Roommate Won't Contribute to Shared Household Supplies

The Problem: You buy the toilet paper. You buy the washing-up liquid. You buy the bin bags, the kitchen roll, the light bulbs. Your roommate uses all of these things but never seems to be the one restocking. Sound familiar?

This is the 'tragedy of the commons' in microcosm. When no one is explicitly responsible for buying shared supplies, the most conscientious person ends up paying for everything — and building resentment.

The Solution: Create a household supplies fund. Everyone contributes a fixed amount per month (e.g., £15-25) into a shared pool. One person is responsible for buying supplies from this fund and keeping receipts.

Alternatively, set up a rotation. Each roommate is 'on duty' for supplies for one week per month. They buy everything needed that week and submit the receipt for equal splitting. HomeCo tracks this automatically.

For items that run out unpredictably, keep a shared shopping list visible in the kitchen (or in HomeCo's shared list feature). When the last person uses something, they add it to the list. The next shopper buys it.

Address the pattern directly if someone consistently avoids contributing. 'Hey, I've noticed I've been buying most of the shared supplies lately. Can we set up a proper system so it's fair?' is reasonable and non-confrontational.

The key is making the system visible and automatic. When contributions are tracked in HomeCo, there's no room for 'I thought I paid last time' — the data speaks for itself.

Try HomeCo for Free

Download HomeCo today — the free app that makes living with roommates actually work. Track shared expenses, manage chores, set house rules, and keep everyone on the same page. Available on iOS and Android.