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Online Gamer Stunned After Roommate Demands Cut Of His Earnings Since He Pays For Internet

Man gaming online
Anastassiya Bezhekeneva/Getty Images

Living with a roommate can be difficult.

It certainly has its perks, mainly splitting expenses, of course, but it comes with individual and varying expectations that some may consider unspoken norms.

Let this be a warning: they need to be spoken.

An online gamer on Reddit recently began making some extra income by streaming, and now his roommate is demanding a cut of the earnings because he is the one who pays the internet bill.

Believing this is unfair, he turned to the “Am I The A**hole Here” (AITAH) subReddit to seek feedback from fellow Redditors.

Redditor buttonpalate asked:

“AITAH for not giving my roommate money for using the Wifi?”

The Original Poster (OP) explained:

“So here’s the deal. My roommate and I have this arrangement: he pays for the internet, and I cover the electricity.”

“It’s been working fine until recently.”

“Last month, I made $2500 streaming on Kick and Twitch, and now my roommate wants a cut of that money, specifically $1000.”

“I told him no, but now he’s upset and saying it’s unfair since he’s been paying for the internet, which I obviously need for streaming.”

“On one hand, I get where he’s coming from.”

“The internet is essential for my streaming, and he’s been covering that cost.”

“But on the other hand, our agreement never included sharing any profits from streaming.”

“I feel like he’s moving the goalposts and trying to cash in on something we never discussed.”

“It’s not like the electricity I pay for isn’t being used by him too.”

“To give you more context, we’ve never had any issues before this.”

“We split costs pretty evenly and have always stuck to our agreement.”

“I even offered to start paying a bit more for the internet to keep things fair, but he insists on getting a share of my streaming earnings instead.”

“It feels like a slippery slope.”

“If I give him $1000 this time, what’s stopping him from asking for more next month?”

“I work hard on my streams, and while I appreciate the internet, it’s not like he’s the one putting in the hours or dealing with the stress of content creation.”

“So, am I the a**hole for refusing to give him a cut of my streaming money?”

“Should I stand my ground, or am I being selfish and not seeing his side of things clearly?”

“I’m really torn on this and would appreciate some outside perspectives.”

“Thanks in advance for your thoughts.”

Redditors weighed in by declaring:

  • NTA – Not The A**hole
  • YTA – You’re The A**hole
  • NAH – No A**holes Here
  • ESH – Everyone Sucks Here

Redditors decided the OP was not the a**hole, with many agreeing there is absolutely no logic to the roommate’s ask.

“So if two roommates work from home and both use the Internet, do they have to split and share their salaries?”

“F* No!”

“You shud have laughed yourself to tears at this suggestion!”

“Your roommie can go pound sand!”

“Split the internet and electric 50/50. NTA” – dianeyear

“NTA”

“you’re going up and his true colors are coming out, he’s a leach.”

“time to start looking for a new place to live, by the sounds of it, keep up the hustle and you shouldn’t have a problem moving forward.” – Jose6869

“NTA. He sounds like the mob.”

“Tell him to f**k off and that you’ll gladly pay the internet from now on – and he can pay the electricity.” – ObscureCocoa

“OP, I’m pretty worried about your apprehension here.”

“There is zero basis, logical, legal or otherwise that would make this even worth considering, and you are infact doing just that.”

“And the fact he went there suggests to me you may be a little non-confrontational.”

“What you tell him is “The answer is no, never.” That’s it.”

“You don’t go into examples or explanations and discussions, that door closes.”

“You can also notify him you will ignore any conversations he starts regarding that subject.”

“As others said, look into moving out, you don’t want him turning off your internet mid-stream in retaliation.”

“NTA” – Inc0gnitoburrito

“No – this makes no sense.”

“You are just dividing amenities. If it’s not 50/50 – then make it 50/50.”

“Also, the internet is not just for streaming – I am assuming you both need to deal with life/work and use the internet for all other things.”

“This is a total trash ask.” – SGlobal_444

“NTA Your roommate is being ridiculous.” – Bartok_The_Batty

“NTA. He’s trying to profit from your work.”

“Trade electricity bill with him for the internet.”

“Either way, go ahead and get your own internet.”

“It’ll be cheaper than $1000/mth.”

