So I (19f) live in a dorm with two other girls. We’re all pretty chill, but I’m definitely the one who keeps a mini fridge and a snack drawer stocked. I work a part time job as a student assistant, so I pay for all my own food. My friend (let’s call her Jen) (19f) is in my room basically 24/7. She’s super sweet, but she has this habit of "sampling" my snacks. It’s never a whole bag of chips or a full soda. It’s always can I just have a handful of those? or can I take one sip of that? which is kinda annoying. At first, I didn’t care. But it’s been months and it adds up. Last week I bought a specific pack of expensive imported ramen I’ve been wanting to try, and I came back from class to find the pack open and literally HALF the noodles gone. Jen was like "oh I just wanted a bite to see if I liked it lol." I told her she needs to stop eating my stuff and that if she wants snacks, she needs to go to the store. She said I was being stingy because it’s just a tiny bit of food.
So, I started a tab.
Every time she took a sample, I wrote it down in my notes app with the price. Yesterday, I sent her a Venmo request for $15 with the caption Snack Tax. Jen totally flipped. She can’t believe I’m nickel-and-diming her over a few crackers and some noodles. My other roommate thinks it’s funny but says that i should’ve just put a lock on my drawer instead of sending the Venmo.
AITA?
Nta. Put a lock on the drawer since she refuses to pay.
NTA, its your food.
If u get the lock, then the complaint will be your escalating something thats not a big deal, instead of calling u selfish. Either way, she is in the wrong and trying to make it your fault your not feeding her.
I myself, would start going to her place and eating her food. But I am an asshole. Lol
I was prepared to say YTA, but actually I think you are NTA mildly.
If she asks and you let her, then its on you. But the ramen? Like huh? I don’t understand how she thought it was a tiny bit. I would venmo request her on that.
However, if she asks, just say no if you don’t want to share. It’s your food.
Put a lock on your fridge and your drawer and say no when you don’t want to share something. They can get b***** about it if they want to but you live on a limited income and they do not have the right to take any amount or portion of your belongings.
Being a student assistant doesn’t pay enough for me to be a literal food bank.
I’m looking into fridge locks today because I’m tired of the ‘it’s just a bite’ gaslighting.
NTA.
Start telling her no or lock your food
NTA. She’s been “sampling” your snacks for months like it’s a free buffet. At some point, you either start charging admission or invest in a lock. Snack Tax seems like the most polite and efficient solution. Honestly, I’d be worried if she didn’t freak out.
Lock up your stuff, lock up your room.
Yes and no, counting a handful of chips here and there or a sip of a drink is crazy works, but who tf opens someone’s ramen and takes half of it??😭 I’d crash out for that alone bc either take all of it or none at all and at least ask.
Gonna go with NTA because you told her to stop eating your snacks and to get her own.
Reminds me of a friend who was never around to buy food or drinks. Just rolled in after we all chipped in a “just had a few slices and a drink”. No kidding. Just like everyone else except we paid. And if it was once or twice we probably wouldn’t have cared but it was every damn time.
That said for the “be an adult and talk to her” crowd who misses the part where you told her to stop, I’d draw a firm line in the sand – those are your snacks. If she wants to ask you will probably say no or may ask her to chip in to purchase some of these snacks.
Any friend would have shown up with a $20 bill and said “this is for the snacks I’ve been eating”
She’s garbage
NTA. If she doesn’t want to pay it, then lock your drawer. Anytime she’s over wanting to “sample” your snacks, ask her if she has the current $15 for previous “sampling”. If she doesn’t like it, oh well. She can go by her own snacks.
No means no and whether she just had a little bit of the ramen or not it messed up the rest of the portion so she may as well have eaten the whole thing.
Why does she feel entitled to your stuff after you’ve said no, and in that case why would it matter if “it’s just a little bit”?
She needs to stop eating your stuff and get her own stuff and also it would be worthwhile for you to lock up your stuff because it’s common for college aged people to be sued to the way things were in their own home. They often don’t realize the impact of eating “just a little bit” because they have never had to buy all of their own things. They have always had their parents subsidize them and a lot of times in college they still are being subsidized.
That doesn’t make her behavior ok but it does explain what’s probably happening. She really has no concept that in your perspective she is being rude.
It’s called theft. NTA