Living with roommates is never easy. Even if you’re living with friends, disagreements and arguments are bound to pop up from time to time. Most are easily resolved, but sometimes the tension just won’t go away.
If this seems to happen to you a lot, there’s a risk you might have become THAT roommate—you know, the one that makes the room go quiet; the one about whom everyone says, “If not for THAT guy/gal, we’d have the perfect apartment!”
Worried yet? We’ve got you covered.
Here’s a list of symptoms for your self-diagnosis:
Symptom 1: You play whatever music you want, at whatever time you want, at any volume you want.
Yes, we are all aware of your new-found discovery of that new EDM song, but it’s 4 AM on a Tuesday—don’t you have somewhere to be? Like, in bed, peacefully asleep, like a normally functioning human being?
Symptom 2: You eat whatever’s in the fridge, whether it’s yours or not.
If you’re surprised by how rarely you go to the store, and yet you’re never hungry either, this is likely you. The whole what’s-mine-is-yours thing only really works if everyone’s bringing the good stuff to the table. Make sure you’re pulling your weight.
Symptom 3: “I don’t always do dishes, but when I do, I let them soak.”
If you’re nodding along, you’re definitely THAT roommate. Seriously, keep the line moving and don’t let your dishes clog the flow. And if you have a strict policy of only washing dishes that you and only you used, drop it. Refusing to rinse an extra plate on principle always looks petty, and you can guarantee there have been times your roommates have washed up for you.
Symptom 4: Paper Product Usage > Paper Product Investment
Yes, paper towels and toilet paper are important (one more so than the other), but still—if all you do is use and you never think to buy, you’re probably THAT roommate. So stop being a leech and go buy a pack of Charmin.
Symptom 5: Lights? Plugs? Huh?
Whether electric is included in your rent or not, conserving energy is a must. Nobody likes walking into an empty house to find that every single light has been left on. Bulbs and batteries run out. It’s careless, wasteful and downright rude. You walk into a room and turn on the light, so remember to do the same as you exit
These symptoms are only the tip of the iceberg in diagnosing THAT roommate.
What other symptoms have you seen?
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