YART: Roommate dilemma resolved. I pay utilities up to $30/month.

[Yossarian451]

Start out with a nice discussion of how you don't have teh money to pay for all the utilities. If they still have no sympathy for you, tell them you have no choice but to cancel the utilites, tehn when they are out, goto the breaker box and shut down the power to the place. Get flashlights and a campstove, (you can even make one out of 2 aluminum cans, but i won't get into that), and sit in the middle of whatever room cooking on the primitive stove, and tell them it is like camping. They will give in much sooner than you think. Or just shut off all the power to their rooms and only leave it on for their, if you are the one paying you have no obligation to share. But whatever you do don't make it like you are doing it spitefully but just act like it is a hard decisioon but you don't have the money. It is a political game and you must you an iron fist with a jaded face.

 

[Yossarian]

I'm sorry but I'm going to need to see some pics of these roommates And if you could throw in some video of a pillowfight in bra and panties that would be ok too.

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: DezignUPDATE, 10/14: No pillowfights, senseless violence, or cancelling of utilities was resorted to.

Bah! What a let down. Anyway, Instead of the low income thing, suggest they:

1. Install webcams in their room(s)
2. Turn off A/C
.
.
.
5. Profit



In all seriousness, Congrats on working out the problems w/o resorting to lawsuits.

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: Dezign

UPDATE, 10/14: Major miscommunication; the girls were confused. After two hours, we decided upon this: This month, I will pay for all the utilities, and the initial setup/installation fees will be split among the three of us. Next month, I will pay for all the utilities up to $30-35... one of my roommates is going to see if we qualify as a "low income" household (will my ass get audited for that?). Anything over that amount, the girls will split 50/50. No pillowfights, senseless violence, or cancelling of utilities was resorted to.

Put a proper number down, not "oh, say, $30-35."

Make that number $30, and $30 firm. Whether you collect $1 from each when it's only $32, that's up to you, but make it a firm number. Also, which utilities are you paying? Is that $30 for all of them each month, or is that $30 for gas, $30 for electricity, etc.? I'm just double checking to be sure that's clear to all of you.

 

[bleeb]

Good Deal. I'm glad things werked out.

 

[imported_Tomato]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle

Originally posted by: Dezign

UPDATE, 10/14: Major miscommunication; the girls were confused. After two hours, we decided upon this: This month, I will pay for all the utilities, and the initial setup/installation fees will be split among the three of us. Next month, I will pay for all the utilities up to $30-35... one of my roommates is going to see if we qualify as a "low income" household (will my ass get audited for that?). Anything over that amount, the girls will split 50/50. No pillowfights, senseless violence, or cancelling of utilities was resorted to.

Put a proper number down, not "oh, say, $30-35."

Make that number $30, and $30 firm. Whether you collect $1 from each when it's only $32, that's up to you, but make it a firm number. Also, which utilities are you paying? Is that $30 for all of them each month, or is that $30 for gas, $30 for electricity, etc.? I'm just double checking to be sure that's clear to all of you.

Understood. If I have to be anal about it, I will be. Thank you... I'll go over that with them tonight. And it's $30 TOTAL... for ALL utilities (not incl. Internet/DSL).

 

[weezergirl]

Hmm..this thread was too long for me to read so sorry if I repeat. I've been living with roommates for the past 5 years and never had problems. I think you should ALWAYS divide things evenly including the utilities as they are never the same month to month. I've also lived in an apt where the rooms were different sizes, we just took the measurements of the room and proportionally divided the rent that way.

As for the low income thing, you should definitely take advantage of that. I've never heard that it would ruin your credit and we've been doing it since we've moved into apts.

Also, as a good tip for paying money between roommates, we all have paypal accounts and transfer money that way. No need to deal with people who don't have cash on hand, worrying about exact change, or depositing your checks. Makes sending money back and forth SUPER easy!

 

Glad to hear everything worked out.

 

[alkemyst]

seems like a fair resolution....you don't want to resort to some of the antics others have mentioned (seriously if some of that crap got pulled on me I'd be the worst possible roommate from that point forward and chances are I'd be stronger and far more insane) ....especially since according to the lease you are now outnumbered 2 to 1.

I think they will be cool about it though, it makes no sense to stir up the waters in a group living situation.