Roommate Horror Stories: My Roommate Kept Missing Rent, But Somehow Afforded New Sneakers?

The first month in our Philly apartment felt like a win, a cozy spot with hardwood floors and a view of the bustling street below. Sam, my roommate, a freelance writer with a scruffy beard and a quick smile, paid his share of the rent on time, so I had no complaints. But when the second month’s rent was due, he shrugged, leaning against our kitchen counter. “Bank’s acting weird; I’ll pay tomorrow,” he said. I covered his half, no sweat, trusting his word. But tomorrow became next week, then next month, with excuses piling up like unpaid bills: “Client’s late,” “Mom’s wire got delayed,” “Identity theft mess.” Meanwhile, I was eating instant noodles, my budget stretched thin to cover both our shares of the $1,400 rent.

I pressed him for proof, receipts, payment screenshots, anything to show he was trying. He offered vague apologies, avoiding my gaze, his laptop always open to some new article he was “working on.” One evening, I spotted him strolling in with shiny new sneakers and a Whole Foods bag bulging with artisanal cheese and organic apples. I couldn’t hold back. “So your identity thief is shopping too?” I snapped, pointing at his haul. He mumbled something about a “small advance” and shuffled to his room, leaving me fuming in our cramped living room, the air heavy with the scent of his overpriced coffee.

By month four, I was out $2,800, my savings drained from covering his share. I started locking my bedroom door, paranoid he’d “borrow” something else. Then one afternoon, after a gruelling shift at my call centre job, I came home to silence. Sam’s room was empty; his clothes, laptop, and even his toothbrush were gone. No note, no text, not even a passive-aggressive Post-it. I checked my phone; he’d blocked me on every platform, and his social media profiles vanished. My stomach sank as I realized I’d been played. The landlord, a gruff guy who only cared about his cheque, wouldn’t let me out of the lease unless I found a replacement tenant. Of course, with my newly learnt lesson, I knew better than to trust someone who called himself "financially fluid." I found someone ready to move in as soon as possible. This time, I ensured that a roommate agreement stating that rent must be paid on time was agreed on and signed.

This may sound crazy, but sometimes, I still check my bank statements, half-expecting Sam’s name to pop up like a bad dream.