Living With Roommates, Splitting the Bills

So I kind of screwed up last month with the utilities payments. When I emailed my roommates, I said that the gas and electric bill for February was $77.64. It was actually $177.64 (And that’s the amount that I paid the energy company.) The only reason I noticed was because I knew that our bill went down this month, but when I calculated what we all owed, it was somehow more than last month.

I admit that it’s my screw up. But also, $75 means a lot to me. Should I ask my roommates for the $25 that they (each) owe? And how should I ask them?

P.S. One roommate already paid the extra $25 when I explained it to him. But that was in person, not in email. Does that make a difference? — L.

The answer to this question seems obvious to me — does it not to anyone else? But I understand that this situation can be awkward, and more so if the roommates are strangers. To the letter writer: People make honest mistakes. You made an honest mistake, and this honest mistake can easily be rectified. Email your roommates and tell them you made an honest mistake, and that they owe more for utilities than you had originally thought they did. Attach a copy of the utility bill to the email if that makes you feel better. Make a joke about it. Multiple jokes! I’m sure everyone will be fine with it.

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