20-year-old refuses to cover roommate's rent after she spent all her money on concert tickets: '[But] real friends help each other out!'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Oct 31, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

Everyone has had an irresponsible friend at some point in their lives, but ideally, this person does not end up being your roommate.

This 20-year-old had the unfortunate experience of having to share responsibilities with someone who was anything but responsible. This was the kind of person who was so reckless that she would purchase VIP tickets, airfare, and accommodations to see a major pop star in concert before fulfilling her basic needs as a roommate. Those needs include being able to afford her fair share of the rent that month.

"Mia," the reckless concertgoer, asked the author if she would cover her because she was coming up a bit short just this once. How short are we talking about here? Well, Mia meant her entire half. Thankfully, although the author was a naive college student, she knew better than to let Mia walk all over her. 

People like Mia have a unique ability to attract quieter, impressionable personalities to do their bidding as they please. However, there always comes a point where the Mia's of the world ask for too much. Keep scrolling below for the full story and for some of the best comments!

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  • 01
    Two women eat bowls of cereal while chatting on the sofa of a living room.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • Here's hoping that Mia figures out how to properly look after herself. Here's a thought: maybe sell that concert ticket so she can afford the roof over her head? Since the concert hasn't happened yet, there is still time for Mia to wake up and become an adult. Somehow, we doubt that she has the maturity to do this.

  • 02

    "[Am I wrong] for refusing to cover my roommate’s share of rent after she blew her money on concert tickets?"

    I (20F) share a small two-bedroom apartment with my roommate "Mia" (21F). We're both in college and have been living together for about seven months.
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 03
    Up until recently, everything was fine we split rent, utilities, groceries, all that pretty evenly. Earlier this month, Mia bought tickets for a big concert in another state.
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 04
    Like, plane tickets, hotel, VIP passes the whole thing. I thought it was a little wild given how tight our budgets usually are, but it's her money, so whatever.
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 05
    Well, this week she came to me saying she was "a little short" on rent and asked if I could spot her half.
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 06
    I asked how much she meant and she said... the entire thing. Her exact words were, "I'll pay you back once I get my refund from school." I told her I couldn't do that.
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 07
    Rent's due in two days and I don't have hundreds of extra dollars lying around. She started crying and saying she thought I'd "understand" because we're friends and I "have a safety net" (which I don't my parents can barely help me as it is).
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 08
    She then said she'd just be "a little late" and that the landlord would understand. I told her that's not how it works since we're both on the lease if she doesn't pay, it affects me too.
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 09
    She got mad and said I was "choosing money over friendship" and that "real friends help each other out." For context, I've covered small things before like when she forgot to Venmo me for internet or ran out of groceries.
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 10
    But this is rent, not a $20 bill. I even tried to compromise and offered to help her figure out if she could get a short-term loan or work extra shifts, but she said I was "being cold." Now she's giving me the silent treatment, and a couple of mutual friends are saying I "should've helped if I could" because "she just made a mistake." I get that she messed up, but I don't think it's my responsibility to fix it.
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 11
    I honestly feel awful because I do care about her and don't want her to lose her place, but at the same time, I'm not her safety net.
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 12
    AITA for refusing to cover my roommate's rent after she spent her money on concert tickets?
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 13
    Two women using their phones and ignoring each other while sitting in their pajamas on the couch.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • 14
    OP Salty-Astronaut-7 Also I wanted to add that: I really can't afford to cover her half. I work part-time and what I make barely covers my own share of rent and bills. I don't have savings or parents who can help I'm literally paycheck to paycheck right now. Our rent is $1,200 total, so her half is $600. It's not like I can just front that casually and hope she pays me back "eventually." She knew when rent was due and didn't say anything until two days before. I even reminded her a week ago and
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 15
    Classic-Wafer-7838 >a couple of mutual friends are saying I "should've helped if I could" But you can't. End of story. Most people wouldn't be able to conjure up an extra $600 at the drop of a hat. She'll have to borrow the money or sell the tickets.
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 16
    Blu_Blueberry14 NTA, she knew she was over budget. She was counting on you as a safety net. Nope, this should br a self correcting problem. If you help her with rent, she'll do it again.
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 17
    Imaginary-Yak6784 She can ask six friends for $100 each. She can sell everything she owns that isn't nailed down. She can pick up gig work. She can talk to the landlord. She can do a lot of things that don't involve you paying for her mistakes.
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 18
    Odd_Tea4945 Of course NTA. Each one has a budget and concert tickets are a luxury, not a necessity, while paying rent is a necessity She made the mistake, she has to fix it, period. This is not about "friendship", you just can't cover her. So she has to sale the concert tickets or whatever, but rents comes first
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 19
    lamsoconfusednow You are not tah and anyone thinking you should loan money to someone who was irresponsible with her money is tah. Simply state to everyone that you do not have that much money in reserve. It's no one's business if you do or don't, but very few college students have enough cushion to pay so much extra and still eat.
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 20
    Cocoa Almonds Rock NTA, but she's HUGE AH. She knew she didn't have the money, but she waited until the last minute to try to get you to cover for her, just assuming you'd do it. Make sure everyone knows YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. You're not punishing her or being a bad friend. You budget, and you barely make rent yourself. You don't have savings to cover her. This is HER responsibility. You need to talk to the landlord. (Don't tell him about the concert. Just say she doesn't have the money, and
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 21
    chicagok8 "I don't have the money to pay rent for both of us. It sounds like (list all the people who are taking her side) will loan you money."
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 22
    rmas 1974 Hmmm. This is nearly the same as another recent post with details changed!
    via Salty-Astronaut-7
  • 23
    ComfortableOk619 NTA your roommate is!
    via Salty-Astronaut-7

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landlord roommate concert bad roommates entitled people karma roommates college student entitled people apartment
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