18-year-old gym bros spend $120 on groceries, force celiac roommate to pay the same amount: 'It's not our issue you choose not to eat'

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Aug 18, 2024 6:00 PM EDT

Figuring out how to share food with your roommates can be a tough gig. There's no one way to do it. The easiest way seems to be that everyone buys their own groceries, and you're not allowed to touch each other's without asking. This is all fine and good until there are 3 sacks of flour in the pantry, 3 gallons of milk in the fridge, and 3 cartons of eggs all spoiling at the same rate, and taking us unnecessary space. 

Plus, it can end up being cheaper for everyone if you share groceries. But not everyone eats the same thing or the same amount, so how do you split the cost evenly? It's no wonder that conflict tends to arise from these types of decisions. That's what happened to one roomie group whose eating habits had a major clash. Read on for the story and see what advice commenters tried to give. 

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  • 01
    Laar's Rosemary Sea Salt Clas ALL NATURALS CHEDDAR CHEESE SPREAD...
    via Grace O'Driscoll
  • 02
    AITA For refusing to pay the same amount of money as my 2 other roomates for groceries?
    via u/Genexlord
  • 03
    Hello, i'm M18, and recently moved out of my parent's house to a new apartment with 2 roomates, one whom i known since i was 5,and was a good friend of mine until now; To make things short; Both of my roomates are gymbros, they're in a bulk diet currently, meaning they eat A LOT. While I, am doing a diet to lose weight, eating way less often, and much smaller amounts;
    via u/Genexlord
  • 04
    Last week was our first week here in the new apartment, meaning they went shopping for groceries, while i ran dome errands like getting the internet ready for example; When they came back,they came with 2 almost fu grocery bags, which they immediately put in the fridge, and they told me i owe them 40$ for my "fair share", I
    via u/Genexlord
  • 05
    said fine, and went on to see the recipt, which came off to 120$, meaning i'd pay a 3rd; I offered to pay it immediately, which they responded to with "later" (which i'm not sure why, but gave me time to realize the idiocy) At the first mutual dinner we did, i saw how much they eat, which is
    via u/Genexlord
  • 06
    fine, considering the fact that they're bulking, I'd also like to mention that i'm celiac (gluten free) meaning i buy bread and pasta from my own money (i'm not complaining,just stating it) But they included stuff like bread, pasta and more things i can't eat in my fair share.
    via u/Genexlord
  • 07
    I offered to pay 30$,which sounded fair to me, but completley outrageous to them claiming "it's not our issue you choose not to eat, or can't eat stuff with gluten" It's not about the 10$; it's the principle. AITAH?
    via u/Genexlord
  • 08
    NotShockedFruitWeird. 17 hr. ago NTA. You can tell them that you'll be purchasing your own groceries and they (the two of them) can buy their own. INFO: Did they call you at the grocery store to find out what you wanted?
    via u/NotShockedFruitWeird
  • 09
    Genexlord OP. 17 hr. ago They did not.
    via u/Genexlord
  • 10
    Remarkable-One2684. 16 hr. ago The best it ever worked with roommates for me is we did 1 huge shop together for "shared" items (cleaners, oils, paper goods, etc). Then we bought our own groceries (and at times. would share but respected the others
    via u/Remarkable-One2684
  • 11
    things). Once a week had "family" meal (rotated who cooked and split cost). There are so many. Many. Many. Ways to balance food with roommates but it feels as if the way your Roommates are proposing isn't a long term way for you. Find something that works. But don't pay for things you can't eat or someone's diet!
    via u/Remarkable-One2684
  • 12
    omeomi24 17 hr. ago NTA - but start the new rules NOW. Pay the $40 and then tell them you will buy your own food for now because of your diet. Do NOT eat what they buy - have a designated shelf in the fridge and cupboard for your own food. It's not your issue they buy so many groceries but it doesn't need to be an argument. They can buy and share food between them and you can have your own food to yourself.
    via u/omeomi24
  • 13
    . embopbopbopdoowop 16 hr. ago ΝΤΑ Pay the $40 this one time, and immediately institute a new arrangement where you buy and prepare your own food completely separately. Since it's not their "issue you choose not to eat", they should be happy with that arrangement.
    via u/embopbopbopdoowop
  • 14
    Aviendha13 15 hr. ago • I don't understand all the posts I see regarding roommates sharing food. This isn't your family. It's a roommate situation. Everyone should buy their own food.
    via u/Aviendha13
  • 15
    And if you choose to share, fine. Or if someone asks can they have some sugar or milk, etc... as a one off and the answer is sure, fine. But you ask first every time. Or if not possible to ask in the moment, you better replace it asap. Like before it's even noticed to be missing.
    via u/Aviendha13
  • 16
    Treating a roommate situation like a family is difficult even if you are all friends. Just buy your own food.
    via u/Aviendha13
  • 17
    beneaththeseracs 13 hr. ago Yeah, totally baffled by this. I had many sets of roommates in my late teens and early 20s and shared food was not a thing, we all bought our own groceries. The closest we came to shared food was splitting a pizza for a movie or gaming night. For things like
    via u/beneaththeseracs
  • 18
    cleaning products and toilet paper we had a fund that we all put the same amount into each month. Getting some of the roommates to use the cleaning products was a whole other story, but it worked for the finances.
    via u/beneaththeseracs
  • 19
    Scary_Thing_8935 17 hr. ago NTA You pay for something you use/need. I live with two roommates and we split the cost on the essentials (toilet paper, toothpaste, garbage bags...) If one of us buys food, the other two will split the cost, but not for everything on the receipt (if they buy cigarettes,
    via u/Scary_Thing_8935
  • 20
    I'm not gonna pay for it because I don't smoke). It's honestly something you should have previously discussed. I would recommend you tell them you'll be buying your groceries separately from now on. But, believe me, even that can create problems (if someone eats your food and doesn't replace it).
    via u/Scary_Thing_8935

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