I (20F) live with three other roommates, and we share a communal fridge and a mini fridge. We have a large living room, so my two other roommates and I also have our own personal fridge/freezer in the living room. However, the two roommates have their own minifridge, while I have my own freezer. The reason I bought the freezer was that I freeze a lot of food in order to save on buying fresh groceries.
To be clear, when I say "two roommates," I will be referring to those who had the issue (and have a minifridge), and "third roommate" will be referring to the one who did not take a side, but was used as an example of someone who needed more space by the other two.
There was no issue at all until we did our first roommate agreement, about two months after living with each other. After a few agreements, the two roommates who each owned a mini fridge asked if I could give up my space in the communal freezer since I have my own. I said I was not willing to give up having my freezer space in the kitchen where I could access my stuff at arms reach, rather than going into the living room, taking the things off my freezer lid, take the food out of the freezer into the kitchen, and putting the stuff back onto the freezer lid (I have my drying rack on my freezer lid, which is also accommodating in terms of space as one of the two roommates also have a large box in the living room where they put their drying rack).
They were not happy with my response and said I was being selfish and not cooperating. I told them that I would be willing to share my freezer if they were willing to offset some of the cost I spent on the freezer (I wasn’t even talking about splitting it equally, but just some of it), but they argued that "they’re just students and don’t have the money," which is ironic because from my perspective, I am the most frugal between the two who were trying to get me to forfeit my share of the communal freezer; I literally bought the freezer so that I could live off whatever free food I get from work (I work in hospitality). One of their arguments was that the third roommate (the one who did not participate in their arguments) needs to buy groceries and needs more space in the freezer. Upon inspecting the freezer, it was found that the third roommate and I used less than our share of the freezer, with the rest filled up by the two roommates.
We did come to a compromise in that we should take frozen food out of their boxes (given that they are also bagged) to maximize freezer space (to which I had no such boxes, so it was just the two roommates that had to make the adjustment), and that did free up a lot of space.
TLDR: AITA for refusing to give up my share of the communal freezer after buying my own freezer, and offering to share my freezer if my roommates agreed to offset the cost?
I’m not sure if this is relevant, but among the four of us, I was the first to move in and already bought the freezer when I heard that I will be having three more roommates.
Info what is the size of the freezer compared to the mini fridges?
Generally I would say it is asshole behavior to take jo communal space (living room) for an exclusive use item, main exception is if everyone takes up similar amount of space.
So if the mini fridges and freezer are the same size NTA.
But generally in my experience a chest freezer (assuming it is that kind based on you saying you keep things on top and have to take them off to open it) will take up 2 or 3 times the amount of floor space a min fridge takes up. If that is the case YTA.
Like you can’t buy a couch put it in the living room and claim it for your exclusive use, unless everyone else has their own similar sized couch, or a desk/work station.
If you want something just for you it should go in your room
Not all chest freezers are huge. I have a very small one in my garage.
It’s larger than a mini fridge, but space in the living room was never brought up as an issue. In fact, if space were brought up as an issue, one of the two roommates (on top of having a mini fridge) have a large box in the living room used as her drying rack, and a portable shelf in the communal closet which I am not allowed to use. I have no issues with these, but it’s probably why bringing up space would not be in their interests.
NTA in the technical sense, if we’re going to say whatever comes with the house gets divided equally and if someone wants more fridge/freezer space they need to purchase it themselves.
It’s also true that this is the kind of thing that digging your heels in about can just make for a strained roommate relationship that becomes more trouble than the original disagreement. Since you have more freezer space now and others also probably want to meal prep or save money, it’s a kindness to give them a bit more space, since the main reason you give for not wanting to accommodate their request is not wanting to walk back and forth to get things. It’s up to you what you choose, depends on the relationship you want with your roommates. Best case you can find a good compromise.
Basically, I love being kind, but me giving up this space would not be seen as a gesture of kindness and I will feel taken advantage of.
Did you mean to reply from this account?
NTA.
They want you to give up freezer space because you have a freezer, are they willing to give you extra fridge space as they have fridges?
I’d also prefer keeping the quick access food in the kitchen and the bulk purchase in the big freezer if I was in your position.
I do want to point out that fridge space is very abundant, even in the communal fridge.
Are you a roommate of OP, or secondary account from OP?
Did the two roommates who have minifridges give up fridge space since they have their own?
YTA.