What is the best way to ask roommates to stop eating your food?

Question

Not only do I have a limited grocery budget, but I also buy products that are meatless, soy-based, and organic, which means a "food sharing" situation wouldn't work because my roommates don't buy the same type of food.
It was fine when they would ask (giving up a slice of bread or two wasn't a terrible hardship), but I would later find most of the item eaten within a day, and now unopened containers of the food I've purchased are being opened and consumed without asking.
I'd just like to find the best way to approach my request that they don't take my food, seeing as I have a rather large fear of confrontation.

Answer 1

Unless you want to suffer in silence, you have to approach the offender and tell him/her exactly what you've told us. If you don't know who the offender is, I like the previous suggestion to hold a house meeting and bring it up. It doesn't have to be confrontational... just a "hey guys, someone is eating my food and I don't have a fat wallet to foot the food bill."

They probably aren't thinking about how their mooching is affecting you and probably don't mean to put you in a hard spot. Give them the benefit of the doubt when you talk to them, so you won't put them on the defensive and you won't feel like you're attacking.

Good luck!

Answer 2

My friend had the same problem at college. She had a decent relationship with her roommates and didn't' want to rock the boat. So she started writing the price she paid for food on the labels (white ones from Staples) and placing them on the package. In such a way that they would actually have to be removed to open the package.
It did take a little while but eventually her roomies started to do the math and realize how much money they were costing her. And they started asking again. When they did ask she said she was happy to share, but this is all the bread she had to last her until next Tues. or whenever.
It actually worked.
Good luck

Answer 3

merely tell her which you are able to't have sufficient money to feed 2 human beings--you and her. And which you comprehend which you had reported she ought to easily help herself yet on the time you probably did no longer comprehend that she could take that rather, which you have been merely being well mannered. She has no longer taken it too a techniques and for too long so which you withdraw that grant. She is to no longer touch any of your nutrition. If she needs what you have offered, then she has to bypass out and do her very own procuring, then she will consume what she want (of her very own nutrition) while she needs. She could be a sprint mad because of the fact now she has to grant for herself yet she would be waiting to no longer be harm. merely stand your floor. She already knows what she's been doing is erroneous yet because of the fact you have no longer reported something for 2 years, she has taken that silence to characterize it is totally ok. purchase a field you are able to lock and save your non-perishables in the field; or placed a good lock on your cabinet and save the biggest with you. you likely won't be able to do something approximately stuff in the freezer or frig nevertheless. and perchance merely enable her comprehend that if this retains up you are going to ought to discover a clean roommate.

Answer 4

"Hey, dudes, let me talk to you about something seriously. Somebody has been eating most of my food for some time now. I never mind sharing, but I don't have a lot of money, really, and I don't eat your foods since I'm a vegetarian/vegan/whatever. Can you guys please not eat my food? I'm not being a d!ck, and if I had more $ I wouldn't mind, but I'm strapped."

Get them each to verbalize to you that they agree, and they won't do it anymore. Then keep your food sectioned off from there's in the fridge and see if it stops. If so, problem solved. If not, then you need to take it to step 2. The one way at that point to retain these people as friends is to lock up your food. Get a personal refridgerator for $80 at Home Depot and put it in your bedroom, and put your non refrgerated food in a box in your closet.

Alternatively, you can calculate how much money you are spending for someone else to eat, and ask them to be men and pony up the dough.

If you don't want to go that nonconfrontational route, then you need to go to war. Eat whatever it is of theirs that you can eat, at ever chance you get. And take the liberty of throwing away their hot dogs and hamburgers when they are not looking.

Answer 5

i think you should speak up and say "look as much as I dont mind sharing there has to be a limit. if its unopened, dont open it, esp bc of the specific food items i purchase". if they dont get it. put a big black "X" on ur food so they dont help themseoves.; if they still dont get it then assign everyone their own cabinets for their individual food which means no sharing cabinets. also try giving each roomie their own row in the fridge for non sharing food. this way they know its off limits if its in that section.

Answer 6

just say exactly what you did here
"hey guys i'm not trying to start a confrontation or a huge fight but i just needed to talk to you about eating my food. i dont mind if you guys have a slice or two of bread when you ask but i dont like it when you dont and then leave containers open. its just i have a limited gocery budget and i already have to buy certin things".....you get the idea

Answer 7

just tell them. get a mini fridge for you bedroom if you have to. that stuff is too expensive for you to be providing it for the entire household. and it's not like you can just eat theirs when yours is gone. if you can't be bluntly honest with roomates, everything will just eat at you until your relationship is completely destroyed. roomates should be friends, and friends should understand and respect you and your things, including food.

the easiest way to do it without being confrontational would be to post a clear and polite note on the fridge. but if that doesn't stop it, you'll have to be vocal and be firm. this is a good time to learn that if you don't stand up for yourself, no one else will either.

Answer 8

ask them nicely if you can talk to them about a serious matter. be sure they're not busy or doing anything, cause you'll need their full attention. then say your situation, and let them know that you bought that food with your money, and you think that it is only fair for those who spend their money are the ones who should get their share of food. but dont forget to tell them, you're willing to share, but it is important that they need to ask you first, and should be willing to respect your decision that you'll not always say yes when they ask.

Answer 9

If you can't confront them. Maybe you need to buy you food on a daily basis and consume it then. And see if you can get different accommodations, your room mates do not respect your rights.

Answer 10

My gut instinct is to take all of their food and throw it into your roommates' beds, respectively.

The mature, (arguably) best way is to confront them directly about the issue. If they become combative, or worse, continue to eat your food... I say stick with Plan A. (See above.)