Context? Absolutely. I have three roommates, thus rent and utilities are split four ways. We are all here completely legitimately and on the lease. For Christmas and Newyears, roommates 2 and 3 went home for a few weeks to see their families and work to save up some money, leaving roommate 1 and I to hold down the fort.

Roommates 2 and 3 got home about two weeks ago. Shortly after, I was handing December's utilities and internet payments to 1, and he kinda casually, almost timidly mentioned he would let me know when January's bills came in, and that he and I would be paying it between the two of us, since 2 and 3 hadn't been here for a while and therefore hadn't used our internet or utilities. Thinking he was joking, I grinned and said something to the effect of "Heh, yeah okay," and went about my day. Just before I left the house though, he called after me, "Yeah, so I'll ... I'll let you know."

He's brought it up again since then, to which I tend to offer a sort of noncommittal grunt, because frankly I think that reasoning is silly. They still have to pay rent whether they stay in their rooms or not, why wouldn't that extend to other bills?

January's bills haven't come yet, but I already know full well I don't want to pay more than a quarter. So lay it on me, Reddit. Would I be the asshole if I refused to shoulder someone else's bills?

Note: 2 and 3 haven't mentioned anything about this. We all tend to operate pretty independently of one another, save when it's time to collect bills or the occasional impromptu gathering in the kitchen, usually facilitated by the internet going down for a little bit.