Some people have a truly warped sense of what is important and what is not.
As a result, these same people will often make ill-advised decisions, such as attending a frivolous event over an important one or disregarding the sound advice of others.
Unfortunately, their poor judgment and decision-making often have a negative impact on their finances.
Redditor SugarPetals11 had a friend who suffered from this very problem.
Eventually putting him in a position that damagingly complicated his ability to get to class.
Sadly for him, when he turned to the original poster (OP) for help in this matter, the OP was unwilling to oblige.
Wondering if they were being too hard on him, the OP took to the subReddit “Am I The A**Hole”(AITA), where he asked fellow Redditors:
“AITA for refusing to drive my friend to class every morning after they sold their car to buy a EDC tickets?”
The OP explained why they flatly refused to give their friend a ride:
“My friend and I go to the same university, but we live in different neighborhoods about 30 minutes apart.”
“Up until recently, we both drove ourselves.”
“Last month, my friend decided to sell his car to buy EDC tickets and some merch for his favorite DJ.”
“I thought it was kind of impulsive, but it’s his money tho.”
“This week, he started asking me to drive him to class every morning.”
“And I didn’t mind giving him a ride once or twice when it was on the way, but then it turned into an everyday expectation.”
“My friend calls me every night to make sure I’m still picking him up, and last night he called me again and I hesitated, he didn’t seem to get me there, and even he said, ‘Well, you’re driving there anyway, it’s not that big of a deal’.”
“But here’s the thing, picking my friend isn’t just a small detour.”
“It adds about an hour to my round trip, and I end up rushing to find parking and settle before class.”
“Also, he’s not sharing some money for the gasoline.”
“So I told him directly that I can’t be his daily driver, especially since I have my own schedule and part-time job to juggle.”
“My friend just kept saying it’s not cool, bro, not cool.”
“I reminded him that selling his car and buying EDC tickets was also not cool if you can’t afford it, not my responsibility to cover for, then he cut off the call while I’m still talking to him.”
“I don’t think it’s wrong on my side.”
“But I want him to be responsible and not use me as his daily driver.”
“AITA?”
Fellow Redditors weighed in on where they believed the OP fell in this particular situation, by declaring:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
The Reddit community was in agreement that the OP was not the a**hole for refusing to drive their friend to class.
Everyone agreed that their friend’s poor judgment and decision-making were no concern of the OP’s, and as a result, their friend needed to live with the consequences of their actions:
“NTA.”
“If he really needed a ride (and you were okay with it), then he could be at your place by the time you need to leave.”- dgduhon
“Super NTA.”
“He wasn’t even giving you gas money?”
“What a user. It’s def not your job to blow an extra hour of each day to drive this guy around.”-ScarletNotThatOne
“NTA.”
“Speaking as a former ride moocher myself, he should be falling over himself to thank you and offer gas money without being prompted.”
“Either he’ll learn to use a bus or learn a harsh life lesson about the consequences of impulsive decisions.”
“Either way, lucky he’s in college where learning like this is meant to happen.”- StarsForget
“You were NTA until I got here:”
“Also he’s not sharing some money for the gasoline.”
“And after that you’re super NTA.”
“You’re like if NTA were bitten by a radioactive spider.”- CaramelRottenApple
“NTA.”
“And he doesn’t sound like much of a friend.”- Vivid-Ad3882
“NTA.”
“And he doesn’t sound like much of a friend.”- Vivid-Ad3882
“NTA.”
“Not sure he ever was your friend, you were just a free driver, your friendship is probably over now.”-Long-Leading
“NTA.”
“Your friend made a decision to sell their car for something frivolous.”
“That comes with consequences, like not having a car to take to class.”- InternalScreaming9
“NTA.”
“Tell him he needs to get another car.”
“It takes time and money to pick him up and you’re tired of it.”
“Not really a friend imo, at least not a good one.”- Parking-Conclusion84
“That’s not a friend, that’s a leech.”
“You’re better off without him.”
“NTA.”- Mogus0226
“NTA.”
