A common one is about cheapskates who buy expired food to save money. They end up getting sick which is a horror in itself. It shows that trying to save a few bucks on food can lead to much greater costs in terms of health.
Another common story is about those who are too cheap to invest in proper winter clothing. They freeze during cold days and might even get frostbite or other cold - related illnesses. It's a horror story of their own making as they could have avoided it by spending a little more on warm clothes.
There was a cheapskate in my apartment building. He tried to save on electricity by using some unlicensed and faulty wiring. Eventually, it caused a small fire in his apartment. It was a horror story not only for him but also for the whole building as it could have been much worse. He learned the hard way that being too cheap can be dangerous.
There was a man who was such a cheapskate that he tried to haggle with the street vendor for a single penny off the price of a hot dog. He argued for so long that the hot dog got cold, and in the end, he still bought it at the original price, just to not waste the time he had already spent arguing.
Well, common flatshare horror stories often involve money issues. For example, a flatmate not paying their share of the bills on time or trying to cheat on the utility bills. Another is the over - territorial flatmate. They act as if they own the whole place and don't allow others to use common areas freely. And then there are those flatmates who bring their relationship drama into the flat, which can be really annoying for everyone else. For instance, they might have big fights with their partners in the living room.
A common one is false advertising. They promote their teas as having certain health benefits or unique flavors that don't really live up to the hype. For instance, a tea might be advertised as a relaxing herbal blend, but when customers try it, they don't notice any of the promised calming effects.
Probably the most common is the roommate who has bad hygiene. This can range from not showering often enough, so there's a bad smell, to not washing their sheets for months. It's really gross and can make the whole living environment uninhabitable. Also, the roommate who is always late with rent payments can cause a lot of stress and financial problems for the others sharing the place.
A lot of people have horror stories about Fiverr regarding the authenticity of the work. Sellers might plagiarize content. I know someone who hired a content creator on Fiverr and found out later that the work was copied from other sources. Also, there are cases where the seller's skills are misrepresented. You think you're getting a professional - level service but it turns out to be very amateurish, which can cause big problems for your own projects.
One common theme is the fear of the unknown. Many horror stories play on things that are not fully understood, like strange noises in the dark or unexplained disappearances. Another theme is the threat of death. Characters often face life - threatening situations, which heightens the tension. Also, the idea of the supernatural, such as ghosts, vampires, or witches, is frequently used to terrify readers.
Dirty and unclean places are common. Like finding hair in the bathroom or food crumbs on the floor. Another one is false advertising. For example, the pictures show a large, spacious room but in reality, it's tiny. Also, hosts being rude or overly intrusive can be a horror story for guests.
The most common fsbo horror story is probably mispricing. Sellers often overvalue their homes, thinking they are worth more than they actually are. Another is lack of proper disclosure. They might not tell about problems like a leaky roof or faulty wiring. And also, the inexperience in handling the legal paperwork can be a big issue.
One more typical IAB horror story is about privacy issues. Even though the IAB has regulations regarding data privacy, there have been cases where data has been misused. For instance, user data collected through IAB - compliant ads was sold to third - parties without proper consent. This not only violated user privacy but also led to legal issues for the companies involved.