I wish I had some guidance in my life when I started rooming with someone that wasn’t a family member, to tell me about some of the issues you might have when you live with someone who isn’t going to be as forgiving as your big sister when it comes to things like using the last of the peanut butter or milk. I think the hardest thing to do is establish rules or boundaries with your roommate. Friend or stranger it must be done. I think the biggest issue that I have had would be FOOD. You need that mess to survive to it seems to be the most issue inducing subject. Here are some things that I have tried:
- Label EVERYTHING that belongs to you. Not specifically every individual Pringle… Basically, if you didn’t buy it don’t even think of touching it!
- Trade the purchases of the important items such and toilet paper, butter, milk, eggs, ex… Johnny paid for paper towel last week so now it’s your turn Betty!
- Everything but the last: this means everything is free game up until the last serving. this method is pretty nice if you’re ok with sharing. as long as the person who actually bought the milk gets the last cup or bowl of cereal… all is good.
Unfortunately all of these options came with some kind of consequence. Labels would fall off food and trust issues arise when your living with friends -Crippling your friendship! Silly as it all sounds, trading purchases become an issue because some roomies buy the 4 pack on their turn while others were getting the 24 pack of toilet paper. Lame. So far, the one that’s been the nicest as long as it wasn’t taken advantage of would be the “don’t take the last” method. The only time war starts is if that last Banana vanishes in someone but the buyers mouth!
It takes a little bit of all of these methods to keep respect and trust and from starving to make living with roommates and sharing or not sharing food successful.
Roommates: Sometimes you can’t live with them and sometimes you can’t live without them.
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