“‘Just because you thought something or want something doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. You thought you could sell your car and then have me spend 7 hours every week of my life driving you to class’.”
“‘No’.”
“‘That won’t be happening anymore’.”
“‘I’m going to leave you to experience the consequences of your problem by yourself instead of making me suffer for it’.”
“‘I’ll see you in class tomorrow’.”
“‘Yeah, I don’t want to do that as much as you want me to do that’.”
“‘The exact opposite reasons for why you want me to do that’.”
“‘I’m sure you’ll work it out’.”- mangoN-lime
“NTA.”
“He also ditched his insurance and doesn’t mind you picking up that as well.”
“This dude just wants his.”- Stang1776
“NTA.”
“He sold the car because he was counting on you to take him daily.”
“His comment about you going anyway said it all.”
“As a side, you can offer the ride.”
“But going forward, rides cost X and must be paid the day before.”
“Factor in gas, your time, and car maintenance.”
“Added, adjust the schedule to suit you.”
“If you need 30 min prior to class, then leave with enough time to accomplish this, even if it means he’s up extra early.”
“I suspect the charge for the ride will negate this.”- Radiant_Bee1
“NTA.”
“Minus that small part toward yourself for not shutting this down sooner.”
“You have a few options depending on your need to not have conflict.”
“Say, No.”
“Can’t do it anymore.”
“Do not give reasons.”
“You just can’t.”
“Tell him to figure out his own way to your house and home at the end of your day.”
“Make sure you have a set time you leave and do it if he isn’t there.”
“Make sure you don’t let him in after the ride back or he won’t leave.”
“Charge him.”
“Calculate your mileage reimbursement on the federal amount $0.70/mile.”
‘Add $20-$25/per hour.”
“Add together, divide in half, and tell him his daily rate.”
“That HAS to be paid the night before or you won’t take him.”
“Each option will result in him protesting.”
“Just say, ok, I accept you declining and good luck, mate.”
“Since he is a user, cut him off and block.”- Necessary_Internet75
“NTA.”
“Not very plur of him.”- Tiny_Palpitation8420
“NTA.”
“Occasionally is a nice favor, but cutting into your schedule and wallet is over the line.”-Panoglitch
“NTA.”
“Your friend is an idiot.”- unusedtruth
“Absolutely NTA.”
“Life decisions come with life results.”
“Many times, they are foreseeable, like selling your car will leave you without transportation. Asking a friend, even your best friend, to go way out of the way to transport you from place to place after selling your car will stress the relationship.”
“If someone is incapable of seeing these results, there is a serious disconnect in that person’s thought process.”
“You are a great friend for helping with transportation.”
“The friend appears to be TA.”- Helpful-Leading8603
“NTA.”
“He’s not ur friend but a mooch.”
“Gotta learn to shake them off.”- What_Is_This_1
“NTA.”
“This adds a full workday to your week.”
“For what it would cost him to pay for your time & gas, he can buy another car.”- DartDaimler
“NTA.”
“At this point, you are enabling a fool.”
“YWBTA if you keep this u,p knowing it’s enabling him.”
“Buddy needs to learn some lessons, quickly.”- SCKerafyrm
“NTA.”
“His getting to school isn’t your problem.”- Fun-Yellow-6576
“NTA.”
“I can’t fathom selling my car for a concert.”- NefariousnessKey5365
“NTA.”
“He’s taking advantage of you.”- Sonic_Bungler
“NTA.”
“It’s a huge inconvenience for you, he’s not paying you to do it, and it’s because he made bad choices.”- Elegant_Anywhere_150
“NTA.”
“I’d text him, ‘It’s not cool to take an hour from my day and never chip in for gasoline cause you think I’m your driver’.”
“Particularly when you sold your car for a concert.”
“You’re not my friend, so find a new chauffeur.”- julesk
Everyone has had to make sacrifices in their lives.
Most people, however, have the common sense to sacrifice the things that ultimately don’t matter, rather than the things that are important.
One can only wonder how long it will take for the OP’s friend to question if sacrificing his car and putting his college education at risk so he could go to a music festival was worth it.