I refused to move my car to street parking so my friend could use my assigned space for free.
By @oscarkinda · Am I the Villain
She was visiting downtown and wanted to avoid paying $30 for a garage, but giving her my stall meant I'd have to hunt for street parking in the rain. She thinks I was being a selfish friend since I was staying home anyway.
The full story
I rent a two-bedroom apartment, and my friend lives about forty minutes out in the suburbs. Whenever she comes into the city for dinner or a show, she asks if she can park in my assigned driveway spot so she doesn't have to pay $25 for a garage. My complex gives each unit one reserved stall and passes out visitor permits, but street parking around here is basically nonexistent on weekend nights. Last night she drove in for a networking mixer downtown that started at 6:30 PM. Around 5:00 PM, she texted asking if my spot was open. I was staying home all evening, my car was already parked there, and I had zero intention of driving anywhere. But to let her park, I would have had to go down, move my car out onto the crowded side street three blocks away, hunt for an unmetered curb space, and walk back in the drizzle. I texted back saying sorry, I was parked in the spot tonight and couldn't move it. When she showed up in the neighborhood, street parking was completely jammed, so she ended up having to pay $30 at a commercial lot four blocks away from the venue. Later that evening, she stopped by to drop off a sweater she borrowed, saw my car sitting in the assigned space, and realized I hadn't gone anywhere at all. She didn't blow up or scream, but her tone immediately shifted. they asked why I couldn't have just circled the block for five minutes so she wouldn't have to throw away thirty bucks, especially since I'm just sitting on the couch playing video games all night. To me, having an assigned spot that I pay $100 a month for means I never have to circle for street parking. Giving up my spot forces me to take on the exact inconvenience she is trying to avoid. But my best friend says I was being cold, because moving my car takes maybe ten minutes of mild annoyance, whereas she had to pay real cash. Now there's this weird quiet tension between us and I want to know if saying no was out of line.
How people voted
- Bad Move — 31% (9 votes)
- Needs Context — 34% (10 votes)
- Reasonable — 34% (10 votes)
Readers are split: “Needs Context” leads with 34% — 29 votes and 5 comments so far.
What people are saying
@karafr — My sister did this exact thing when she came down for a concert and I ended up getting a $75 street sweeping ticket the next morning. Never again.
@jettyy — Next time she asks, tell her sure for $29 cash up front so she gets her little discount.
@ahyeah — lmao you cooked that friendship over 30 bucks legend
@paigefr — She feels entitled to your comfort because she views your downtime as having zero value.
@lanekk — Oh honey you pay good money for that parking spot every month, don't feel bad for staying cozy inside on a rainy night!
Keep reading
- I finished my coworker's section of a project without telling her so we wouldn't miss the 3 PM deadline.
- My roommates and I have a shared grocery list but they add stuff for me to buy them.
- I think our D&D group needs to kick someone out.
- Our HOA is trying to ban people from putting their trash cans out the night before pickup.
- My wife is mad I won’t pay half for a 'family' trampoline she bought without asking.