Be Nice and Contribute

I have a pet peeve that I need to share.  I am a pretty hospitable person and sometimes people will stay with me for a weekend or even as much as a week.  As we know, I am not made of money.  I really do not mind people eating my food or watching my TV or even sleeping on the futon for a while.  What I do mind is when people do not contribute to anything.

I ask anyone reading this, if you are visiting a friend or relative, please contribute to the food stash or contribute in some way.  If the person you are visiting absolutely refuses to accept anything, then do not insist.  Maybe send them a nice thank you gift later.  If you are staying with someone that asked you to visit because they needed help in some way, then you are not required to give them anything.  However, if you are staying with someone, especially if you need a place to stay for some reason, do not freeload!

I am pretty broke most of the time.  Some people do not understand when they visit someone and use items in their home, that means the items must be replenished sooner.  Let me give you an example.  I live by myself and I work at an office a lot; therefore, I am not home too much and only use about one roll of toilet paper a week.  When people stay with me, especially if they are using my bathroom while I work and they hang out on my couch, I go through two or three rolls of toilet paper that week.  That might seem petty, but when every penny counts, so does every other little item.  So now, imagine everything else in my home going at that rate: toilet paper, paper towels, tissue paper, napkins, milk, fruit, cheese, juice, coffee, soda, etc.   The list goes on and on.  Not to mention, a TV and other items that use electric typically runs more often when guests visit.

I am not trying to be petty; I am just saying everything adds up.  Some people live with other people.  They constantly have roommates, a significant other, parents, or whatever, and the expenses are shared or taken care of by someone else.  Or perhaps some people are lucky and do not live check to check.  So maybe some people do not realize how these things add up.  I do.  So please take what I've mentioned into consideration next time you stay with someone else.