‘No more touching my food’: 20-year-old working girl cuts off her freeloading 27-year-old roommate, shaming her for stealing her groceries and pretending it's because ‘roommates share’

Coexisting with a roommate—especially one whom you were previously friends with—seems like it would be simple, fun, and easy. You already enjoy spending time with this person, so why not spend all of your time, space, and bills with them? But it's that last one that gets a little tricky. Once money is involved, you can never fully trust a shady roommate to pull their weight. Sure, when it was just spotting them a couple of dollars for a drink or letting them pay you back for the next dinner, things were fine and dandy. 

But once a roommate starts freeloading off of your supplies—like groceries, cosmetics, clothes, and even your leftovers—they've officially transcended into frenemy territory. 

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Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer Jesse Kessenheimer
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    via Viktor Gladkov

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

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  • We all feel it in our wallets: Groceries are getting more expensive. 

    While the collective hit is cascading above us, regular working-class folks still have to find a way to fill their fridge. A working girl in her early 20s was just starting to get a toe-hold in the working world, but once she realized her checks were pathetic and life was expensive, the food in the fridge started to become more and more precious. However, her nearly 30-year-old roommate thought otherwise. Feeling entitled to whatever snacks were in the fridge, she started pillaging u/Fickle_Tennis2950's meals, taking not only raw food supplies but even scarfing down cherished leftovers… But it wasn't long before she got caught red-handed. 

    Keep scrolling for the entire friendship fallout that resulted in a public shaming of the century. 

  • "AITAH for Telling My Roommate She Can’t Keep Eating My Groceries After I Caught Her Lying?"

    I'm 20, working as a receptionist and living paycheck to paycheck in a shared apartment with my roommate, who's 27. We agreed early on to keep our food separate, I label my stuff in the fridge and pantry since I meal prep to save money.
    via Fickle_Tennis2950
  • Lately, I've noticed my groceries disappearing: half my chicken, a tub of yogurt, even my good coffee grounds. At first, she'd say, 'Oh, I thought it was mine,' and I let it slide, asking her to replace it. She never did.
    via Fickle_Tennis2950
  • Last week, I caught her red handed eating my labeled leftovers straight from the container, and she claimed she 'forgot' again and was 'starving' because she's short on cash. I checked our grocery shelf, hers is stocked with snacks and ramen, so that's a lie.
    via Fickle_Tennis2950
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    via Odua Images

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

  • I'm barely scraping by myself, and replacing what she takes is killing my budget. Yesterday, I told her she's cut off, no more touching my food, period, unless she pays me back first.
    via Fickle_Tennis2950
  • She flipped out, called me stingy and dramatic, and said I'm 'punishing' her for being broke when roommates should share. I'd help if she asked, but I'm tired of her sneaking and lying... Aita?
    via Fickle_Tennis2950
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  • Badkitty532 HI no. If you catch her again walk over to her cabinet and start taking everything. Tell her she has free range to steal then so do you! Tell her that she's not the only one who is broke and it's not your job to provide for her!
    via BadKitty532
  • naoimivyyy_· NTA. She's not "broke"-she's entitled. If she were genuinely struggling, she'd ask instead of stealing and then gaslighting you about it. The fact that she has snacks but still targets your prepped meals (and good coffee?
    via naoimivyyy_
  • That's war) proves this isn't about need-it's about convenience and disrespect. Roommates do share-when they agree to. You set clear boundaries from the start, labeled your stuff,
    via naoimivyyy_
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  • and gave her chances to fix it. She ignored all of it because she assumed you'd roll over. Calling you "stingy" for not subsidizing her laziness is just manipulation.
    via naoimivyyy_
  • If she keeps this up, get a mini- fridge for your room or a lockbox for pantry items. And maybe start casually mentioning how weird it is that she's so obsessed with your food. "Wow, you must really love my cooking-Venmo me $10 and I'll meal-prep for you too." Shame works wonders.
    via naoimivyyy_
  • Impressive Cut_2339 You set clear boundaries and she ignored them. Taking your food without asking (and lying about it) isn't sharing, it's disrespect. You're just protecting yourself.
    via Impressive Cut_2339
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  • TiffLuLu_96 Sounds like you need a new roommate. She's completely disrespecting you.
    via TiffLuLu_96
  • stella_est "Roommates should share" is only ever said by the roommate taking the stuff, never the one paying for it.
    via stella_est
  • themcp NTA - figure out now what you're going to do when she ignores you and takes your food anyway.
    via themcp
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  • BakerB921 Put a lock on the cabinet door. Get a fridge for your room and keep your room locked. Withhold the cost of what she takes from the rent-tell her it's up to her to make it good. Then find another
    via BakerB921
  • roommate or place to live. Once people feel entitled to steal your stuff and bulls you about paying you back it only gets worse. Sorry you have to deal with this.
    via BakerB921
  • Tranqup NTA. I've seen other similar posts and advice from others to get a small fridge for your room and a lock on your bedroom door. I hope it won't require something a bit drastic like this - but your
    via Tranqup
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  • roommate has shown that she has no respect for your boundaries and will probably continue eating your food if she has easy access to it. Other option but even more difficult is finding a different roommate, which would require a move on your part along with the associated hassle and costs.
    via Tranqup
  • Zruku You're definitely NTA. This isn't about being stingy - it's about respect and boundaries that you two already agreed on from the beginning. She's not "forgetting" when the food is clearly labeled, she's just taking what isn't hers.
    via Zruku
  • The fact that she has money for snacks but is "too broke" to replace what she takes is pretty telling. Also, roommates don't automatically "share" everything - that's not how adult living arrangements work unless explicitly agreed upon.
    via ZrukuFickle_Tennis2950
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  • I had a similar situation with an old roommate who would drink my expensive coffee and never replace it. Started keeping the good stuff in my room and left the cheap stuff in the kitchen. Magically, the "accidental" consumption stopped.
    via Zruku
  • Stand your ground. Maybe get a mini fridge for your room if this continues. Being broke is tough but it doesn't give anyone the right to steal from others who are also struggling.
    via Zruku

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groceries Food Thief bad roommate drama stealing roommate bad roommates petty revenge psycho roommate petty food Reddit roommates fridge thief
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