She Strengthens

A Cautionary Tale of Roommate Woes

The Unlikely Roommate

In early 2017, I found myself in need of a roommate. That’s when I reconnected with Regina, a friend who had recently moved back to Utah. We’d known each other for a couple of years, and I was relieved to find out she was also looking for a new place to live. I’d been hesitant about living with strangers, so I asked her if she wanted to be roommates. To my relief, she agreed.

The Apartment Hunt

We searched for apartments, and Regina had her heart set on a 2-bedroom-2-bathroom place across the street from her workplace. Although it was pricey, we decided to split the rent, with Regina taking the master bedroom and paying more. As we reviewed the contract, I discovered two red flags: the penalty for breaking the contract was exorbitant, and if one of us couldn’t pay rent, the other would be responsible. I should have been more cautious, but I trusted Regina.

The First Signs of Trouble

About six months in, we started having issues with the utility companies and our complex’s management. Regina told me that one of the utility companies was charging us twice, and she offered to handle the situation. I had no reason to doubt her, so I let her take care of it. Looking back, I should have been more proactive.

The Betrayal

Three months before our contract ended, Regina was fired from her job. She told me she had a new opportunity lined up, and I didn’t worry about her financial situation. Then, two and a half months before the end of the contract, she texted me saying she got a new job in Washington and would be moving in with her grandma. She promised to continue paying her part of the rent if she couldn’t find someone to take over her contract. I was caught off guard when she stopped responding to my messages and didn’t pay her rent.

The Fallout

I paid her rent using my emergency savings, hoping she would reimburse me. When she didn’t respond, I realized something was wrong. I tried contacting her again, but she blocked me on social media. It was then that I discovered she had been lying about paying utilities and had been keeping the money for herself. I was shocked and angry, but I knew I had to focus on finding a solution.

Lessons Learned

This experience taught me several valuable lessons:

• Don’t blindly trust others: Even if you’ve known someone for years, you may not know how they’ll behave in a living situation.
• Have an emergency fund: If I hadn’t had some savings set aside, I would have been in a much more difficult financial situation.
• Do your research: I should have been more careful when choosing an apartment and reviewing the contract.
• Be willing to make sacrifices: I had to cut back on some luxuries to cover the rent, but it was worth it to avoid going into debt.
• Seek multiple perspectives: If something seems off, don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek outside help.
• Focus on the future: Instead of dwelling on the negative, I’ve moved forward and found a new, more affordable place to live with responsible roommates.

A New Chapter

I may never understand why Regina chose to take advantage of me, but I’m grateful that I was able to learn from the experience and come out stronger. I’m now more cautious and better prepared for the unexpected twists and turns of life.