‘[She] acted like she did a favor': Homeowner demands money back after her ‘friend’ throws away almost all of her kitchen utensils after housesitting

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Apr 16, 2025 7:00 PM EDT

Outfitting a kitchen—from start to finish—with cooking supplies is expensive. Not only do you need to buy about 50 different pieces of cookware to make an au jús just right, but most chefs or cooking enthusiasts spend years curating their tools for the trade. And when it comes to specialty cookware from exotic countries, that stuff is just darn-right hard to find. 

So imagine the chef's surprise in this next story when she came home from an extended vacation to find that her 'friend,' who was housesitting, had unilaterally decided to throw out almost all of her kitchen utensils. 

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  • Her boiling hot rage was enough to cook the perfect over-easy egg, because not only did her entitled house-sitter act like she was doing them a favor, she defended her position and turned the tables. Not on my watch! Keep scrolling for the entire insane tale of a friendship riding out its final chapters due to a falling out that started with the forks, knives, and the perfect bouillon spoon. 

  • Cheezburger Image 10493823744
    via Africa Images

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • AITA for demanding money back after a friend threw away most of my kitchen utensils?
    via SaltDry1680
  • So context: My husband has a group of friends who are together since school. I moved to his country for work/study and come from a different culture.
    via SaltDry1680
  • We welcomed our lovely baby girl, and are lucky to be in a country where parents can take a good amount of off time. We decided to spend 2 months on my country, so my mum could
    via SaltDry1680
  • bond with the baby, since she couldn't be here when my first was born Coincidentally, a couple we know was returning from a trip around
    via SaltDry1680
  • the world, and needed to rent an apartment. It was a perfect match, they cover our rent and we can be relaxed since they can look after our apartment and car.
    via SaltDry1680
  • Well, once we returned I noticed our kitchen was almost EMPTY. I mean baking utensils, forks, knives, pans, cooking ingredients, casseroles, even utensils my mom
    via SaltDry1680
  • brought from my home country for special meals were GONE. I was furious. I still cannot believe how someone can do such a thing. She replaced one of two frying pans and that was it. We still have a few
    via SaltDry1680
  • Cheezburger Image 10493824000
    via Magone
  • pans, but speciality itens to cook and bake different things are gone My husband allegedly talked to the friend, let's call her Sarah. Sarah acted like she did a favour.
    via SaltDry1680
  • Once she realised we were not happy, she argued she only those she could not make clean "ENOUGH" were thrown away. I say allegedly because my husband tends to minimise/diminish the issue to not cause waves.
    via SaltDry1680
  • I demanded she replaces every single thing. My husband is begging me to let it go, not to lose a long friendship. I feel like I am in crazy town, I mean WHO DOES IT? Specially without talking to the
    via SaltDry1680
  • owners of the house? If you don't know what something is for WHY THROW IT AWAY??? I cannot wrap my head around it! Am I the AH and she was just doing a favour, or am I being gasslit to high heaven?
    via SaltDry1680
  • Nrysis NTA If you are borrowing something, it is your job to return it in equal or better condition - or come to a suitable agreement with the owner to replace it entirely.
    via Nrysis
  • If they were not happy with the condition of any of your housewares, then they should have left them untouched and use an alternative for their stay.
    via Nrysis
  • If they ruined anything (plates get dropped, accidents happen...) then they should be apologising profusely and offering to replace those items.
    via Nrysis
  • What they should absolutely, definitely not being doing, is chucking out a load of your kitchenware without your knowledge and pretending they are doing you a favour - if
    via Nrysis
  • nothing else you know need to replace a load of items you had no problems with before, but that doesn't consider how many of those items may have been sentimental pieces inherited or gifted to you over the years.
    via Nrysis
  • Yes, you may ruin a friendship by demanding compensation - but realistically they have already burned that relationship. Would you want to socialise with anyone who unapologetically acts like they did?
    via Nrysis
  • Famous_Specialist_44 NTA for whatever you do: demand they replace all of it, end the friendship, take them to court, go further if you can.
    via Famous_Specialist_44
  • A well used casserole dish is member of the family; a well seasoned wok like a godchild; home country utensils are like a favourite auntie. Throwing them out is outrageous.
    via Famous_Specialist_44
  • I feel your pain. Sorry to say it may take a long time to get over this. Every special event will be a trigger. I wish you well.
    via Famous_Specialist_44

Tags

utensils drama homeowner tenant friends entitled people karma rent kitchen entitled renting housesitting money Renters entitled people
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