AITA for refusing to pay for the groceries I took home after a trip with friends?

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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:

I think I might be the asshole because my friends want me to pay for groceries I took home after a trip and I don't want to. I refused because it's absurd.

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Contest mode is 1.5 hours long on this post.

NTA the deal was food split 5 ways. Each person had the opportunity to take from the communal pile of food and chose what they wanted. It wasn't stated "take what you are willing to pay for", because if that were the case, you all would have left all the food. You also didn't mow people over to take the food before anyone else took it. S is trying to stick you with the bill. The entirety should be split 5 ways.

NTA. If you hadn't taken them, they would have been disposed of. Therefore, FREE to whomever wanted to go through the hassle of packing them up and transporting them home. As you said, anyone else could have done it, BUT THEY DIDN'T.

NTA. "I threw all the extra stuff away" is the correct answer if you're approached with this style of interrogation.

Wait, there was no discussion of food and costs before this trip?

He just brought this food, and you walked away from this trip with $100 of food and contributed zero towards?

Nickel and diming over what’s probably going to amount to a $20 per person difference for a 3 day trip at 30 years old seems exhausting. I would still say NTA but somewhat understand if everyone was still broke college students. But being a group of fully grown adults with enough money to go on holiday and fighting over $20 seems like a sure fire way to never do this again

EDIT: NTA. OP said they have not split the bills yet, but that was the agreement in place when they made arraignments, it should be the way things are split still. All bills combined split 5 ways. The friend asking for the money is now looking for additional compensation from OP based on food that was going to be left behind to be thrown away by the rental host.

INFO: Was there any discussion of groceries being split before the trip? The drinks are a non-issue IMO.

Did you specifically ask the person that bought the groceries "Are you just leaving this here? You don't want any of it?" If you had, and he said no, I'd vote N T A. If it was ambiguous, I could see a case of E S H because he was just going to waste it until someone offered money, then decided he wanted money for it in a line-by-line itemized list of what you took, and you took it without clarifying what he intended with them. Food isn't cheap. Next time - be clearer on requests and what is happening with things that appear to be getting abandoned.

NTA

You grabbed the groceries that no one else wanted that would have been thrown out that even S didn't want. So now you get taxed for grabbing the leftovers? And only after the fact, that's ridiculous. This reminds me of the dinner at a friends home posts - they get hit with a bill for dinner, afterwards. No discussion before hand.

If S insists on reimbursement, after the lack of communication, I'd tell him that he can have the food.

NTA for taking the excess groceries that would have been thrown out.

It's weird to be asked to pay for them when anyone could have taken them.

Offer the groceries to anyone who wants them; see if anyone takes you up on it this time.  And if not, you could always drop them off at A's place and let him pay the $100.

I would tell him that you only took the food because you didn't want it to go to waste. You didn't need or particularly want the food. If you knew he was going to nickel and dime him for everything, you wouldn't have taken it. I would suggest you pay for it, because presumably you did ultimately consume it, but make it clear that you didn't appreciate the way he handled things and that your opinion of him was diminished.

NTA for being annoyed with the situation.

NTA. Whenever we do a group thing anything leftover is up for grabs just so it won’t go to waste.

We don’t chase each other down to pay. Everyone takes what they could use. Some get more than others.

NTA. There should have been a discussion on cost/person for groceries if he intended it to be split between the whole group. Nitpicking expenses after the fact isn't productive. If the organizer says it'll cost x per person and someone does something outside the agreement like getting groceries, either he can ask everyone to chip in at the time or he takes the cost himself. Asking you to pay for what you took home is a mess. 

If the guy who originally bought the groceries had already left, and he had left the groceries behind, then they were free for anyone to take. If that other guy wants to pay some money that's up to him, but you do not have to pay.

They want you to pay them for cleaning up and taking away the extra food?! That’s hilarious. NTA

When the trip was over, a few of them grabbed a couple of things, but left most of the leftovers behind.

I was the last one to leave and took what was left so it wouldn't go to waste. We didn't discuss it beyond: "Anyone want these things?"

NTA. I personally hate getting stuck with all of the leftovers from a get-together of some kind, but it happens. If someone wanted me to pay for them after i got stuck with them, i'd refuse and probably make a point of never getting stuck taking care of the leftovers again.

NTA. Sounds like you've been perfectly reasonable.

Split everything 5 ways. Leftovers are fair game for everyone to share. No one else wanted them.

NTA - It's not like you grabbed the remaining food and bolted out the door. If you hadn't taken it then it would have gone to waste.

I don't imagine it would have gone over well if you'd just left the extras and suggested that you're only paying for what you ate rather than what was purchased.

NTA most rental places specifically say not to leave any food. You probably saved everyone extra cleaning charges by taking it

Pack up the food and deliver it to his house.

