‘Christmas spirit and all’: Guy unplugs his mooching neighbor's holiday lights after they intentionally try to steal his electricity

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Dec 13, 2024 9:00 AM EST

Although electricity seems to get more and more expensive every year, that would never de-motivate festive decorators from scaling back their DIY light show–in fact, for the neighbors in this next story, expensive electrical bills just meant that these Christmas lovers had to get more 'creative' with their wiring. 

This audaciously entitled neighbor decided to cut holiday costs by plugging his home's holiday lights into his neighbor's outlets, effectively stealing electricity from next door to power up some at-home Christmas cheer, bright enough that you could probably see it from space. 

Personally, I'm friends with my neighbors and I'm usually pretty willing to share a few resources with them. When they need an egg, a cup of flour, or someone to watch their dog for the day, I'll happily step up. But my good favor would quickly go out the window if I discovered they were trying to pilfer valuable resources off of my home grid. Keep scrolling to read how this property owner got a little petty payback against the folks next door who went out of their way to steal power from beyond the fence line. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10439643392
    via SpiderPlay

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    AITA for unplugging my neighbours Xmas lights from my house Last year, my neighbour asked if he could use my
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  • 03
    outlet to plug one side of his lights. I didn't know and said, "let me ask my wife" she does all the lighting.
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  • 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.
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  • 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.
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  • 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
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    ones on the right side of the house) unplugged and dangling. So, thought I'd get the opinion here.
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  • 08
    -UPDATE- Thank you all for the great community. I appreciate the support. The neighbours ended up wiring their own extension cord in the end.
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  • 09
    No conversation or confrontation needed. I really liked @lethalghost 's idea to gift them an extension cord. Thank you!!
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  • 10
    roxywalker NTA. Unless they also want to pay to offset your electric bill keeping the festive lights going is on them to figure out.
    via roxywalker
  • 11
    LunaPetals You're NTA. They're being inconsiderate by assuming they can just use your power without asking. It's your electricity, and you have every right to control it.
    via LunaPetals_
  • 12
    They need to get their own extension cord and figure it out. It's not your problem if they want to have Christmas lights on both sides of their house. They can use the outlet they already have
    via LunaPetals_
  • 13
    Amazing-Wave4704 NTA. They are moochers. Lights are money (yes I'm seeing the power plant where the Griswolds live going into emergency overdrive.)
    via Amazing-Wave4704
  • 14
    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.)
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  • 15
    xyylinaa NTA if they want a free power source, maybe they should ask santa for their own outlets next christmas
    via xyylinaa
  • 16
    pixie-ann 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. If they plug them in again at your outlet I'd cut through the cord. It's on your property after all.
    via pixie-ann

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Tags

deserved christmas festive neighbors neighborhood drama lights thread drama neighborhood revenge wiring decorations neighbor drama christmas lights Electrical tape Reddit payback karen holidays kevin neighbor
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