'My dad said it would be "just for two weeks". That was 4 months ago': Parents and older brother move their extra stuff into 29-year-old daughter's small house, call her 'selfish' for wanting it gone

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Nov 29, 2025 10:00 AM EST

When it comes to family, it can be hard to set boundaries around your generosity. 

Your family members have likely done a lot for you. Maybe they raised you, fed you, and sent you to school. Maybe they supported you as you got older and started to have different dreams. Maybe you've leaned on them in times of emotional distress. Maybe they're who you turn to when you need a break from adult life. Maybe, because of all this, you'd like to pay them back in some way. You want to show them the same kind of generosity that they have shown you. And there are plenty of ways to do that over one's life. Maybe you can help them with tasks around the house. Maybe you show up for them emotionally when they need it. But there might be limits to your generosity. 

One of those limits might have to do with your personal space. Personal space is hugely important, especially for people who grew up without a lot of it. Once you get the independence to do things your way, it's hard to go back. 

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  • 01
    A woman stands stressed in front of a garage with a lot of mess
    via sq lim

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

  • The woman in this story had to learn that the hard way, when her family started testing the limits of her kindness. After she saved up enough money to buy a house, she thought she'd be free from her parents' nonsense. But it wasn't so easy. Read on for the full story. 

  • 02

    Am I in the wrong for refusing to host my family's "temporary" storage in my garage

    I (29F) bought a small house last year, first one in my family to own anything. My parents and older brother still rent. A few months ago my parents asked if they could keep "a couple boxes" in my garage while they cleaned out their apartment basement. I said sure, happy to help. Next
    via u/TaymoreSilverin
  • 03
    weekend a rented van shows up and suddenly my driveway is full of boxes, old furniture, random bags of clothes, even a broken treadmill. My dad said it would be "just for two weeks". That was 4 months ago.
    via u/TaymoreSilverin
  • 04
    Ive asked a few times when theyre moving their stuff. Theres always some excuse - too busy, landlord, weather, whatever. I cant park my car inside, I trip over their boxes doing laundry, and a mouse literally ran out of one of the bags last week. When I told them they need to move
    via u/TaymoreSilverin
  • 05
    everything by the end of next month or I will hire a junk removal company, my mom cried and said I turned "cold" since buying a house and that family should share space. My brother called me selfish and said I dont understand how hard it is to raise kids in a rental. From my view, theyre just using my garage as a free storage unit with no end date. AITJ?
    via u/TaymoreSilverin
  • 06

    Commenters agreed that there was more going on here.

