hmmhmmm2 Posted September 13, 2019 Posted September 13, 2019 my roommate keeps eating my food, it's only been 1 month and he has asked and I told him yes before but I finally told him I'm not trying to be rude but I cant afford to replace my food and live paycheck to paycheck so i need everything i can in order to pay rent on time. however, my contract is under him and now it seems like hes mad i wont give him my food. did i do anything wrong here?
d0nnivain Posted September 13, 2019 Posted September 13, 2019 It's a common problem among roommates. All I can advise is buy less, even if it means you have to shop more often. Otherwise seek alternative living arrangements. 1
Author hmmhmmm2 Posted September 13, 2019 Author Posted September 13, 2019 It's a common problem among roommates. All I can advise is buy less, even if it means you have to shop more often. Otherwise seek alternative living arrangements. Literally all I have in the fridge right now is milk, butter, and jelly...the fridge is full of his stuff, yet he still asks for my stuff.
d0nnivain Posted September 13, 2019 Posted September 13, 2019 If you have nothing to give him, you can honestly say that. What's the problem? If you make food for yourself, either share or show him you only have enough for 1 portion.
Author hmmhmmm2 Posted September 13, 2019 Author Posted September 13, 2019 The problem is it's been 2 weeks and hes asked to eat my stuff 3 times. That's too much to me, and it's my stuff, paid for with my $. Sure it's a little here a little there, but it adds up quick, and I dont have $ to share...I use what I buy and live as frugal as possible. I also pay back student loans, so my food needs to stretch me as long as possible. I'm not his mom, he needs to be responsible for himself.
Happy Lemming Posted September 13, 2019 Posted September 13, 2019 It's a common problem among roommates. Yep... Years ago I had a roommate that drank all my beer, I'd buy it and he'd drink it all before I got home from work. I asked him not to, but to no avail. So I stopped buying beer, if I wanted a beer that evening; I'd stop on my way home and just get a "40". Until I changed my living arrangements, I just had to buy in small quantities that I could consume in one evening. That is one of my biggest problems with roommates, that and sharing in the cleaning duties. So, yes I agree with "d0nnivain", buy in small quantities and you just have to make multiple trips to the store.
Fair Posted September 13, 2019 Posted September 13, 2019 You're living with someone you can't trust. Move out. 1
d0nnivain Posted September 13, 2019 Posted September 13, 2019 Another option may be shared staples. Every two weeks or so you both put $20 in & buy milk, flour, OJ, salt/pepper, bread etc.
alphamale Posted September 13, 2019 Posted September 13, 2019 start eating out - fast food is a good value that reminds me to try the new popeye's chicken sandwich 1
CAPSLOCK BANDIT Posted September 13, 2019 Posted September 13, 2019 First off, if he is doing this on a regular basis, obviously this person feels they are owed something OR they have another person in mind for your spot... One of my good friends will do this, just have a rotation of people that come in and out of his place; he has offered me the place at least 3 times in 2019 and every time the answer has been no, because I learned my lesson in early 2018 after his brother was eating most of my food. He is probably trying to irk you in an attempt for you to just move out, so cut out all appeasement tactics, move all of your valuables to a family members house and just have the bare necessities.
Author hmmhmmm2 Posted September 13, 2019 Author Posted September 13, 2019 First off, if he is doing this on a regular basis, obviously this person feels they are owed something OR they have another person in mind for your spot... One of my good friends will do this, just have a rotation of people that come in and out of his place; he has offered me the place at least 3 times in 2019 and every time the answer has been no, because I learned my lesson in early 2018 after his brother was eating most of my food. He is probably trying to irk you in an attempt for you to just move out, so cut out all appeasement tactics, move all of your valuables to a family members house and just have the bare necessities. What would I owe him within 3 weeks of living with him? When I moved into I cleaned his entire kitchen and fridge from what I suspect was in the fridge for 9 years. There is nothing I owe him as I havent missed any rent payment.
Watercolors Posted September 13, 2019 Posted September 13, 2019 Time to buy yourself a small fridge, put that in the room you are renting and keep your perishables there. Also, use your bedroom closet as a pantry and store your dried foods in there. Let your roommate have the whole kitchen to himself and the only things you two share are the sink, and stove/oven to cook your food with. I had roommates (and have a roommate now) like your roommate. Do exactly what I did: buy a small fridge you can plug into an outlet in your bedroom. Doesn't matter if your bedroom door doesn't lock. It will be further proof that your roommate is stealing your food, if he goes into your bedroom and your food from your own fridge is missing. Then you can get the landlord involved. Meanwhile, see if you can search online for an affordable place for yourself. He sounds like a terrible roommate. 2
The Outlaw Posted September 13, 2019 Posted September 13, 2019 That was one of my concerns with my former roommate, but he bought his own food, so I didn't have a problem. The only thing I can suggest is hiding it somewhere you know he won't ever look. It doesn't matter if your contract is under him, that's your food, not his. Tough luck if he gets mad.
