Looking for the annoying roommate forum; guess I'll post it here.

I cook my own foods.  I freeze many of them.  I label them with neon stickers denoting the calories and dates.  I have told roommate what these labels mean.  I have asked him not to eat the foods labeled with the neon stickers.  I have even bought him eggs and butter for him to eat so he won't eat my stuff.  I am so angry this morning, because when I went to re-heat something that I had pre-prepared for breakfast, there was a package of something that I had frozen for later use in the microwave!!!  What more can I do to get this through his head that I don't want him to eat my foods!!!??  Anytime I make something that I will share with him I always label it "help yourself".  I've also left labels on prepackaged food items telling him to "help yourself".  Do I need to get a label with a skull and cross bones so he will get the point?  Help me, friends.  I'm going to go buy some instrument of food protection, but I thought I already had with the NEON labels.  Any suggestions beyond strictnine and rat poison will be greatly appreciated. 

Okay, over my rant.  I can't say that I'm any calmer, but at least I can hope for some suggestions from everyone.

Buy a second fridge-freezer... keep it in your own room.... secure with a padlock.... OR.... get a new roommate that isn't so bone idle.

my ex-roommate used to eat my food without asking too

you might try using larger stickers that say DON'T EAT THIS!

maybe he doesn't listen to you when you explain what the labels mean and wants to think that the neon labels are like the ones that say Help Yourself.

I started keeping food in my room (for non-refrigerated things) and I started buying one day's groceries at a time (much less convenient)

Another thing I ended up doing that worked very well was cook things that she didn't like (things with lots of veggies, apparently)

The best thing I did was move out and get a place with no roommate for the same amount of rent.

My room mates definitely don't eat my food (too many allergies, etc in the house) but they do make me feel generally unwelcome 75% of the time. In the common areas of the house where all 4 of us have things to make it more homey, they keep taking my things and putting them down into my room. I'm not moving out for another 2 months! And I'm supposed to be friends with these girls. Plus they think I'm bitchy when I ask for rent/bill money. I'm the lease holder in the house, and I can't WAIT until the lease is up.

That would make me mad, too, OP. It's not like there's an amount of money that compensates for "I think I'll have some....dammit! He did it again!"

Ask him if he dislikes you/disrespects you so much that he is comfortable stealing/meddling with your things.  If not, maybe he will be guilted into stopping.  If so, get him to move out.

I think it's a great idea to buy a small freezer and put in out of harms way - I wish I had thought of that when I used to have the roommate from hell! haha...

Maybe the different color coded options are too confusing to him - maybe you should start not sharing at all....hopefully he'd get it that you're not into him eating all of your food eventually!

Make something that you know looks appealing to him......load it with pepper, spices, diaherra medicine, whatever....let him eat it and have it bite him in the butt...literally. 

Wow!  Thanks for all the suggestions!  gymcoach79, I have labeled things that say Progesterone, high fiber, and ex-lax included.  That seems to work for the most part.  He, however doesn't seem to mind when he's been drinking.  Perhaps I should have added that to my first post.  He is a chronic alcoholic.  Nice person when sober, Mr. Inconsiderate after a couple of drinks.

Jane, I would love to have my own refrigerator, freezer.  There is no room.  Everything is wall to wall right now. My good friend, Karen suggested that too.

Nomoreexcuses, I think I will label the food as "don't eat this you inconsiderate bas**rd".  I also have a hoard of food in my bedroom.  He used to eat my oatmeal and wouldn't even leave enough for me to make a single serving.  Grr!!

ameliaco:  there are just some things that can't be stored without refrigeration.  I guess I don't mind him using the ketchup, except that he doesn't replace it.  I don't use a lot, but when I want it and it's not there that pisses me off!!  I really don't think that I am confusing him with different color codings.  He seems to be confused with life in general with out any additional labeling.

Oh, gymcoach, you are a person after my own heart.  Brownies made with ex-lax,  spaghetti sauce with a whole tin of cayenne pepper. 

I hate lowering myself to this level of deviousness.  I shouldn't have to.  I have pointed out the neon tags, bought him "regular" food, and asked him not to eat my "tagged" items.  I can only sum this up to the fact that he is an inconsiderate, spoiled, drunk; not giving a shi* about me, and will never change. 

I have a job that starts on Friday.  I am praying that it works out so I can move out of this hell-hole.  Just me and my cat, Babyuggie.  I love her, she depends on me, neither of us need Norm. 

Thanks for the suggestions!  Anyone need a 1/2 century year old female roommate with a stubborn, obnoxious cat, that is serious about becoming healthy?  lol, just kidding.  Will find peace on my own.

As awful as it sounds I agree with gymcoach. I feel that, from what you've said, you've given it a shot. You've tried to reasonably speak to your roommate and asked him not to continue his behaviour. He is continuing his behaviour. He now needs to be taught a lesson as to what his behaviour will get him.

Do the ex-lax brownies or spicy food. Find a way to make something that looks appealing but has tastes he isn't a fan of.

If this doesn't work entirely you may consider upping the ante. Begin splitting up what you cook - this is useful if he doesn't fully get the lesson from your food the 1st time but continues to eat it. Make half what you make the way you want, and then mess with the other half and leave it out for him. I imagine he'll walk by at some point and see you eating the food and assume it's good. Then he'll go for some and be disgusted and wonder how you can eat it. Perhaps problem solved?

