A woman has vented her frustration with repeatedly being asked to do favors for her elderly and disabled neighbor.
On Feb. 21, she explained the situation in a post on Reddit’s “Neighbors From Hell” forum, writing under the username axtsuii. She confessed to having lost sympathy “a long time ago” for her neighbor who continuously asks her and her husband for favors.
“It really seems like she has no support network,” the woman wrote. “But asking us for money, asking us to buy her cigarettes, asking my husband to cook her dinner for her, asking us to pick up her grocery list for her, I’m so sick of her taking advantage of my husband’s kindness.”
She admitted that she was “grateful” her husband took a stand against their neighbor that day by making an excuse to leave when she complained about how he was making her soup.
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“I dread when she knocks on our door, multiple times a week,” the Redditor said. “I just want to live in privacy and peace and to be left alone.
“The favors started out small and harmless like helping her carry her groceries up her stairs, to helping her move a dresser by a foot, no big deal,” she continued. “The requests came rarely at first but lately she’s been constantly at our door.
“I’m going to speak to my husband about just not opening the door anymore,” she added.
The woman concluded by saying, “She owes us money and I don’t even want it back. At this point I just want peace and I don’t even care if I’m considered a horrible person for not helping out someone in need.”
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A flood of responses to the post urged the woman to set boundaries and argued the elderly neighbor may need help from a professional service if she isn’t capable of everyday tasks.
“Every time she knocks on your door, ask her for your money back,” one person commented. “If she starts with a sob story, just say, ‘We can discuss this after you’ve repaid me’ and then close the door. And remember, ‘No’ is a very useful word.”
“You are not her caregiver, so don’t feel guilty. Sounds like she may need home health services,” another said.
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Others suggested that the elderly neighbor is constantly reaching out for help because she’s struggling with loneliness.
“Ignore her. She’s just lonely. Ask her if you need to call adult services to get her help each time. She will get the hint and back off,” a Reddit user wrote.
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