Roommate question: When I store my bike in my room, why do I need to put up with hers cluttering our small shared storage?
Asked by
Emilyy (
2133
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October 11th, 2008
Okay, so she’s a bad roommate. Without going into all the details, a lot of it comes down to cleanliness and organizational issues. I don’t mind stuff being left out here and there, but for the most part, I like things to have a proper home that they can go to at the end of the day. I don’t care what her room looks like, but it’s insane messiness is pouring over into our shared space. Our living room is covered with her text books, clothes, shoes, etc. We’ve talked about this many times, and the only way to make it work is to have me constantly nag her.
My main question is, is it fair to ask her to do something else with her bike? Our rooms are about the same size, and I make room for my 10-speed in mine. She has her big beach cruiser in our storage room (which is the size of a laundry room and is off the kitchen with no door separation, so if it’s messy, you can see from the kitchen). I guess my issue is that if it’s our shared storage, and that’s what she wants to put in there, how can I ask her not to? I would say the rest of the stuff in there is half hers and half mine.
Any suggestions on the bike issue or dealing with annoyingly messy roommates would be helpful.
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11 Answers
My roommates would just throw whatever was in the common area into their respective owner’s room. Though if it was placed nicely in the living room, we’d place it nicely in their room. If it was thrown on the floor, we’d throw it on their floor. It was all mutual though, so no one was offended. And everyone got the hint.
As for the bike, I’d only bring it up if it was taking up my storage space.
Is the half and half including or excluding the bike?
Just gather a bunch of your stuff thats not in use and something that can’t be broken and store it on TOP of her bike. make it be in her way. Than maybe if she’s like why would you store stuff on top of my bike say something like, “oh I thought you wouldn’t be using it anymore since its being stored here.” or something like that.
i wouldn’t find it rude to ask her if she could store the bike elsewhere. sounds like, you’ll be glad when your lease is up and you can find a new roommate lol..
Being passive aggressive is always tempting.
But rarely improves the situation for either party.
Oh believe me, I’ve become the PA Queen living with her. Usually if I’m cleaning up for guests or something, I do use the method where I put stuff in her room that is sitting out.
Sad thing is, our lease was up in August, but our place is so awesome that I don’t want to bail until I have a better option to go to (or until I can afford my own place). The pros of the place outweighed the cons of her, mainly because she just started law school so I anticipate her being pretty busy for the next three years.
@Nimis: The half and half is discounting the bike. But actually, I think it might be skewed more towards her. Maybe 60% her, 40% me, and then the bike is hers.
1. Hang a curtain
2. Negotiate giving her 100% of the storage space in exchange for control of other space (or vice versa).
3. Let it go/accept it, and worry about other things.
4. Suggest that she can be more efficient in school with some organization. Have her read Organizing From the Inside Out (good for disorganized people) and figure out a way to apply it.
5. Incent her to leave.
6. Get her to consent to the installation of bike hooks so that it can be hung out of the way.
Oh, yeah. I’ve been guilty of doing it too.
It’s satisfying while you’re doing it.
But in the long run, doesn’t it just piss you off more too?
Plus, I’m guessing you’ll still want to be friends after she moves out?
Or are you kind of indifferent at this point?
Was she a terrible roommate before she started law school?
It can be pretty all-consuming.
Law school has been known to turn normal human beings into sloths.
As for the bike situation, I’d just fill up my full 50%.
Either she won’t have room for it in storage anymore.
(And have to store her beach cruiser in her room.)
Or she’ll put some of the crap in her room and leave the bike there.
In which case, you’re kind of stuck, yeah?
But, yeah, what about bike hooks?
Personally, I would not want a bike in my bedroom. What about wall hooks for teh bikes in the storage area?
I think kevbo’s ideas are all excellent.
I guess I don’t understand why you do not suggest that this is not a roomie situation made in heaven and that one of you leave.
We have the same issue in my place….we have several bikes. We all keep them in the hallway or closet (there are 5 of us!!!) and it has been a bone of contention in our house. I don’t currently keep a bike in my room, though when I get a new fancy road bike I will, but more because I don’t want it messed with. So… I think your roomie should be able to keep her bike in the closet, as long as she isn’t taking up more than her fair share of space in there. Also, would hanging it on a hook help? Cruiser makes me think the bike is BIG. She sounds like a pain in the butt though. Don’t ever tell her about fluther or she’ll see this! Uh oh! I think its fair to start putting all of her crap in her room.
Hi Em! Long time no see! Good luck with the move : )
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