10 Relatives Who Were Living the Good Life Until the Housing Problem Hit

You know how they say, housing problems can really mess things up? Well, people online shared their stories, and it’s true—money and housing issues can bring out some ugly stuff.

• “After celebrating my 18th birthday, my stepfather abruptly asked me to start paying rent, citing it as preparation for the real world. However, it’s evident that his request stems from a place of resentment, given my status as a reminder of my mother’s previous marriage. Despite my impending departure for university in September, where I’ll be responsible for my finances, he insists on charging me £100 per month, disregarding my intensive A-level studies and limited finances.
  Feeling unfairly treated, I’ve opted to move in with my aunt, who generously offered a free guest room, allowing me to save for university. Although my decision has caused tension within the family, prioritizing my education and future well-being is paramount.” cheeckypanda625 / Reddit

• “I’m 23 years old, the eldest of five siblings. Alongside being a full-time student, I’ll be getting my diploma in a year. I also work part-time, which brings in decent money, allowing me to save. My siblings range from 20 to 10 years old, and given our parents’ busy schedules, I take care of buying groceries, doing laundry, and cooking for everyone.
  Then, out of the blue, my 20-year-old brother accused me of not sharing my money, and surprisingly, our parents sided with him. After careful consideration, I decided to move out. I now live in a rented apartment, with plenty of time on my hands. However, my siblings are upset because they’re now responsible for the household chores.” LetterheadMaterial93 / Reddit

• “My parents inherited our grandfather’s old house, which my sister and her boyfriend used to live in before moving out. I proposed to my parents that my boyfriend and I could move in and pay them rent. However, they wanted us to pay 10% more than what my sister paid. I argued that the house needed renovations, and we were willing to take care of it and pay utilities, but we requested a lower rent in return. They agreed to this arrangement.
  We’ve already moved out of our previous place, but now there are new demands. Our parents have raised the rent and are insisting on renovations. I feel deeply hurt by this sudden change. I’m unsure how to handle this situation without damaging my relationship with them over money.” tuddeee / Reddit

• “A year ago, I, a 19-year-old male, moved out of my parents’ house, thinking everything was fine with a loving upbringing and supportive family. However, after a big 18th birthday celebration where I learned about adult responsibilities, my parents unexpectedly demanded rent and retroactive payments of nearly 10K for the time I hadn’t known I was supposed to contribute financially. Feeling blindsided and disrespected, I moved out, facing backlash from my parents and mixed reactions from friends, who were split on whether I should have known my duty as their son. Now, I’m wondering if I was in the wrong or not.” Thin-Cookie8995 / Reddit

• “After offering to pay more in rent due to overhearing their financial troubles, I found out my sister, who also lives with our parents, doesn’t pay a cent in rent while I’ve been paying $800 a month. In a heated family discussion, my sister refused to contribute fairly, and when I suggested a fair split, tensions rose. Frustrated by the unfairness, I declared I wouldn’t pay more until she did. This led to arguments with my parents, who now label me as selfish for wanting fairness in rent payments, while my sister remains defiant.” Unknown author / Reddit

• “My girlfriend and I have been living together for three years, splitting bills and rent proportionally to income. However, due to pay cuts at my job and a major promotion for her, our income dynamics have shifted. She now wants us to ‘either keep the rent/bills pay distribution as it was before’ (as in she pays 35%, and I pay 65%) or she ‘will pay 50/50, max.’
  I asked her why we are not doing proportional splits anymore, and she said I should just be grateful that she is flexible enough to upend her finances for me and split it 50/50. She’s been cold with me recently and told me she shouldn’t have to punish herself for her financial successes and that my ‘lack of adaptability is off-putting.’” Living_Buffalo_6 / Reddit

• “I’m torn between feeling petty and wondering if I’m wrong. My husband’s family thinks I’m childish for not letting go of the past, especially since my sister-in-law (SIL) can’t afford this. However, her past behavior justifies my stance.
  Two years ago, our house burned down, and we had to move in with my SIL, paying her $100 a week initially but then $250 for a cramped room while she used our food stamps. Now, she’s facing financial trouble after losing her house and wanted to stay with us, but I offered a room at $800 a month with separate food costs, citing our past experience. She refused, and I’m being labeled as childish again.” Local-Trust-560 / Reddit

• “Am I morally obligated to pay off my parent plus loans? I was blindsided by an additional 20K in loans after graduating, which my mom agreed to cover the interest on until I paid off my own loans. However, my siblings received financial help for their weddings while I, as a gay individual, won’t receive similar support due to my family’s beliefs.
  I’ve asked to redirect wedding funds to my loans, but they refuse, citing weddings as family activities. This, combined with the loans not being in my name and my ability to repay, makes me question my obligation. While I acknowledge the loans were for education and I have a good job now, I’m conflicted about paying them off entirely given these circumstances.” Superb-Doughnut5524 / Reddit

• “My sister is 2 years older than me. I left school at 16, went to college, and started combining study with work — it was very difficult. My sister tried to go to college three times but failed the exams. She didn’t work anywhere and received unemployment benefits.
  I gave part of my salary to my mother and also paid 20% of the utilities. My sister’s parents charged mere pennies to cover bus fare. My sister didn’t even cook food for everyone, so it was all terribly offensive. As soon as I could, I moved away from them.” Sheelagh Stephenson / Quora

• “After moving out for better job prospects and supporting myself without debt, my parents started charging me ’rent’ for staying over during visits, citing it as a lesson in financial responsibility. I tried to save by staying with a friend nearby instead, but my parents accused me of dodging responsibility and acting immature. They believe I should pay and stay with them, viewing my actions as childish and deliberately difficult, even though the amount is small, and they’re financially comfortable.” renter71 / Reddit

Before you head out, take a delightful journey through an inspiring article highlighting the stories of 14 pregnant women who experienced beautiful surprises as their bodies embraced the wonders of pregnancy.