Author hmmhmmm2 Posted September 13, 2019 Author Posted September 13, 2019 Time to buy yourself a small fridge, put that in the room you are renting and keep your perishables there. Also, use your bedroom closet as a pantry and store your dried foods in there. Let your roommate have the whole kitchen to himself and the only things you two share are the sink, and stove/oven to cook your food with. I had roommates (and have a roommate now) like your roommate. Do exactly what I did: buy a small fridge you can plug into an outlet in your bedroom. Doesn't matter if your bedroom door doesn't lock. It will be further proof that your roommate is stealing your food, if he goes into your bedroom and your food from your own fridge is missing. Then you can get the landlord involved. Meanwhile, see if you can search online for an affordable place for yourself. He sounds like a terrible roommate. The roommate IS the landlord
Mr. Lucky Posted September 13, 2019 Posted September 13, 2019 The roommate IS the landlord Go to Walmart and get a cheap tool or fishing tackle box, both of which have a hasp that accepts a padlock. Keep it inside the fridge with your food securely protected. Problem solved, less than $10. Why is this in Business/Professional ? Mr. Lucky 2
CAPSLOCK BANDIT Posted September 13, 2019 Posted September 13, 2019 What would I owe him within 3 weeks of living with him? When I moved into I cleaned his entire kitchen and fridge from what I suspect was in the fridge for 9 years. There is nothing I owe him as I havent missed any rent payment. I mean like, maybe your paying less for rent than he feels somebody in your position should be paying? Like maybe him taking your food is some sort of come-uppance. Also, are you a woman? If so, its going to be important for you to establish those boundaries, as this could just be the beginning of his affronts.
Watercolors Posted September 13, 2019 Posted September 13, 2019 The roommate IS the landlord 1. Buy a small fridge. Put that in your bedroom you are renting. 2. Look online for another roommate situation to move into. 3. Give your landlord 60 days notice. 1
Author hmmhmmm2 Posted September 14, 2019 Author Posted September 14, 2019 I mean like, maybe your paying less for rent than he feels somebody in your position should be paying? Like maybe him taking your food is some sort of come-uppance. Also, are you a woman? If so, its going to be important for you to establish those boundaries, as this could just be the beginning of his affronts. I'm not a woman. And I'm paying the original offer, the same amount everyone else pays.
CautiouslyOptimistic Posted September 14, 2019 Posted September 14, 2019 Can you get a mini fridge for your bedroom and just keep your food in your room? Look online for a used one. They aren't expensive.
Blind-Sided Posted September 14, 2019 Posted September 14, 2019 (edited) I've only had to deal with this once in my life. The issue was... I lived with my brother for half a year or so. He would eat everything in the fridge... or his kid or wife would. I solved the issue doing two things. 1) bought a small fridge for my room. I kept the basics in there. Milk, butter, soda and a few odd's and ends. 2) I would truly stop at the grocery store every evening on my way home from work or school to buy what I needed for dinner. Or go to my GF's house to let her folks feed me. (was in my early 20's and a college kid, so it wasn't strange) I was going to school, and working as much as I could... so I would literally buy lunch every day... and breakfast was a simple "instant breakfast" mix (That's why I needed the milk) and a granola bar. (Brother didn't like those) I know it's not easy to live that way, but sometimes it's needed. I know the cost of eating lunch out, and a small fridge may be hard on the pocketbook if you are living check to check... but it's cheaper than replacing food, and it keeps arguing down to ZERO !! My 2 cents... take it for what it's worth. Edited September 14, 2019 by Blind-Sided 1
preraph Posted September 14, 2019 Posted September 14, 2019 If she gets a small fridge, he'll say she's running up the electric bill, which is true. How about keeping an ice chest you can put a padlock on in your room? Even if you can't find one with a lock capability, put it under your bed or in the closet under stuff. He sounds awful. Why should you buy him food? No. Honestly, an ice chest will keep food well for about 24 hours but you'd have to be hauling ice home or else use that coming out of the main refrigerator to replenish it. And once he finds out, he'll just continue stealing your food, so I'd find one with a place for a lock. You could even put a chain around it and a padlock on the chain. Surely he'll get the message.
major_merrick Posted September 14, 2019 Posted September 14, 2019 Start eating stuff that doesn't need a refrigerator and can be stashed secretly. Like Ramen. Those square packages are cheap and can be put in a lock box. For everything else, eat only tiny portions that you buy daily. Also, have you considered eating HIS food? If he gets hungry, eventually he will buy groceries for himself and then you can take some back. And find somewhere else to live. Life is too short to always have the ice cream and beer disappearing.
Whodatdog Posted September 15, 2019 Posted September 15, 2019 Start asking the roommate for food before they can ask you. Thats what I started doing when people would ask me for money all the time. I just turned the tables on them and started asking them for money. That stopped that. 2
MsJayne Posted September 15, 2019 Posted September 15, 2019 Hey, you've only been there a couple of weeks, it's still the honeymoon period and your roommate's still on his best behaviour! Over all the years I shared with others I learned that most people will do at least one of the following; Eat your groceries & never replace them, never change the toilet roll, never do any housework, be late with the rent every month, owe you money for utility bills, deprive you of sleep, borrow your clothes/shoes/perfume without asking, use your toiletries, leave the kitchen like a bombsite every time they cook something.........I could go on. Sharing a living space with a man-child is hard work. I highly recommend living alone if you can afford it, and if not then put a concerted effort into finding someone responsible to share with because if you're annoyed after only a couple of weeks, by the end of two months you'll be homicidal.
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