My roommate is very laid-back about cleaning, while Iām a bit of a hygiene freak to be honest. We used to share cleaning supplies weekly, but for the last two months, they havenāt bought anything even once. Last time, they tried to deflect the conversation by saying, āWell, I use less dish soap.ā Iām seriously about to lose it. Do you think Iām making a mistake by focusing so much on money, or is it time to have a more serious conversation?
Iāve always witnessed such situations, especially during school and so on. Some people really underestimate cleanliness. I think you should clearly say, āWe spend this much weekly, and you should contribute this amount,ā and leave it at that. Because otherwise, theyāll always take advantage.
Such things happen a lot among boyfriends too. Saying āI make fewer dishesā is definitely an excuse. I mean, itās not about using less or more, itās about having a shared living space, as you say. I think youāre right; you definitely should say something.
I donāt think thereās any need to prolong this. Just collect the weekly shopping receipts and calculate how much we spent in that month. Then we can sit face to face and say, āI paid this much, so you should cover that much too.ā If necessary, divide it physically.
But wait a second, are you being a bit too sensitive? You mention hygiene and all, but maybe theyāre already minimizing spending on other things besides dish soap. Jumping to conclusions about bad intentions feels a bit extreme.
Many people experience this; economic difficulties can especially grow in these kinds of small matters. I think you should establish clear rules. Maybe start by creating a list that outlines who will get what in writing. That way, it wonāt need to grow so much.
Let me add this too, it wasnāt like this at first. I mean, we used to take everything in order. But for the past two months, all the burden has genuinely fallen on me. If it goes any further, I feel like I will have to sit down and confront them directly ![]()
I think thereās something else behind this. Otherwise, why would they completely quit in the last two months? Maybe theyāre facing some financial difficulties but canāt say it. I would suggest checking in a bit, to understand if thereās another reason.