Sibling Gives Sister $500 Espresso Machine, Takes It Back When She Charges Her Roommates $1 to Use It

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jul 24, 2026 7:45 PM EDT

Should somebody who gives a gift be allowed to take it back?

Those who do not see giving their belongings away as a selfless act are probably going to struggle with doing it. The reality is that once an object is in somebody else's possession, it is their choice how they want to use it, no matter what your opinion may be on what they are doing. Whatever you are gifting, you have to be OK with relinquishing control.

While this might seem obvious hypothetically, it can prove more challenging than you might expect if you find yourself in a scenario where you think a present you have given is not being put to good use. If we're talking about an expensive gift or something that you put a lot of thought into, it can hurt to see a recipient not appreciating it in the way you might have hoped. There is always the risk that somebody is not going to think the same way about a gift as you do, and that can be interpreted as a lack of gratitude. Still, in a lot of ways, that is a risk that any gift giver has to be willing to take.

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  • A woman looks out of a kitchen window while holding onto a cup of coffee on the counter
    via Blake Cheek (Unsplash+)

    A woman looks out of a kitchen window while holding onto a cup of coffee on the counter

  • A younger sister was grateful to receive her older sibling's espresso maker, which worked well and was worth hundreds of dollars. They had told her that it was for her and her three roommates to use.

    The sibling was satisfied with their generosity until they visited the sister's apartment and realized she was charging her roommates $1 for coffee. She reasoned that this was less expensive than a cafe and helped her with the costs and upkeep of the machine.

    Feeling like this was an unfair use of their gift, the sibling decided to take the machine away again. The sister claimed that this was stealing, but they felt like this was the only moral solution.

  • Am I wrong for taking back a coffee machine I gave my younger sister after she started charging everyone to use it?

    My younger sister moved into a house with three roommates and I gave her my old espresso machine since I had upgraded. It still worked perfectly and originally cost me around $500. I told her it was for the house.
    via Frosty_Marketing868
  • After some time I visited and saw a handwritten price list taped beside it. She was charging $1 per coffee and said it was to cover the beans, milk, cleaning tablets and general upkeep. At first that sounded fair, but one of her roommates told me she had already made over $100 and the supplies definitely hadnt cost anywhere near that much.
    via Frosty_Marketing868
  • I told her that wasnt why I gave it to her. She said it became hers the second I handed it over and she can do whatever she wants with it. She also said the roommates were still paying way less than they would at a cafe.
    via Frosty_Marketing868
  • So I unplugged it, put it in my car and took it home. My younger sister says I basically stole a gift and embarrassed her in front of everyone. My parents agree that charging them was tacky, but think taking it back crossed a line since it technically belonged to her.
    via Frosty_Marketing868
  • A coffee machine on a counter with a person reaching towards it in the background
    via Jakub Żerdzicki

    A coffee machine on a counter with a person reaching towards it in the background

  • Oranges007 Roommates plus friend were probably drinking all her stuff. Sister found a way to make it work. And she's right. They paid way less than a coffee shop. You gave it away, it wasn't yours any more.
    via Oranges007
  • zeptillian It became hers the second I handed it over and she can do whatever she wants with it. Exactly. That's what giving means. It's not a loan, lease or rental. The ownership has been transfered according to your own free will, yet you decided to reposess it illegally. Why?
    via zeptillian
  • Because your care about your sister's friends/roommates coffee budgets more than your own sister? YTA no question. That was never any of your business to begin with.
    via zeptillian
  • Glittering-List-465 So... She's making sure all the needed supplies are kept in stock. Which means she's the one going and physically getting them and also maintaining the machine. What is she doing wrong?
    via Glittering-List-465
  • Cheezburger Image 10650422784
    via blahblahblah8219
  • Outrageous_Rabbit842 YTJ. Even if it was 'for the house' if your sister is purchasing everything and maintaining the machine...$1 coffee is a steal! Her house mates are jerks for whining (go buy Starbucks) and so are you. Give it back with your apologies... and make sure you tell the flatmates you were wrong
    via Outrageous_Rabbit842
  • Fun_Organization3857 Yta. 1$ for supplies and cleaning is reasonable. Take it back, apologize for overreacting and stop being controlling.
    via Fun_Organization3857
  • Financial-Parking-89 YTA. Once you give someone something, it becomes theirs to do with as the please so yeah...you took something that now belongs to your sister. Give it back.
    via Financial-Parking-89
  • Competitive_Bid5436 You gifted it, you can't just take it back. Tf? They're paying less than what they would going out, and she's making a little bit of chump change. Why do you feel the need to take it back?
    via Competitive_Bid5436
  • Tall-Ad-1955 You are definitely TA here. Mind your business. If her roommates aren't complaining, then you shouldn't be either. A gift is a gift.
    via Tall-Ad-1955
  • Cheezburger Image 10650424320
    via tonalake
  • mind-of-god YTA. Once given you have no say. A buck is nothing to pay for use of a really nice coffee machine AND the supplies. A sh fast food coffee costs more. I applaud her for looking out for her interests. and not letting it be used indiscriminately.
    via mind-of-god
  • _-whisper-_ I think that your sister having source of income in college is awesome
    via _-whisper-_

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