‘I never agreed to that’: Cohost extorts $70 out of his roommates after cooking a $200 meal for 10 guests, claiming they owed him ‘their third' despite already contributing side dishes

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Mar 7, 2025 1:00 PM EST

Potlucks are a quintessential part of Americana. The fabric of our society depends on our side dishes, our casseroles, our gelatin desserts, and of course, meat. In the spirit of sharing and thanksgiving, the potluck was born… Which is why this household of roommates was rocked when one amateur top chef decided to unilaterally host the most expensive potluck of all time, demanding patrons pitch their portion to enjoy his cuisine. 

Sorry, buddy, but no potluck is fancy enough to warrant $70/plate…

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  • Perhaps he was confused on the process of a potluck, but this roommate lost the plot after they hosted a small get together in their yard. With only 10 guests, how expensive could a meal really be? Keep scrolling to see how this guy decided to recoup his losses after spending hundreds on a main dish that nobody agreed to. Because even though potlucks are meant to be about sharing dishes and splitting leftovers, it's not about sharing costs and splitting the bill.

  • Cheezburger Image 10476508160
    via Karolina Grabowska

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

    $200 in meat later, this guy realized his mistake. But lucky for him, he was brazen enough to come after his roommates and extort him for his losses, because why should he have to eat the costs of his poor decisions? 

  • A few weeks ago, my apartment mate asked if I wanted to cohost a Potluck with him and another apartment mate. I had a grilled veggie recipe I'd been wanting to try, so I agreed. He would make the main, i would make the side.
    via Mister-builder
  • We ended up hosting about 10 people. The day of, he posted how much his ingredients cost on our apartment groupchat, which ended up a little over $200. I didn't post mine, which cost about $10.
    via Mister-builder
  • Fast forward to today. He expects me to reimburse him for "my third" of the expenses for the main. I said I never agreed to that. He said I was the host, and that I had to, he never even considered it a discussion. Our third apartment mate paid, and is staying out of it.
    via Mister-builder
  • dragonetta123 ΝΤΑ Splitting expenses is something you agree to in advance, and if needed have a budget set.
    via dragonetta123
  • Also, with me being a Brit so I may have this wrong, isn't potluck a gathering where everyone brings a dish instead of a planned meal?
    via dragonetta123
  • Ok-Position7403 LOL nice try, roommate! NTA, this is ridiculous. If it had been agreed that you were splitting the expense, there would have been some discussion of how much the expense would be. And not after the fact when he's spent $200.
    via Ok-Position7403
  • Cheezburger Image 10476510464
    via Linda Hughes
  • There is no way that if the agreement all along had been to share expenses, NO ONE would have said what the budget was or how much they were willing to contribute.
    via Ok-Position7403
  • I mean, even if you HAD agreed to split costs, you could have assumed it would be max $30 per roommate just as easily as he assumed $70 per roommate was ok.
    via Ok-Position7403
  • Con... What the h I kind of dish did he spend $200 on? How many people came to this pot luck? Everyone is supposed to bring something to a pot luck meal, the point is to keep the labour and cost down. $200 will buy you a full meat pack from a nice butcher, I think he's trying it on
    via Con
  • InvertedJennyanyd... NTA because this is not how a potluck works. You don't just have 3 roommates attend and split the costs. What on earth did he make for 200 dollars? Gold leafed truffles or something? Kobe beef steaks for everyone?
    via InvertedJennyanyd
  • k23_k23 NTA this is not how potlucks work.
    via k23_k23
  • thewhiterosequeen Obviously NTA. If he wanted costs split, he should have discussed budget beforehand.
    via thewhiterosequeen
  • ctomas1984 I'd rather go out to eat than pay $70 to eat a potluck at someone's apartment. Roommate is a whack job and should have made chicken. NTA.
    via ctomas1984
  • TemptingPenguin369 NTA. This is a discussion to be had BEFORE someone spends that kind of money. You should have all decided on what you'd like to spend and work the meal around that, so if a side costs less than the main, the side cook might also bring wine or something.
    via TemptingPenguin369
  • lipgloss_addict Is this a joke? I didn't spend that much to make my award winning Chile for the neighborhood cook off. And I fed at least 50 people. This guy is nuts and I bet he is like this in other areas, you just haven't discovered that yet.
    via lipgloss_addict
  • sanityjanity NTA. If he wanted $70 out of you, he needed to ask that upfront. As the co-host, it's your job to provide the space in the apartment, and maybe some paper plates. Not cash to him.
    via sanityjanity
  • Rhaenys77 Was he serving wagyu steaks?! NTA he needs to discuss a budget beforehand. In my book a potluck is where everybody contributes and then you are even between everyone joining
    via Rhaenys77
  • Wandering_aimlessly9 Nta. Ask him to show you the receipts from the stew out of curiosity. But no. Cohosting doesn't mean you pay for their dish.
    via Wandering_aimlessly9
  • Jealous-Contract7426 NTA don't pay. He made you - a co-host to extort money. Don't share food with him again.
    via Jealous-Contract7426

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barbecue owed potluck roommates payback roommate drama neighbors drama flatmate reddit story psycho roommate housemate Reddit
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