“Because if you give in, he WILL be coming for more next month.”

“He is NOT entitled to any of your profits from your work.”

“This way, he has no hold over you.”

“His entitlement is crazy.” – kmflushing

“NTA. He’s acting entitled.”

“If he works from home and uses the WiFi does he owe you half of his salary?”

“Of coarse not.”

“This is the dumbest thing I’ve heard in a month.”

“Don’t pay him a dime.” – JJQuantum

“This is absurd logic from your roommate.”

“So if he worked from home on his laptop and earned a huge salary, does he owe you a cut of that salary since you pay for the electricity that charges up his laptop?”

“Massive reach.”

“NTA, you owe him nothing.” – spiroglif

“NTA. You split utilities.”

“You don’t split profit from using those utilities.”

“He wants to play stupid games, tell him he keeps it up, you’ll get your own ISP and he’ll be on the hook for half the electric bill on top of his wifi.” – Heavy-Quail-7295

“He has no point.”

“You seeing his side is also wrong.”

“He has no side.”

“He is trying to steal the money you earned over nonsense.” – TheKinksfan

“NTA – the internet cost can’t be more than $200.”

“Split the internet cost but there’s no logical way he deserves any money from your streaming profits unless he’s helping you make content and is in front of the camera with you, preforming and whatnot.” – MEYO6811

“NTA. He is asking for something he has absolutely no entitlement to.” – Odd_Task8211

“NTA – this is silly.”

“Pay them the amount of half the wifi specifically, and call it the end of it.”

“If they still want to throw a fit, get a new roommate.”

“That would be like any roommates where one person is working from home and it requires being online.”

“If you were a call center rep working from home, would they expect half your payckeck on top of paying your half of the bills?” – MasterGas9570

“NTA for obvious reasons your roommate is delusional.”

“Also how does he know how much you made?”

“Insane and entitled lol.”

“If you worked from home is he entitled to your salary?” – Strangeballoons

“NTA dont ever do that, you don’t owe him anything and that’s the most stupid thing I saw in a while, he wants 40% of your salary because he pays for the wifi ?”

“Then offer him to pay for wifi and he pays for electricity but then he will also ask for money cuz he is a rat” – Salt-Mixture-1093

“I can’t understand the logic.”

“You split the bills for what you both use.”

“Isn’t that the point of having a roommate?”

“How does him paying for internet somehow mean he’s entitled to your money that you made?”

“I know some ISPs have a per gig type of plan, but even then, it’d only be the cost for the extra internet if you went over.”

“But I don’t see how you’d be able to stream with a limit like that anyway, so it’s moot.”

“NTA. Your roomie isn’t making sense, and you might want to look for a new place or roommate.” – toxic_nerve

Others believe the roommate may be a touch envious of OP’s recent success.

“NTA – throw his logic back in his face.”

“Well, for the internet and WiFi to function, you need power.”

“Wonder where the money is coming from to fund that?”

“If he works from home at all, should he give you a chunk of his salary given that he’s using the electrons that you pay for?”

“I’d imagine he’d be quick to reject that.”

“Your roommate is showing that he’s jealous, greedy and woefully entitled.”

“I assume he doesn’t do anything to help with the actual streaming, nor has he provided any of the equipment you use…so he has no claim to any money you make on the side.”

“Offer to either just go 50/50 on internet and electricity, or tell him you can flip flop who pays for what…but he’s isn’t getting any of the money you earned.” – dookle14

“NTA”

“I think he’s just feeling envious” – Flowyflowerflow

“NTA he’s jealous af 😭 if you’re still trynna live there for a while I wouldn’t offer to pay the whole I internet bill moving forward so he doesn’t have to worry about it 🤣” – Sadababyy

“NTA. Money brings the absolute worst out of people.”

“I’d def be thinking about my next moves when the lease expires” – Pretty-Benefit-233

According to his fellow Redditors, OP has absolutely no reason to feel inclined to give a portion of his earnings to his roommate.

He should, however, take their advice and either swap bills or switch roommates.

Written by AB Keith

AB Keith is an educator turned roadtripper who is currently teaching virtually while touring the USA. Her dream is to visit all the national parks and create a series of nonfiction children's books about NP adventures through the eyes of her dog, Backpack Benny.