This happened almost three years ago but sometimes if I remember, I'm still very angry?

Question

Three years ago, I had a flat mate(a couple). We shared the apartment for a year. We bought everything almost together like kitchen utensil, tv etc. We bought this second hand tv. It cost us 40 euro. When they wanted to leave the apartment , they asked their 20 euro back after 1 year watching the tv!!! I was quiet angry at that time but give them back their 20 euro anyway. And now, I am about to leave this apartment but of course I couldn't sell the telly for 40 euro because this telly is quite old. My question is, if you were me, will you be angry because your flat mate ask the money back? I know, I should sell the telly at that time and divided the money by two. But I still need the telly at that time.

Answer 1

You may be more angry at yourself for giving the mates the 20 euros. I agree with you, it was not fair, but, kind of look at it as a learning experience. You did what you did and will most likely never fall in to that trap again.

Their question of asking you for half of the original expenditure may have caught you off guard. So, where ever money negotiations come up again, have a ready answer, "I will let you know tomorrow" Give yourself a chance to think it over.

Now you are prepared! ----so forget about the telly.

Answer 2

Hi there. Have you talked to your school counselors and let them know what's going on? Does your school have a psychologist? Definitely talk with your teachers too if you think they will be understanding. (Don't talk about this with people you don't feel comfortable talking too) They might also be able to help you. It sounds like you truly have your hands full. You're right, family should always be a priority, but guess what: you must put yourself before family. I also want you to know that I sympathize with your situation. Being the eldest does not mean you are a housekeeper or a babysitter. I am sorry your parents have put you in this situation. I don't agree with it at all. I also hope the problem with the newborn not getting adequate sleep and not sleeping through the night is corrected immediately. Your parents need to know ASAP and if they are not taking care of this , this is child neglect. Your GPA may be low, but you have your senior year to get it back up there. Also, because you've taken AP classes, universities will be more forgiving when they review your transcripts. You may not make it to a first, or even a second tier university, but often times they are not all they're cracked up to be. Also, you can find a community college or a state school, and take prerequisite classes, and get excellent grades, and attempt to transfer to a better school later on. Never, never, never make the mistake that your past determines your future. You will only become stuck if you let yourself become stuck. Don't succumb to the frog in the water mentality. You should do your homework immediately after school. Homework is something that's directly benefiting you, so you need to prioritize that. You should also be able to devote a certain amount of time per day (like 30 minutes or an hour) working on something *you* like to do... Like learning the piano or playing a computer game or maybe watching some television. Your next priority is then family... house chores, babysitting and taking your brothers to the park is all benefiting your family. You should try to figure out a plan to split chores up appropriately among your brothers. If they're not willing to listen, don't take them to the park. Set some rules if your parents will not. If your parents are coercing you to do these things, you should bring this up with someone you can trust (at school, church, or anything) immediately. This is a serious issue. If you can't correct the problem, stay as strong as you can mentally, and weather the storm until you're 18. Then, you will have your entire life ahead of you, and you will know that your future success will have everything to do with your personal strengths and nothing to do the misery endured in your childhood. Best Regards

Answer 3

You could have sold the TV and given them half of whatever you got. Since you decided to keep the TV, you should have given them something for it. (I don't know what depreciation would have been after one year of watching it.) You really shouldn't be angry with them. Of course you can't get 40 Euros for it now. It has been another 3 years. It's in the past and not worth being upset over. You're only talking about 20 Euros, which is what one decent dinner out costs. Just let it go!

Answer 4

Something like this is not worth being angry about - especially since it happened 3 years ago. You should have negotiated what you felt was a fairer settlement at the time rather than agonizing over it for so long. Just blame yourself for not standing firm at the time, learn from the experience and move on. If you need to rationalize their action then take into consideration the fact that you used the TV for 2 years longer than they did for 20 euros (if I understand your time-line correctly) and still have the TV which you can sell or keep. Just let it go ... whenever the thought creeps into your head just tell yourself that it's over and done and direct your thoughts to pleasant things. Eventually, if you don't let your mind dwell on the issue, you will stop agonizing over it. You can't do anything about it now ... give it up.

Answer 5

try to look at it this way, if you had to pay for the "telly" by your self at that time, perhaps you may not had been able to afford it. But after some time had past you were able to have the 20 euros to pay them for half of the purchase.Also they did pay 20 euros for watching the "telly"! Grow up and don't be so petty

Answer 6

The way to avoid this is never buy things together with someone you are not married to. This almost always creates issues and geez....you're still angry after 3 yrs. Let it go and don't do it again.

Answer 7

You accepted their offer instead of offering them less or working some other deal out. Consider it a lesson learned and know that you will be more savvy in the future.

Answer 8

well, you really have paid 20 for the tv, and you've used it since then and own it outright, so if you do sell it, you should be happy to get 15. but regardless, its money, its just money. I dont think their intention was to screw you, they thought it was fair, i can see their reasoning. helps me to look at intention, not money.

Answer 9

Well, any time someone asks for their money back when they had to give it to me for alegitimaet reason, yeah! But, I wouldn't think about it too much, because all that does is piss you off!

Answer 10

I can't believe you're asking this question. It was 3 years ago, get over it!