Kayla agrees to store a few boxes for her friend Kate in her spare room, but as the pile grows out of control, she requests $30 rent or removal of boxes, sparking tension within friendship: ‘‘Accused me of acting like a landlord in my own house’

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Oct 6, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

When someone offers up their home to help you store two boxes, there is no unspoken redefinition of 'two boxes' that miraculously translates to winter jackets, boots, books, electronics, cutlery, and basically everything but the kitchen sink… So, as you can imagine, this generous friend was left feeling squished and defeated when her friend had basically relocated her life to her spare room, after initially asking to store two boxes. The pile of stuff grew larger every day, and suddenly, what was once a two-bedroom apartment could now be listed as one. 

So, as awkward as it was, she was forced to tell her friend that if she wanted to continue storing her possessions in her office space, she would either have to pay a small rental fee (non-existent compared to that of an actual storage room) or start removing some boxes. That didn't go too well, and her friend began throwing emotional fists, calling her greedy…The entitlement of some people. Will this friendship make it through the Box Battle of 2025, or will it be stored away and never reopened again?

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  • There is clearly a sense of you-owe-me's that Kate is experiencing, but it’s time to breathe out that entitlement. As it will not get her far in life, nor will it help with maintaining long-term friendships. It’s important to rather over-estimate a favor than under-estimate one when requesting help, in that way, your friend will always be prepared, rather than putting them in an awkward situation that requires a confrontation that neither side wanted in the first place. 

  • Woman holding three boxes
    via peopleinmotion

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • AITA for refusing to let my friend turn my apartment into her “second closet”?

    So I'll begin like this I'm Kayla and my friend Kate lives in a studio that's pretty cramped up.
    via PaleBusiness6120
  • Two months ago she asked if she could keep two small boxes of her winter clothes at my place since I have a two bedroom and more space.
    via PaleBusiness6120
  • I didn't see the harm at the time and agreed. But those "two small boxes" turned into bags, then shoes, then coats, and what not, She now has about 6 large bags and two bins stacked in my spare room.
    via PaleBusiness6120
  • I told her it's starting to overwhelm my space and making me feel uncomfortable, especially because I actually use that room for work and studying basically.
    via PaleBusiness6120
  • When I asked her to either pick up her stuff or pay me part of the rent I pay (like $30 monthly, which is less than a storage space), she got mad.
    via PaleBusiness6120
  • She said I was being greedy, that "friends don't charge each other for favors," she also accused me of acting like a landlord in my own house.
    via PaleBusiness6120
  • From my point of view, it's not just about money it's about my home. I feel like I can't have guests over without explaining why I'm storing half her wardrobe.
    via PaleBusiness6120
  • Messy room with lots of half-opened boxes
    via pixelshot

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I've also had to move her stuff around multiple times just to use my desk for work.
    via PaleBusiness6120
  • Some mutual friends are saying I'm right for setting boundaries, but others think I'm being petty and making a big deal out of something that's been hurting me so bad.
    via PaleBusiness6120
  • So, AITA for refusing to let my friend keep turning my apartment into her storage unit?
    via PaleBusiness6120
  • Consistent-Goat1267 NTA. Tell her she has exactly 2 weeks to get rid of her cr p or you're going to either sell or donate anything left. You are not a storage facility. She can rent her own storage unit.
    via Consistent-Goat1267
  • BeanzBby NTA but you need to grow a backbone. Give her a date to collect her things in writing via email and if she doesn't, they get donated.
    via BeanzBby
  • Woman moving boxes around
    via Ketut Subiyanto

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Competitive_Ease6991 NTA tell her you were fine with the two boxes the originally asked could you store but now all the extra stuff is getting in your way and starting to cause issues with you working and studying in that room you totally understand she doesn't want to pay you for the space and the more
    via Competitive_Ease6991
  • you think of it it's not going to fix the issue, she just needs to collect the stuff you no longer happy to store it. And when you get the friends help friends bulls. Say exactly the two boxes can stay cuz friends don't take advantage of and disrespect friends boundaries
    via Competitive_Ease6991
  • Esham Nta. Your house, your rules. She should get a storage unit as that is what you are right now
    via Esham
  • Imholot1981 I wouldn't do the $30. It's not about the money. She's monopolizing your space. Give her a deadline to come pick up her stuff, otherwise it will be donated.
    via Imholot1981
  • alexb714 NTA, you were being a friend and she's taking advantage then acting aggrieved for getting called out.
    via alexb714
  • Tell her to come and collect her stuff. Give her a deadline, collect all by that day or I donate all Reclaim your home
    via alexb714
  • Ohaibaipolar NTA, she's trying to take advantage of you. Put her stuff on the curb and tell her you're done being her personal storage for free.
    via Ohaibaipolar
  • Mintyfresh2024 Nta. If I were you, I'd asked her to take all her things and not even offer to rent the space. She'll become a headache over time. If she pays, she'll dump more things there.
    via Mintyfresh2024
  • CodenameBasilisk NTA and the friends who think it isn't a big deal can store her stuff at their place. It sounds like you were trying to do a friend a favor and now it's become an expectation. It's a shame Kate can't afford a bigger space but that doesn't mean she gets to take over yours. Time for her to get a storage space or do some reorganizing.
    via CodenameBasilisk

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two-bedroom friendship boxes storage squishy donate help out Awkward storage-unit friends Office Space cardboard box clothing uncomfortable taking over no space entitled people apartment
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