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?
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.
That $15 will buy you a lock
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.
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.
fr I’m with you “a few chips” is whatever, but opening my ramen and jacking HALF is unhinged at that point it’s not snacks, it’s straight up disrespect… I’d crash out too lol
I’m an adult with a full time job and if you steal half (I’m reading that as half a pack and the rest went to waste?) of my expensive imported ramen without asking, we’re going to have words!
A few chips sounds like whatever until it’s once a week for months on end. Food is expensive, especially snack food. A “handful” of chips recurrently equals a whole bag pretty quickly.
Chips, if I’m eating them already, fine. Drink, if I’m drinking it AND it’s being poured into glasses and NOT directly from the can, OK. If, however, she is opening chips and pop, that is an issue because it will go stale unless I then finish it right away. Is she opening the pop and drinking it straight from the can, then leave 1/2 a can to go flat? That would make a difference to me.
Raman that was unopened is not “trying a sample.” It’s taking someone’s food! Roommate needs to contribute if she wants to partake of the refreshments. I would set up a refill schedule and then either collect $ from roommate or have roommate buy snacks to restock. It would be more fair that way.
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
It’s called theft. NTA