My PIL stole my vegetables...

[hamandpease]

I’ve name changed for this as it’s a little identifying as I’ve mentioned it to a few people yesterday....

My parents in law have been staying with us for a few days and left yesterday once the snow had calmed down to head back down south. For context my parents in law are lovely and wonderful and nothing like some of the nightmares I read about in here so this is somewhat lighthearted...

Every time they visit whatever they buy, they take home if it hasn’t been used. I would sort of understand if we were talking something expensive and unopened they we were not going to eat (eg lobster???) but we are talking the dregs of drinks and stuff that is open!!

For context they are very generous at Christmas / birthdays etc and are in no way tight or hard up (although paying the bill at restaurants is always a bit awkward and they don’t pick it up, so I pick it up to pay no problem, but then they insist they are paying, it’s always a bit of an interesting pass the bill around dance). There are no issues with disposable income on either side, everyone is comfortable in this.

But when it comes to the fridge if they’ve put it in there they’re taking it with them.

This week we took them out to dinner, they picked up some bits and bobs from the shops the next day. Before leaving I heard them ask my DH ‘are you going to drink this’ re the flavoured water and he replied yes don’t worry it won’t go to waste’, and ‘are you going to use these’ re three lonely carrots and he replied ‘Yes I’m sure they’ll go in something’. Once they’d gone DH went to the fridge a little later and my mother in law has TAKEN THE PEACH WATER AND THREE CARROTS!!!!

This isn’t an issue about not liking waste, they weren't going to waste! But because they bought them they took them!!!

AIBU to think this is crazy?!

Essentially, they took their watermelon for a holiday.

I don't think they're being tight, I think they're tidying up after themselves.

I agree they think they are being tidy and making sure the veg isn't wasted or occupying space in your fridge.
We have the opposite with very generous ILs, as when we leave theirs they try to force everything they possibly can from the fridge and cupboards on us, especially when 'we got it special for you'. Nothing is going to stop them hoarding so taking a carful away and stocking up our local food bank and charity shop is the best answer.

My PIL do this, but expect to keep anything we take to their house! They are very wealthy too so it makes no sense!

My elderly mother can’t rest until she has packaged up all the almost empty tubs of hummus, half a pot of cream, 2 tablespoons of leftover mashed potato for me to take home on my 150 mile drive.

Anything we have eaten while I’m there she wants me to take the leftovers from.

I put it down to second generation of those who lived with rationing.

Leftovers are serious currency!

Send them a carrot in the post with a note saying 'you forgot one'..

Oh please do this!

I had it from the other angle. Visited brother and sil few years ago. Virtually no food in the fridge. Dh opened the fridge and his first reaction was - it’s the booze fridge, where’s the food fridge? Not that there was much booze (doesn’t last long there). Luckily knowing what they’re like, I took supplies. We brought 2 bottles wine and paid for a meal out. Dh got a ham sandwich and sil complained because brother and dh ate the entire pack of ham. Dd got eggs and some toast when I finally found some bread in the freezer. I fed myself with my own food. Darn fucking right I’d have taken anything uneaten under those circs but I don’t think there was!

Thanks everyone, think I'm over it now

I'm glad you're at peas with it now, OP.