Just Ask Georgia: 2/18/2026

GEORGIA, I have a question,

Last weekend I (26f) had my friend (27m) watch my place and my cat. I told him he could “help himself to whatever” in the kitchen, which I thought clearly meant snacks and stuff.

I get back and realize he opened this $120 bottle of vintage Barolo I was saving for my promotion. He literally drank the whole thing alone while watching Netflix. When I asked him about it, he got all weird and said I “gave him permission” because the wine was in the kitchen. But my question is, who drinks a $100 bottle of wine without asking first?

I sent him $80 via Venmo (gave him a discount), and now he’s calling me tacky and telling our friend group I was rude and ungrateful, especially since he watched the house and cat for free. I feel like there’s an unwritten rule of guest logic where you don’t touch the most expensive thing in the house. If I tell you to help yourself to my garage, it doesn’t mean you can just drive off in my car!

Am I wrong here? He’s making me feel like I’m crazy asking for reimbursement, but I feel like he took advantage of me.

VINO NO NO

Dear VINO,

Expensive and cheap bottles of wine look the same to people who don’t know wine. Next time, be more precise in your instructions for the person doing you a favor. He assumed you had only cheap bottles of wine because you said, "Help yourself," cavalierly. This is tacky.

You told him to help himself to whatever he wanted. He did. How was he to know "and stuff" didn't include the bottle of wine unless you left a receipt taped to the bottle a;ong with a DON'T DRINK note. This one’s on you - rescind your Venmo request and get over it.

With love, GEORGIA

Have a question for Georgia? Email her at whledger@gmail.com. Please note that this column is intended for entertainment purposes only. No person, animal, or property has ever been harmed or in danger. Satire is “the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.”