Quote from Shaq-of-All-Trades

If he has a problem with it, I'll consider paying him back, but not before explaining that if you leave your money out in the open for long periods of time, then expecting it not to get used is retarded and he should feel bad.

as someone who actually lived with roommates for three years, you guys are complete assholes. the fact that something isn't hidden or locked away doesn't mean it's free for the taking.

it's not retarded to expect the person you live with to have the slightest amount of respect for your property.

I've had roommates, and they stole from money I kept hidden. Very hidden. I'll respect someone's privacy, but leaving it out doesn't scream "Don't touch!" to me as much as money kept in a wallet or hidden in the sock drawer.

Male, 20
If my roommate was a friend, I would take some money but send them a message telling them how much I took and that I would pay them back. But if I was living with someone who I wasn't very close with, I would send them a message asking them first if it is alright to borrow some of the change.
I can't see my self taking anything that isn't mine without permission first.

Quote from Youwishjellyfish

Male, 20
If my roommate was a friend, I would take some money but send them a message telling them how much I took and that I would pay them back. But if I was living with someone who I wasn't very close with, I would send them a message asking them first if it is alright to borrow some of the change.
I can't see my self taking anything that isn't mine without permission first.

Are you serious?Maybe Im in the wrong, but you fucking send them a message telling them you took your money?Even if they are your friend, that sounds a bit wrong.
*Friend gets a text message*
"Oh hey, I just took your money man, Ill pay you back later.Chao~"

The fuck?

Male, 20 and a half.

I'm a delivery driver and I often get tips or petrol money paid in pound coins. I'm too lazy to take them to the bank and there are too many of them to carry around and spend, so I got a treasure chest.



There's £485 in there. ($736.23)

I wouldn't mind if my housemates needed to borrow some for any reason. I've known them long enough to help them out with a month's rent if necessary, although I don't know what the landlord would say to being paid with a sack of gold. But the key word here is borrow. And vice versa, if I was in this situation I'd take the change, but I would let them know and I'd give it back to them at some point. The scenario you've described sounds like "I have less money than him, so I'm going to take some of his money," which at that point is just stealing. It's only ok if you need it for something specific. If the guy hasn't been keeping track of how much is in there then just taking it probably isn't going to hurt him, but how do you know whether he's kept count or not? I have.

Having said all that, I keep my room locked, the box is locked, and the floor of my bedroom is strewn with broken glass which I haven't bothered to clean up because, hey, I know where it is. If my housemates wanted the money they would have to ask for practical rather than moral reasons.


Also, as I know full well that nothing on the internet is truly anonymous, that shit is going to the bank tomorrow morning.

Male: 18

No.

I'd question why it's out constantly, but I wouldn't breach our trust. That wouldn't be worth whatever little amount I'd think I could get away with. If I need money that badly, I'd ask to barrow some. If it was me with the change jar, chances are I'd be saving it up for something, and I'd be flat out furious if I discovered my roommate just took from it.

There's a line, and stealing crosses it.

Quote from Shaq-of-All-Trades

I'll respect someone's privacy, but leaving it out doesn't scream "Don't touch!" to me as much as money kept in a wallet or hidden in the sock drawer.

Leaving it out doesn't mean it's somehow less important than something he keeps in his room. What you're suggesting has nothing to do with privacy. It's the fact you're taking something without permission which you know doesn't belong to you. I think that's the ethical part of the discussion, and whether it's in the sock drawer or on the kitchen table, you're still stealing and you know it. It sucks that your roommates robbed you, but what they did wouldn't be acceptable even if it was out in the open. It's your shit and they could at least ask first, what if you really needed that money for something? Like, I dunno, your car's transmission went out that morning on your way to work, and you can't afford rent unless you use your spare change, which you keep for these exact sort of situations.

It's not that crazy of an example, I know people who do something similar. I just think the blatant dismissal of any negative consequences with the excuse "it's out in the open, so it's his fault for being an idiot and leaving it on the coffee table", that's pretty disrespectful. Maybe he just trusts you not to take his stuff without asking. What a retard, right?

Male, 12

No, I would not take it (at least without asking). I'm pretty sure that if he was checking how much is in it every day, he would be quite mad at me for taking money without asking, so I'm just going to ask first. If he says no, well, then I'll think of another way.

Quote from Exilement

It's not that crazy of an example, I know people who do something similar. I just think the blatant dismissal of any negative consequences with the excuse "it's out in the open, so it's his fault for being an idiot and leaving it on the coffee table", that's pretty disrespectful. Maybe he just trusts you not to take his stuff without asking. What a retard, right?

I'm not trying to blatantly dismiss consequences. He has money, and extra he leaves in a bowl. If I need some money and use it, then pay it back, there should be no problem. If he complains, then he should keep it somewhere else. This is my moral opinion, and my opinion on intelligence on his complaint. I'm not so heartless as to not pay back my debts, but I'm not so kind hearted as to be bothered by taking a few bucks without finding my roommate and asking.

Edit: Before someone quotes me on the "I'll consider paying them back," there's a difference between asking nicely and complaining. I always pay money back that I borrow, which is why I rarely borrow it. I don't like debts, as they give a person power over you. So yes, I'd pay them back, and yes, I'd complain if they wanna be a dick about it.

Quote from Shaq-of-All-Trades

I'm not trying to blatantly dismiss consequences. He has money, and extra he leaves in a bowl.

My point was that he may do that for reasons that might be affected by you stealing it without notice. Maybe he trusted you enough to assume you wouldn't steal his stuff. You literally equated that to being retarded. That seems like a blatant dismissal of his property and the immediate interests of anyone but yourself.

I understand that it's probably a very small amount, but I'm having a hard time believing you don't have alternatives available to you. I guess it depends on how big of a bowl we're talking about, and what you need the money for. And your relationship to your roommate. Like jeff said, it depends on a lot of variables that the question doesn't specify, so we might be describing two completely different situations.

just call him and ask "hey dude can i borrow [amount] of this change for [good reason]" holy shit how is this difficult to comprehend

if he says no:

Quote from AlternateLives

you can manage to get by

[edit]
male, 20

Male : 15

Hell naw.

That's just a form of theft. Even if you did take a few cents out for something as silly as a breakfast taco because you had the munchies, that can be counted as theft. If anything, you could at least talk to him/her later about taking some when necessary. It shows a respect for his/her things and and true quality on your part. If it's something like taking the whole thing because someone you knew needed help badly but you had no gas money and it was your only chance of getting there, then that might be an exception. At least try and explain it to him/her why you took it, and do everything in your power to get it back.

Male, 23. I can honestly say I wouldn't take it. No matter how much of a pinch I may be in, stealing wouldn't be worth the trouble and guilt.