AITA for refusing to pay rent to my parents since moving back home?
I, 23 F, had moved back in with my family after graduating university last summer. During school, my parents would help me out with rent and groceries if I really needed it, but for the most part, I would work and save money during summer break, reading week, and holidays. As for tuition, I was grateful to be offered a grant that covers most of it, but I had made a deal with my parents to have them cover the rest.
I started working my first job as soon as I turned 15, and the deal was that I would give my parents 80% of the money I earned from each of my pay-checks in exchange for them promising to help me out with tuition when I get to university. They held onto their promise and I am extremely grateful for that.
Recently, however, my parents are claiming that my brother and I need to start contributing financially if we are going to continue living in their house. My brother is older than me, 26 years old, and is absolutely terrible with money. He owes me a total of $4000 and owes my dad a few thousand as well. I believe my parents are just upset at my brother and I am collateral damage.
I made it very clear to my parents that if they truly want me to start paying them rent, that I am willing to do so only after I turned 26 (if I am still even living with them at that point), and only AFTER they charge my brother rent up until the point where I turn his age. Since my brother is 3 years older than me, I told my parents that he basically got to live at home, rent free, for three extra years which is unfair to me.
My parents responded saying that if they are going to start charging rent, it is only fair that this new rule applies to everyone. AITA?
some FURTHER context: I HAVE mentioned to my parents that if they will start charging rent, then I would prefer to live elsewhere where i’d be paying anyways. But they are extremely traditional and against that idea. They allowed for me to move out for school but they said their culture is against women moving out of their family homes until they get married. I also contribute to the household groceries (which my brother never does), as well as the cleaning every single day (something he also doesn’t do). I also contribute to gas money as well. All while my mom still packs my brother’s lunches for him for work and cooks him his breakfasts and dinners.