    KeyBox6804 . 7h ago NTJ they are abusing your space. You did not agree to be permanent unpaid storage. Protect your space.
    via u/KeyBox6804
  • 07
    Key_Two77 .7h ago We rent. My husband and I have raised three girls to adulthood in rentals. It's not any harder than owning, storage-wise. I don't know what your brother is talking about. They are using you. If family should share space, what space are they sharing with you?
    via u/Key_Two77
  • 08
    Parkour82 • 7h ago Just read a version of this post, but with uncle/back yard. Both have a "even a broken treadmill"
    via u/Parkour82
  • 09
    Internal_Emu_4879 .7h ago NTJ? I would totally hire a junk removal place if they don't come and pick the stuff up where was that crap before it was at your house? Where was all that crap before because obviously they had room for it I bet they're just buying more
    via u/Internal_Emu_4879
  • 10
    crap just to store there. Tell them they need to move it and the story and if they get mad, that's just too darn bad. tell them that you need either need to come and pick the stuff up or you're trashing it! And whoever is calling you selfish because you won't let them leave their crap there tell them they can take the stuff if they're so concerned about it. UpDateMe
    via u/Internal_Emu_4879
  • 11
    Itty BittyPettyBetty 5h ago Personally, I would move it all to a storage unit. Rent that storage unit for one month and hand them the keys and tell them they have one month to empty it or continue paying it, but it is no longer your problem.
    via u/IttyBittyPettyBetty
  • 12
    A woman looks stressed with her arm on her forehead.
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • 13
    Mummybearkh • 7h ago That's what they are doing and using family gilt to make you bow down hold your ground and make them move or before you know it it will be more than just your garage next it will be because you have all that space this one and that one should stay or put that there it will never end
    via u/Mummybearkh
  • 14
    madpiratebippy • 7h ago If you want to be nice pay for the first month at a storage place, otherwise junk removal is the way to go. You haven't gone cold since you bought a house, they're trying to pull you down since you accomplished something they haven't.
    via u/madpiratebippy
  • 15
    SpicyGoblinette968 • 7h ago it sounds like you genuinely wanted to help but things. went way beyond what you agreed to. asking them to move their stuff out is totally reasonable.
    via u/SpicyGoblinette968
  • 16
    dommiichan • 7h ago . invoice them for back payments on the storage fee... and when then don't pay, have yourself a storage auction
    via u/dommiichan
  • 17
    United-Manner20 • 7h ago . NTJ you are spot on - they are using you. You saved them storage fees for several months. I would contact your local storage facility and just ask what they do when someone doesn't pay - you may have to give a 30 day notice,
    via u/United-Manner20
  • 18
    maybe not. Let them know after that date, you're gonna be setting the things out front for free. They will take advantage as long as you allow them to.
    via u/United-Manner20
  • 19
    Megsyboo • 7h ago You gotta get rid of the mice. They will overtake your home. Call an exterminator now.
    via u/Megsyboo
  • 20
    PercentageSad19... · 7h ago NTJ, your family are using you as free storage. Please get rid of the stuff asap, hire a removal van if necessary. Good luck!
    via u/PercentageSad1935
  • 21
    RealityTVfan28 • 7h ago NTJ my sister parked boxes in my garage and never, not once, looked at them for six years. I went through them and donated what I could and tossed the rest. She brings "stuff" over all the time that she gets from tag sales or other means. I don't argue now I just put it on the donate pile.
    via u/RealityTVfan28
  • 22
    • Pcenemy 6h ago made that mistake double - a friend and then a nephew who wanted to store some crap in my basement. took 18mos before the friend finally got "MOST" of her crap leaving a bunch for me to have to dispose of. the nephew's garbage was
    via u/Pcenemy
  • 23
    'college' furniture he was going to need. fast forward - 2 years and he finally said oh, YOU can just get rid of it, there's nothing i want (now that i have a real job) - but save teh weights, i'll get those in a couple of weeks. had it ALL trashed and he's still pissed that i got rid of
    via u/Pcenemy
  • 24
    the weight set. had the audacity to tell me i owed him a couple hundred so he could replace it. i told him i'd offset it against the storage he owed me he never paid of course give them a SHORT deadline and then have it hauled
    via u/Pcenemy
  • 25
    away. sounds like you (like me) are going to be stuck with a several hundred dollar bill and some irreparable family issues going forward
    via u/Pcenemy
  • 26
    bobhand17123 • 6h ago NTJ. Call the junk haulers. First, to be generous, tell them to come over and pick out the "couple boxes" they want to keep.
    via u/bobhand17123
  • 27
    Sufficient-Lie1406 • 6h ago NTJ. Start giving them timed warnings on the final week. "7 days left. Junk King is coming on the 30th to take all your crap away."
    via u/Sufficient-Lie1406
  • 28
    "6 days left. Junk King is coming on the 30th to take all your crap away." "5 days left. Junk King..." [etc.] Once they know you mean business and will not bend, they will get their junk.
    via u/Sufficient-Lie1406
  • 29
    Equivalent-Patien... 5h ago I wouldn't lift a finger to move anything anywhere. Come and get your shit by X date or I'm calling the junk man.
    via u/Equivalent-Patient12
  • 30
    • thisisstupid- 4h ago NTJ, if it was me and they didn't pick up the stuff by the end of the month I would probably rent a storage unit to put everything in and pay for one month and give them the key, tell them that after that month it's on them to figure out. But just calling a junk removal company would also be completely valid.
    via u/thisisstupid-

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