How do you tell your best friend you don't want them to move in with you?

My best friend lives 5 states away and she is having troubles at the moment and no where to go. I sugguested(not thinking about it) that she moved down where I am . To start over and get a fresh start. The thing is we have lived together 3 years ago and it was not the most pleasant experience. After that I vowed never to have a roommate again and I would always live on my own. I love her to death and really want to help her out by the thought of a roommate just makes me sick to my stomach. I do live with my bf of two years and am just now getting used to living with him. I have her mother calling me asking me to come up there and get her. I don't know how to break it to her..I have no problem lying about it because I don't want to hurt her feelings. She does have the option of moving back to her mothers who also lives a few states away just no way of getting there. I haven't checked with our leasing office at our apartments to see if she can be added to the lease yet. Help!

Be honest! It's the best thing for something like this. I've been where you are with the horrible roommate experience and I honestly believe the only way to make an impossible situation possible is to lay EVERYTHING out on the table. Everyone should say what their expectations are of one another, right down to the smallest, childish annoyances! When its all said and done no one will feel like they have to walk around on egg shells. And if it possible to hint to her that she should move back home to her mothers and you will help her then you should tell her! Good luck!

Just tell her that after thinking about it, you've changed your mind and you can't do it. Besides, you already have a live in who doesn't want to be apart of it either. Or something like that. You've helped her before but you just can't do it now so don't feel like you owe her anything. Considering how things went three years ago, you (and she) will be far better off. Sure you "love her to death" but that will surly change when she brings her troubles along with her. Ever wonder why she stays your best friend? In case she needs an escape route? Wait and see. People always say that it will be for "just a little while" and then it turns out to be for an eternity. Maybe you're familiar with this imposition and that's why you value your own space. Not your fault. Sounds like her own mother doesn't want to be bothered and she is pushing her on you. If she has the option of staying with her mom then she does have a place to go so so that's where she belongs. The distance thing here is a killer too like you're supposed to travel all over the country to accommodate her. Maybe you could help her with that by sending her some money for a bus ticket instead. Just as long as she ends up with mom. Just don't offer anything that's beyond what you're able to do for her because it's more than likely she would take it. As a last resort, use your lease agreement as an excuse. If she got you to sign her up for that, you'd be stuck indifinitely and once again you would have another unpleasant experience.