“She Hates It”: College Student Outsmarts Girlfriend’s Freeloader Bestie

Sometimes the most powerful moves in relationships aren’t loud and dramatic. And a story shared on r/PettyRevenge by Reddit user Dudesnation proves that you can make people stop walking all over you without making a scene.

This college student had a girlfriend, a steady part-time job, and everything seemed fine—until her best friend entered the picture.

She mocked his “cheap” life while simultaneously freeloading off him and even tried to shame him for not paying hundreds of dollars for a trip she and his girlfriend had secretly planned. But, as she soon found out, that was the last straw.

Although not without challenges, this guy was making ends meet

Young woman and man sitting at an outdoor cafe, woman drinking coffee while man looks at his phone, depicting friend’s bf as ATM.

Image credits: Mike Jones / Pexels (not the actual photo)

But then, the girl he was seeing made a friend who turned out to be a freeloader

Young man frustrated as friend’s girlfriend’s boyfriend refuses to be used as an ATM or called broke repeatedly

Text excerpt about a woman’s friend and her boyfriend, highlighting tension in their relationship and financial boundaries.

Text excerpt about a woman making comments on clothes and phone before tension arose over money involving friend’s boyfriend.

Text describing a man tired of being used as an ATM by a woman and her friend who expects him to cover expenses.

Two women enjoying coffee together in a casual setting, illustrating a story about a friend’s boyfriend being tired of financial requests.

Image credits: Sam Lion / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Text about a man feeling broke after refusing to fund a friend’s weekend trip, causing tension with his girlfriend.

Text about a woman learning to manage money wisely after relying on friend’s boyfriend as an ATM.

Text excerpt showing a woman frustrated with her friend’s boyfriend tired of being used as an ATM and called broke.

Man in sunglasses and casual clothes shrugging outside, expressing frustration about being called broke and used as an ATM.

Image credits: Liza Bakay / Pexels (not the actual photo) 

Text excerpt explaining a woman no longer covering expenses for a friend, tracking every cent spent to avoid being taken advantage of.

Text excerpt about setting boundaries as woman can’t use friend’s boyfriend as an ATM after he’s tired of being called broke.

Text graphic with a quote about protecting yourself by not giving access to be taken advantage of, related to friend’s BF tired of being used.

Image credits: dudesnation

Image credits: Kaboompics.com / Pexels (not the actual photo)

People aren’t paying back their friends pretty often

Generally, people don’t like to talk about money, even with those closest to them. A recent survey found less than 2 in 5 (38 percent) Americans are comfortable discussing their bank account balances with family and close friends, a smaller percentage than those who would feel comfortable discussing details of their love life (47 percent), weight (71 percent), political views (78 percent), religious views (81 percent), or health (81 percent).

Which might be one of the reasons why so many end up in similar situations to our Redditor’s.

While lending money to a friend or covering a group purchase is generous, it can also have unintended consequences. People who have done so with the expectation of being paid back have lost money (42 percent), harmed the relationship with the person (24 percent), damaged their credit score (9 percent), and even gotten into a physical altercation (4 percent).

Compared to other generations, millennials (ages 28-43) are most likely to have been burned—nearly two-thirds (62 percent) who lent money and/or paid for a group expense with the expectation of being paid back experienced a negative outcome as a result. That’s more than 53 percent of Gen Zers (ages 18-27), 54 percent of Gen Xers (ages 28-43), and 51 percent of baby boomers (ages 60-78).

Harvard-trained etiquette expert Sara Jane Ho says, “If you want to confront a friend who never pays you back, you can … send them friendly reminders via email or in person, saying, ‘By the way, do you have the $100 that I lent you last week?'”

And if they continue to ignore your requests for months, it’s safe to say they aren’t planning to pay you back, and you’ll have to eat the cost. However, while you might have lost money, you hopefully gained some useful knowledge about this person going forward.

Because of this, Ho believes that we should only lend as much as we are willing to lose.

People were happy for him for finding the strength to set boundaries

Online comments discussing a woman who can’t use her friend’s boyfriend as an ATM after he’s tired of being called broke.

Screenshot of a Reddit conversation about a woman not using friend's boyfriend as an ATM and financial boundaries.

Reddit conversation about woman setting boundaries as friend's boyfriend refuses to be used as an ATM, highlighting financial limits.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment thread discussing a woman setting boundaries with her friend’s boyfriend about money.

Screenshot of an online comment about a woman upset over her friend’s boyfriend no longer lending money.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a woman’s friend’s boyfriend tired of being used as an ATM and called broke.

Screenshot of an online comment about a woman who can’t use her friend’s boyfriend as an ATM anymore.

Comment discussing a woman using her friend’s boyfriend as an ATM and the boyfriend being tired of getting called broke.

Reddit comment discussing a woman frustrated with her friend's boyfriend being used as an ATM repeatedly.

Text comment on social media discussing a girl problems and avoiding responses about it in a casual tone.

Text comment about a woman’s friend using her boyfriend as an ATM, highlighting frustrations over being called broke.

Screenshot of a social media comment expressing frustration, related to a woman and her friend’s boyfriend being used as an ATM.

Comment about woman’s friend using boyfriend as ATM and boyfriend tired of being called broke on a forum discussion.

Comment discussing boundaries and a woman using her friend's boyfriend as an ATM, with trust and loyalty issues.

Comment on Reddit explaining healthy boundaries in a conversation about a woman using her friend’s boyfriend as an ATM.

Comment on Reddit saying a friend is a leech, responding to a story about using a friend's boyfriend as an ATM.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing men being called broke and other insults by women during manhood challenges.

Comment on social media showing frustration as woman can’t use friend’s boyfriend as an ATM due to being called broke repeatedly.

Screenshot of an online comment praising a man for financial responsibility and setting boundaries to avoid being seen as broke.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a woman using her friend’s boyfriend as an ATM and financial responsibility issues.

Comment discussing setting boundaries in relationships as woman can’t use friend’s boyfriend as an ATM anymore due to money issues.

Comment about entitlement and money, highlighting frustration with being seen as an ATM or target for financial help.

Poll Question

Total votes ·

Thanks! Check out the results:

Total votes ·

Newsletter

Subscribe to Access
Exclusive Polls

Subscribe

By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy.

Thank you! You've successfully subscribed to newsletters!

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!

Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda!