Taking initiative in shared spaces can sometimes backfire.

If your roommate left a mess of takeout bags on the counter, would you clean it up, or would you leave it alone and let the roommate clean it up?

This woman was trying to tidy up her housemate’s mess, but it really backfired when she accidentally threw something away that wasn’t trash at all!

Now, her housemate wants her to pay for the item she threw away. Should she?

Read the full story below for all the details

AITA for throwing away my housemates gift and not paying for it?

My housemate Anna and her friend Emma were at our house.

We live with a lot of people, so it can get messy.

Today. the mess included a bunch of brown paper bags from food orders.

I was bothered by the mess, so I cleaned it up, even though it was not my mess.

This woman accidentally threw away Anna’s gift to Emma.

Now, unbeknownst to me, in one of the bags, there was some jewellery that Anna had just gifted to Emma.

Mind you, this looked very similar to the other bags, so I accidentally threw out the jewellery (worth about 40 dollars).

Even though I did look in every bag to make sure there was nothing in there, I must have missed it.

Anna was looking for the bag, and she admitted what had happened.

Eventually, Anna can’t find the bag anymore and asks if anyone has seen it.

Her description of the bag matched that of what I had thrown out, so I told her.

Now, she wants me to pay.

I disagree and said she should have been more careful. I should not be punished for cleaning up her mess.

Emma didn’t think she should pay for it.

Eventually, to keep the peace, I offered to pay half, but Anna did not accept and is mad at me, saying it’s my fault.

Now, Emma does not think I should pay at all.

She said we could just tell Anna I paid to get her off my back.

Emma probably just feels awkward about the whole situation.

AITA for not paying?

All she wanted was a clean counter, but even though it was an accident, throwing away someone’s gift is a big problem.

Let’s read the reactions of other people to this story on Reddit.

This user shares their personal thoughts.

Here’s another honest opinion from this person.

People are calling her a jerk.

Pay for it or find it in the trash, says this person.

Finally, short and simple.

Sometimes, doing the right thing still lands you in the wrong place.

If you thought that was an interesting story, check this one out about a man who created a points system for his inheritance, and a family friend ends up getting almost all of it.