Roommate dynamics can be hot or cold.

In this story, a living situation gets chilly over a refrigerator debate.

Let’s break the ice between these cohabitating coworkers…

WIBTA for buying a fridge and refusing to let my roommate and his girlfriend use it, even though they’d have no other way to keep their food fresh?

I (26M) live with my roommate (33M), who is also my coworker.

We initially moved in together to share the cost of rent and groceries, and we were planning to buy a fridge together.

However, since his girlfriend (28F) moved in about five months later, the dynamic has changed significantly, and that discussion was forgotten.

Is this a classic Yoko Ono situation?

Now, we each buy our own groceries and kitchen supplies, including separate toiletries and even toilet paper.

It feels like I’m a third wheel in my own home, and I no longer have the convenience of sharing space with my roommate.

I was hoping to create a communal living environment, but instead, it has turned into separate lives.

Going your separate ways is harder to do when you share a house…

Currently, I don’t have a fridge, and I’m considering buying one, especially since holiday sales are coming up.

However, my roommate is unwilling to contribute to the cost, and I’m worried about sharing it with them since they seem to want everything separate now.

When we both get home from work, his girlfriend is usually in the kitchen cooking, and I have to wait an hour or two to use the space.

I’ve suggested she cook earlier so that I can have time in the kitchen too, but my roommate prefers not to eat cold food.

So can these coworkers compromise outside the office?

This situation has led to me frequently getting takeout, which is wasteful and affects my groceries since my fresh food often goes bad.

The bathroom situation is also frustrating.

Bad bathroom habits to boot?

I handle cleaning it properly, using detergent and bleach, while they only mop with water.

If the cleaning supplies run out, I end up replacing them, even if it means living with a dirty bathroom until I can afford more.

This makes me concerned about how they would clean a fridge if I were to share one with them, especially since their version of cleaning the kitchen is just doing the dishes and putting them away.

Nobody likes a filthy fridge.

I’ve attempted to discuss house rules and boundaries with my roommate, but he believes we should just mind our own business as long as the rent is paid.

I don’t feel comfortable addressing his girlfriend directly, as I’ve noticed my roommate tends to side with her in conflicts. This has made it awkward for me to try to assert my needs.

How would you handle third-wheeling it in your own home?

My coworkers have said I would be the AH if I bought a fridge and didn’t share it with them, which adds to my confusion about what the right thing to do is.

Considering all of this, I’m contemplating buying my own fridge.

Maybe the ice isn’t broken, but the communication sure is.

AITA for wanting to do that and not share it with them, given that they seem to want everything separate?

There’s a fine line between looking out for yourself and being selfish.

Do you think this roommate has crossed it?

Let’s get some input from the comments…

This person says to consult a higher authority.

Someone else thinks the poster needs to take things MORE personally.

Another commenter agrees, but advocates good communication.

This commenter says, MOVE!

This person says forget about a fridge and stop being a doormat.

Seems like no matter how you look at it, someone’s getting iced out.

Brrr.

If you liked that post, check out this story about a guy who was forced to sleep on the couch at his wife’s family’s house, so he went to a hotel instead.