I Set Some Strict Wi-Fi Rules for My Housemate. She’s Accusing Me of “Tyranny.”

Dear Prudence It’s the only way to get her out of here. Advice by Enter your email to receive alerts for this author. Sign in or create an account to better manage your email preferences. Unsubscribe from email alerts Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from email alerts for Jenée Desmond-Harris? Sept 23, 20266:00 AM Photo illustration by Slate. Images by Ljupco/Getty Images Plus and santima.studio/Getty Images Plus. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Dear Prudence is Slate’s advice column. Submit questions here. Dear Prudence, I let my long-time online friend move into my home rent-free when she was in a bad financial and housing situation. I’m very introverted and don’t like anyone but my partner and pets in my space, so this was a big sacrifice. The agreement was that as soon as my friend got a job, she would save up to move out as quickly as possible. Instead, as soon as she got one, she resumed her habit of spending significant amounts of money on non-existent video game items. When I realized this, I asked her not to waste money like that until she was out of my house. When she wouldn’t agree, I changed my Wi-Fi password. She still has email and internet access through her phone; she just can’t play her online games on her computer. She is freaking out and accusing me of tyranny. I would be fine with her gaming if I could trust that she wasn’t also spending money that would extend the time she has to live with me. Unfortunately, I can’t, so this was the only solution. Am I being an overstepping tyrant, or is she being an immature, irresponsible mooch? —Changed the Password Dear Changed the Password, Things get very tricky emotionally and legally when someone is living under your roof, and I’m not naive enough to assume you can give your friend a move-out date and expect her to have her bags packed and her room cleaned exactly then. But you need to try, and it’s much more appropriate than policing her spending. Tell her you need her to be gone 30 days from now (mentally, know that this may extend to 60), forget about her hobbies and bank account (which aren’t really your business), and stay focused on getting your space back. Any conversations you have about the end of your roommate arrangement should be about the importance of the room being empty on a particular date. How she makes that happen is up to her. It’s fine to keep the Wi-Fi password private in the meantime. If she thinks you’re a tyrant, great. Maybe that will motivate her to leave! Classic Prudie My boyfriend, “Alan,” has been attached at the hip to “Ally” since college. There have in-jokes about Alan marrying Ally if he was straight and about Alan being her baby daddy if they both hit 40 without partners. They have lived together and text each other all the time. Alan made the choice to move to our city because Ally was here. I feel like the wicked stepmother coming in to ruin the fairy tale. Ally is obnoxiously nice and considerate. Her family adores Alan, and me by default. The entire setup feels like a sitcom… Advice Dear Prudence