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AIBU?

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Original poster

Disagree with communal fridge

268 replies

Frannni · 02/08/2024 18:29

Our neighbour, we shall call them “neighbour X” recentl started a discussion on the street WhatsApp about needing a communal fridge so anyone on the street can store excess fridge stuff over the summer. Everyone chipped in and “neighbour x” bought the fridge.

I am starting to get a bit miffed about it all, as firstly the fridge is kept at neighbour Xs house, which means they kind of control it. Secondly, we needed to use it recently to store excess drinks as we were having people over. Guess what, it was full so no use at all.

What has really annoyed me is that I have since heard it was mainly full due to neighbour X filling it with their own stuff. I am feeling really annoyed that we chipped in £50 for something we cannot even use when we need it. AIBU?

OP posts:
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Sennelier1 · 04/08/2024 19:02

There surely is no such thing as a communal fridge in someone's private dwelling? The neighbour wanted you all to fund his need for an extra fridge! You might ask for your £50 back and tell him you don't plan to use HIS fridge. Look on secondhand sites and buy yourself a nice summerfridge for your garage or basement. I did just that!

GoogleWhacked · 04/08/2024 16:10

I think a random fridge left on a street corner makes more sense than what's actually happening @Caroparo52 🤣😆

Caroparo52 · 04/08/2024 14:27

I was imagining a random fridge left on the street corner for passers by to grab a cold beer as they walked the dog.
You didn't see this coming?
But the canny neighbour saw you all coming eh?
I guess she does pay for the electric.
or do you all contribute annually for that too?Why not ask for a slot when you can put your 20L of whatever in and then reserve your space until forever. At £50per household I'm guessing there are 4 or 5 of you in the group?
That's not much space between 5

Sounds like a bit of a con

SherbetSweeties · 04/08/2024 14:09

I'm sorry i think you've been conned into buying your crook of a neighbour a new fridge.

IamMoodyBlue · 04/08/2024 13:52

How bizarre! Communal fidges are a cause of contention between students in shared accommodation. How on earth it was ever going to be an equitable arrangement for a group of neighbours trotting off to a neighbour's house surpasses my comprehension.
Surely one would be better buying one of those little fridges for times one needs extra capacity?

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 04/08/2024 10:53

BenchyMcBenchFace · 02/08/2024 19:04

STRAIGHT into Mumsnet classics! Along with screaming at the Sistine chapel, the everlasting chicken, the recent “can widowers eat lasagne?” and now neighbours sharing a fridge.

Settling down the read these comments all evening 🍿

THANK YOU! 🙏

Edited

Bless him.

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 04/08/2024 10:43

From opening the thread, thought OP would say she doesn't want to contribute but is being narrated for her share.
Why in the world would you have thought this was a good idea!

Apart from birthdays/Costco/bargain/ BOGOF/ holder tendency shops, Christmas would guarantee chaos if any space left at all by then.

Family, friendship and work chats are bad enough. Can't imagine being involved in a street one 🤯.

Happy to help neighbours one to one as most group chats are more bothered than they're worth.

PonyPatter44 · 04/08/2024 09:40

Sadly the OP has disappeared, which is a shame because this had the potential to become a cracker of a thread!

MummyPencil · 04/08/2024 09:37

Very strange 🤔

where is this fridge kept ? Do you have access 24 hrs to it ?

Gorgonemilezola · 04/08/2024 07:04

This is so funny I really wish it was true.

marshmallowfinder · 04/08/2024 06:56

Has OP gone?

TulipCat · 04/08/2024 06:54

This is the most bonkers idea I've heard in a long time. Why would anyone think it would work?

Sweetteaplease · 04/08/2024 06:51

foothandmouth · 02/08/2024 18:30

Never heard of this. What an odd concept

This!!

HelmholtzWatson · 04/08/2024 06:50

100% on you for engaging with this obvious scam in the first place.

ThinWomansBrain · 04/08/2024 00:44

I hope that you are contributing towards the electricity costs that your altruistic neighbour is incurring on your behalf.
😂

AbraAbraCadabra · 04/08/2024 00:39

I’ve voted YABU because you were unreasonable to chip in for this ridiculous idea of a communal fridge which was bound to go wrong from the get go. I would have foreseen this issue, or some other similar issue, occurring from the start.

Pinkdhalia · 03/08/2024 22:17

Not in my neighbourhood!! I'd get my money back! Tote up how many times you tried to use it and talk to the neighbours who have contributed see if they have had use. She's scammed you all!?

Kjpt140v · 03/08/2024 21:56

One of the stupidest ideas I've ever heard.

openforall · 03/08/2024 21:22

yabu for chipping in for an appliance in someone else’s home

Toptops · 03/08/2024 21:22

Crazy idea

Jc2001 · 03/08/2024 21:15

If anyone is interested, I was going to suggest a communal 85" OLED TV ( we'll keep it around my place).

Fridge on the other hand? Unless you live in a hippy commune or student diggs, i can't see why anyone would buy into it in the first place.

TheMerryTiger · 03/08/2024 21:07

Huh??? What a stupid idea - yet brilliant of your neighbour!!!!!

DeathbyDying · 03/08/2024 21:01

Here's my comedy OP suggestion inspired by this thread. should I post it? [note it is all lies]

I live on a long-ish cul-de-sac. Most of our neighbours are very friendly and the majority have children in the same age bracket 5 - 12ish. Our kids all play outside in the evening term time and most of the day at the weekend and school holidays if they aren't away obviously.

We all sort of rely on each other to watch each others kids - say neighbour 1 might text saying she's going to the corner shop for 10 mins could we keep an eye on little Jimmy her son. It's all fine and we do the same.

Problem is that if the kids want the loo they come and ring on the door bell of whoever is in. Then you get a trail of 10 kids mucking up the loo and pissing on the floor.

I saw this post on MN about a communal fridge and had this great idea of getting a communal loo - maybe a portaloo actuall in the street (there is a fence along a stretch of the cul-de-sac not obviously visible from the main road which would be ideal ) or to build one in our back garden (we have a side alley which would be ideal to put at the end with a key coded entry pad. We could stealthly build a sort of side shed on to it so we'd get a free bit of building paid for by the neighbours to boot.

AIBU?

Shabzzz · 03/08/2024 21:00

Frannni · 02/08/2024 18:29

Our neighbour, we shall call them “neighbour X” recentl started a discussion on the street WhatsApp about needing a communal fridge so anyone on the street can store excess fridge stuff over the summer. Everyone chipped in and “neighbour x” bought the fridge.

I am starting to get a bit miffed about it all, as firstly the fridge is kept at neighbour Xs house, which means they kind of control it. Secondly, we needed to use it recently to store excess drinks as we were having people over. Guess what, it was full so no use at all.

What has really annoyed me is that I have since heard it was mainly full due to neighbour X filling it with their own stuff. I am feeling really annoyed that we chipped in £50 for something we cannot even use when we need it. AIBU?

"I think it's lovely that you all helped neighbour x by themselves a new fridge" she said sarcastically.

1974devon · 03/08/2024 20:07

Madness..how much did they collect.to buy the fridge?! You'd have done better buying a small extra fridge yourself..

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