They'd need to use an extension cord to run lights to the other side... essentially you need a cord to run under your door mat. This is how we've done it.
    via u/Zygiella2
  • 06
    So now, this year, without asking, they plugged their lights in. We rejigged our lights to use all the outlets and left their Christmas lights (just the ones on the right side of the house) unplugged and dangling. So, thought I'd get the opinion. here.
    via u/Zygiella2
  • 07
    -UPDATE- Thank you all for the great community. I appreciate the support. The neighbours ended up wiring their own extension cord in the end. No conversation or confrontation needed. I really liked @lethalghost 's idea to gift them an extension cord. Thank you!!
    via u/Zygiella2
  • 08
    roxywalker 11h ago • Top 1% Commenter NTA. Unless they also want to pay to offset your electric bill keeping the festive lights going is on them to figure out.
    via u/roxywalker
  • 09
    Amazing-Wave... • 11h ago Top 1% Commenter NTA. They are moochers. Lights are money (yes I'm seeing the power plant where the Griswolds live going into emergency overdrive.) •
    via u/Amazing-Wave
  • 10
    if they say something tell them it doesn't work for you this year. (dont use the word sorry.) if they try it again, cut the light string where they cross onto your property. (okay. I'd want to do that. I dont know that I would.)
    via u/Amazing-Wave
  • 11
    Impressive Age... • 9h ago • Back when people had land lines, I had box on the outside my my house, you could actually plug a phone in and use your phone outside. One day I get a call from ATT about some calls to sites, that totaled over a $1000, I asked what
    via u/Impressive Age
  • 12
    time these calls were made, it was always in the afternoon, I said both my husband and I work during the day, so we didn't make them, the only one home during the day is the dog and I don't think he was using the phone. We caught the neighbor opening the box and plugging his phone
    via u/Impressive Age
  • 13
    in, he was also used our hose at night to fill his swimming pool. He had to pay the charges and spent sometime in jail. we put locks on the box and the outside faucet. I was outside one day the wife, came up to me, I hope you are happy, my husband is in jail, we owe $1500 to the city for
    via u/Impressive Age
  • 14
    water and att for the phone charges. I just said you do the crime, you do the time, then we sold our house
    via u/Impressive Age
  • 15
    xyylinaa 10h ago • NTA if they want a free power source, maybe they should ask santa for their own outlets next christmas
    via u/xyylinaa
  • 16
    Particular_Ring... • 10h ago NTA but also, just use your words dude.
    via u/Particular_Ring
  • 17
    • PeachyRoseBloom • 6h ago ⚫ Honestly, NTA. They really just plugged their stuff in without even asking this year? I get that it's the holiday season, but like, basic respect for your neighbor's space and outlets, right? It's cool to help out, but they should've
    via u/PeachyRoseBloom
  • 18
    asked before using your outlet again. You're just protecting your own electrical rights here ③
    via u/PeachyRoseBloom
  • 19
    pixie-ann • 11h ago • Top 1% Commenter NTA this is nuts! Why are they using your electricity to power their lights? Did they ever offer to pay part of the bill? They were too cheap to buy an extension cord but happy to use your power.
    via u/pixie-ann
  • 20
    If they plug them in again at your outlet I'd cut through the cord. It's on your property after all.
    via u/pixie-ann
  • 21
    • 18k_gold 11h ago • It's ride to use someone else's electricity without asking.
    via u/18k_gold

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christmas neighbors drama neighborhood neighborhood-drama relationships lol love family reddit thread Reddit funny holidays dating
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