AITA for lying to my roommate about why I needed to borrow $400

ok so my roommate Priya (26F) is the responsible one of our apartment, the one who actually has an emergency fund lol. two months ago i told her my car needed a repair and asked to borrow $400, promised i'd venmo her back in two weeks. it was not for my car. it was the entry fee for a comedy festival showcase in Chicago that i've been trying to get into for two years, the kind where actual bookers show up (i drive a hatchback that runs on hope and duct tape but that's besides the point). i paid her back on time so in my head it was a victim-less crime. except last week she saw a post from the festival's page with my name in the lineup and did the math on dates. she was quiet about it until our other roommate mentioned in the group chat "congrats on Chicago!!" and Priya just left the chat on read for two days. when we finally talked she said it's not about the money, it's that i looked her in the eye and made up a whole car problem instead of just asking for help with something i actually cared about. i said if i'd told her the truth she'd have said comedy isn't a real emergency and she basically confirmed that by not answering. now she's short with me around the apartment and i feel like a fraud who bombs on stage AND at home.

#aita#family#comedy

asked by @dana_punchlines · Aug 21, 2026 · 224 votes · 7 comments