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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Leftover takeaway wars

143 replies

mrsm43s · 22/05/2025 14:28

This really is lighthearted! And I'm going to use the annoying Person A/Person B despite it be absolutely clear which one I am (and that I'm obviously in the right).

Happily married couple get an Indian Takeaway for a rare treat.

Person A orders Chicken Bhuna*
Person B orders Lamb Dhansak*
Then they order a rice, a naan and a side to share.

Person A eats all the Chicken Bhuna, half the rice, half a naan and half the side.
Person B eats half the Lamb Dhansak, skips rice, half of the naan and spoonful of side dish.

Remaining is half the Lamb Dhansak, half the rice and nearly half of a side dish.

Who gets the leftovers?

Person A thinks they should be split and shared (perhaps with the addition of a bhaji or a samosa from the freezer). "All that I have, I share with you" etc

Person B thinks they are their leftovers, and they make a perfect size meal for one and Person A should keep their mitts off as they ate all their own yesterday.

Who is in the right?

YABU - Person A is right - split the leftovers. Caring is sharing.
YANBU - Person B is right and they are entitled to all of their leftovers.

(* I have changed the names of the dishes so as not to out myself 😂)

OP posts:
MinnieMountain · 22/05/2025 14:31

How is that even a question? Particularly given how tasty curry is the next day. You eat what you ordered.

FortyElephants · 22/05/2025 14:31

Technically person B has moral rights to the leftovers but if my DH and I were going to eat a meal together we would probably do what person A suggested.

jimloop · 22/05/2025 14:34

I would (and do) mix all leftovers into one big pot and share evenly

toastofthetown · 22/05/2025 14:35

When we have a leftover takeaway like that, we pad it out with extra rice or parathas and share it. It’s yours so if you want it all that’s fine, but your partner’s not unreasonable to suggest a split.

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 22/05/2025 14:39

Person B

MoserRothOrangeandAlmond · 22/05/2025 14:41

Person B 100% right to their own curry.
person A enjoyed ALL of their curry last night!

murasaki · 22/05/2025 14:41

Person B is right.

SummertimeFeelingFine · 22/05/2025 14:41

Person B!!

I'm grumpy today so this has genuinely infuriated me on your behalf.

JohnMajorsChicken · 22/05/2025 14:42

For sure it's Person B's lunch/ dinner / snack the next day! 😋 🍛

JustShhhhh · 22/05/2025 14:44

Person B if you've each ordered specific things. Person A if it's our household where we just get things to share so we'd both have some of both curries.

I want an indian takeaway now.

Vodkamartini3olives · 22/05/2025 14:46

In our house it would be whoever gets to it 1st. Once it's in the fridge it's fair game.

PollyPJ · 22/05/2025 14:48

Person B of course. I order, already planning my leftover feast

CheerfulYank · 22/05/2025 14:48

Definitely person B, and anyone else who touched it would be the subject of a years long grudge in these parts 🤣

EilishMcCandlish · 22/05/2025 14:51

In the past I would have gone with person B gets it and got slightly irritated if A got there first. Over time though, I have found myself more A. If I ate enough at the first meal, then stretching leftovers to feed A and B at another saves having to cook an alternative. This will sound daft, but stopping feeling 'possessive' about leftovers has been a small part of a journey towards being happier in myself overall .

Side note: I had leftover Chinese for lunch today. Set meal for 3 did about 8 meals of food over the last few days so maybe I am just feeling zen because I got my share this week. 😳

Onedayiwillsomething · 22/05/2025 14:52

I can’t imagine having a curry and not sharing all the dishes. The idea you each have “your own” mains is baffling to me.

SummertimeFeelingFine · 22/05/2025 14:58

I'd gladly share. But not if the other person ate all 'their' food and then thought they could just have mine.

CautiousLurker01 · 22/05/2025 14:59

In our house: Whoever gets to the fridge first to heat them up gets the leftovers. You snooze, you loose.

BirdyBedtime · 22/05/2025 14:59

I can't understand the concept as leftover takeaway is an unthinkable thing in our house (as we have a teen DS), although if they did then I would absolutely be person B

Panda89 · 22/05/2025 14:59

Onedayiwillsomething · 22/05/2025 14:52

I can’t imagine having a curry and not sharing all the dishes. The idea you each have “your own” mains is baffling to me.

I love spicy food and DH eats korma so we absolutely do not share!

Re leftovers, I see both sides. I think person B has more right to them but should probably offer to share.

RelaxedOddish · 22/05/2025 15:05

Person B is right.

It's funny how person A thinks B's left overs is enough to share but scoffed double the amount the previous day! If they had eaten half their meal they would have also had some leftovers to enjoy.

Growlybear83 · 22/05/2025 15:07

We’ve always done this on the basis that whoever paid for the takeaway gets any leftovers.

PullTheBricksDown · 22/05/2025 15:09

MoserRothOrangeandAlmond · 22/05/2025 14:41

Person B 100% right to their own curry.
person A enjoyed ALL of their curry last night!

This! Stop snaffling B's food, A

Just reading through all the zen replies about how it's happier and more peaceful if you share and aren't possessive about leftovers and thought 'yep, women's answers'

nomas · 22/05/2025 15:12

Your partner is greedy! They are your leftovers.

nomas · 22/05/2025 15:13

PullTheBricksDown · 22/05/2025 15:09

This! Stop snaffling B's food, A

Just reading through all the zen replies about how it's happier and more peaceful if you share and aren't possessive about leftovers and thought 'yep, women's answers'

Thing is, most men are able to eat more so if leftovers are shared they will usually get to them before the woman.

GloriousGoosebumps · 22/05/2025 15:16

I've got to side with person B. Person A is greedy! Attempting to steal (my) leftovers is a serious character flaw!