*nods*

my roommate was an alcoholic too (i guess - i mean, she went through 1 or 2 bottles of liquor per day - i'd call that alcoholic)

unfortunately, there's really nothing that will make a difference to a drunk person - their brains don't really work properly

i am so, so, so, so glad that i don't live with her any more

There could be a couple of different issues going on. There's one sophmoric mindset that thinks it's funny to eat other people's food and the more frustrated you get, the funnier it is to them.  Then there's the other where when they're drunk they just don't care at all.

I'd basically put a label on it that says it's something that he doesn't like.  No one in their right mind is going to try munching on Sourkraut/pickled beets, etc. no matter how drunk they are.  It means you have to make your labels in code, you might also have to make a batch of sourkraut to teach the lesson once or twice.

While spiking the food is so very tempting, it can also be dangerous.  Laxatives can kill when used improperly and drunken binges are an improper use of laxatives.

Start making Szechuan with full spice power if you like it and see if there's a difference or full garlic if you like it.

Original Post by nomoreexcuses:

*nods*

my roommate was an alcoholic too (i guess - i mean, she went through 1 or 2 bottles of liquor per day - i'd call that alcoholic)

Yes, I think a bottle or 2 of liquor a day qualifies as an alcoholic.

To the OP - do you ever catch your roommate in the act, or is always at night?

My only idea is to baby-proof the freezer (that exists, right?) when you go to bed - if he's drunk, he won't be able to figure it out. Then in the morning, un-baby-proof it. If he complains, say that he's acting like a child eating your food, and so you are going to have to treat him like one.

If he's alcoholic, I would suggest stealing his alcohol. Each time he messes with your food, you find all his alcohol and pour it down the drain (after a glass for yourself, if it's quality stuff and you're so inclined!) If he always gets his own alcohol in a way that makes this impossible, like if he comes home drunk from the bars, take his toiletries, or kidnap his shoes, or otherwise mightily inconvenience his life.

I bet he'd stop messing with your food right quick. Good luck!

Original Post by werethylacine:

If he's alcoholic, I would suggest stealing his alcohol. Each time he messes with your food, you find all his alcohol and pour it down the drain (after a glass for yourself, if it's quality stuff and you're so inclined!) If he always gets his own alcohol in a way that makes this impossible, like if he comes home drunk from the bars, take his toiletries, or kidnap his shoes, or otherwise mightily inconvenience his life.

I bet he'd stop messing with your food right quick. Good luck!

I'm liking both the babyproofing idea and the kidnapping of stuff.  I know you can toddler proof stuff and you can most likely buy a lock for the freezer with adhesive hasps.

Original Post by smwhipple:

Original Post by werethylacine:

If he's alcoholic, I would suggest stealing his alcohol. Each time he messes with your food, you find all his alcohol and pour it down the drain (after a glass for yourself, if it's quality stuff and you're so inclined!) If he always gets his own alcohol in a way that makes this impossible, like if he comes home drunk from the bars, take his toiletries, or kidnap his shoes, or otherwise mightily inconvenience his life.

I bet he'd stop messing with your food right quick. Good luck!

I'm liking both the babyproofing idea and the kidnapping of stuff.  I know you can toddler proof stuff and you can most likely buy a lock for the freezer with adhesive hasps.

very passive aggressive...

could escalate if he doesn't get the hint and then retaliates as well...

could make a good movie of the week tv plot  :)

good luck with your situation!

Hmmm...better stick to babyproofing then.  If you can explain the situation when he's sober and get his buy in, then perhaps a combination lock or get him to agree to pay you for the food that he eats.

Is this just a roommate, or a seperated husband that lives with you, or a family member like a son or brother?

Because if this was me, and someone who wasn't family was being so bloody disrespectful of me and my property, you can bet I would have snapped and poisoned them with tons of foul tasting things by now. I'm talking things that are covered in pickle juice and TONS of salt, or colored so they look tasty, but aren't (thinking red food coloring for spaghetti sauce when it's really like, ranch dressing and gravy).

I don't know, I'd be at my wits' end too...I think you should forgo all this bull-tocky and just move out if possible!

I liked the idea about a tv sitcom.  I'll call it "living with stupid".  I did confront him this morning about the food he left in the microwave.  He said he didn't remember.  That's a typical response from him.  There's a lot of things he doesn't remember; breaking my towel bar in the bathroom, using my toilet and leaving "evidence".  That's just a couple.

My best option is to start looking now for a new place to live.  Nasuoni, no, he's not an ex anything.  But I know why he has an ex of his own.  I'd have left him as well if I was married to him.  As far as the alcoholic goes; he's had 6 DUI's, and right now is going through treatment.  His last DUI he was riding a bicycle!!!  He claims that he doesn't have a problem and is upset that he has to go for this treatment.  Denial, I know.  The hard part is he's a pretty decent guy when he's sober.  He doesn't go to work drunk (hung-over a time or two).  His family has asked me about his habits; they know what he does.  His mother even gave me her phone number if I had problems with him.   I'm afraid to rock the boat until I know I have another shore to swim to!!

Start charging him for the food, at least double what it costs you to make it or enough to hurt...put a price tag on each item, you know what's in the freezer, so you'll know what's been taken.