NTA...Tell him to come pick it up. Tell him to name the items he wants you to replace. Offer anything that's not cash and see if he's still interested.

NTA

I go on trips all the time with groups. You split the cost of the groceries. Since everyone had the option to take something home, it is all good. You actually did a favor by cleaning out the fridge. If he wants you to pay for groceries, you tell him you want $50 cleaning fee for clearing out the fridge

The only time people have not split groceries when I've gone somewhere is when people buy their own alcholic beverages (some people don't drink and others go through a $100 bottle of bourbon). In that case, people buy their own and take it home.

NTA. Pay 1/5th the original. Everything taken home is just preventing waste.

NTA

The fact that the other 4 left that food behind means it essentially has $0 value to them. So your contribution towards that food would be 1/5 of $0.

If 4 of the guys ate $50 worth of a $500 grocery bill each ($200), and 1 guy ate $300 meaning there was no food to be taken home by anyone, were they going to assign cost based on who ate what or a flat 1/5 of the total?

This sounds like a very American story, where food establishments would rather throw away viable food at the end of the day than let someone have it for free (like the homeless). NTA.

NTA

None of this was discussed beforehand, we just assumed we'd split the costs 5-ways since that's what we've done in the past.

This is a reasonable assumption if you've taken similar trips with this group before.

We didn't discuss it beyond: "Anyone want these things?"

Of course not

It's really not a lot of money, but I'm annoyed at the request

As you should be

another friend (let's call him A) offered to pay for a few things he took home.  ... I accidentally broke the host's blender (cost ~$80). I offered to pay for it, but friend A insisted we split it.

Sounds like A is very generous, but all of this is outside of what I would say are "normal" trip-sharing expectations. I would say in my friend group you would be expected to cover the cost of the broken blender (because you broke it), but we would split the food 5 ways with no regard for who ended up going home with the extra.

NTA - splitting it 5 ways is fair and what was agreed upon, the leftovers would have been thrown out (or worse, you could have even been charged a higher cleaning fee).

It would be one thing if like left early and took a bunch of stuff with you.

S is just mad that they overbought is just trying to get out of paying a full 1/5. Which is extra shitty because it's really everyone else that is paying for his mistake.

Based on S logic, that would suggest that the food should just always be thrown out and wasted lest anyone owes more. This is the kind of thing that makes it so that next time nobody will trust anyone to go shopping and make everything that much harder.

If everyone agrees with S, though, I would probably just pay it to avoid the drama. But if this is just between you and S, I would emphasize that you only took it because it was going to be thrown away, and that you will be sending the 1/5 you agreed to.

NTA, your friends are weird as fuck. I’d sent my 20% portion and not engage with this nickel and dime bullshit. If someone wants to pay extra, it should be the person who decided to waste money on a bunch of unnecessary extra supplies you didn’t need.

NTA. If all of the unused food was left at the cottage was S planning on sending a bill to the host? I think not! You only owe 1/5 of the total cost.

Bait and switch. You had a 5-way split agreement, your guy S changed the rules unilaterally.

I want to say be a good guy and kick him something extra, but I much more want to say do not reward this bullshit behavior. He will do it again.

Also, info: is money really this tight for the guy? Is that why he's hounding you? You said that you have done the split before. Maybe he was on the beneficial end previously?

NTA

NTA If you left it to waste who would be paying for it? The air?

1/5 split seems fair and what was discussed before hand. If the buyer wanted someone to pay for the extra food they took, they should have taken it.

NTA—they left the food there. If you didn’t take it, into the trash it would go, and no one would be paid shit for shit. One friend offers to pay for what he took and now this guy starts thinking he’s maybe owed money for food he didn’t even want. Whoever bought the food should have first dibs on the extra that wasn’t needed, but if he didn’t want it and just left it, he’s not entitled to payment. He just figured he’d see what additional money he could get out of you because now he probably is starting to regret buying too much food.

You were left with the chore of cleaning up and disposing of the last of the food. You would not have taken most of it had you not been the last to leave.

This is different than shopping through the leftovers for what you specifically wanted!

Explain it like that, and add in that as the last to leave you had to go through the checklist and finish cleaning. You aren't charging for that and shouldn't be charged for what was left behind by everyone!

Nta. I would bring it all to him before I paid for it.

NTA

The groceries were gonna just get tossed. They may as well get tossed into your pantry instead of the trash. I once had a similar group beach trip and no one wanted the half-full bottle of Suntory whiskey that one of the booze snobs brought, so I took it home. That's like a $200 bottle of whiskey and no one felt they could spare room in their car, so I took it.

And you know what? No one ever asked me to cough up $100 for taking home a bottle that was gonna end up in the bin (or more likely a houskeeper's liquor cabinet, lol)

NTA, this is weird. Why not just say you tossed it? If you were last to leave who will know?

Take the leftover food to his place. Be sure to leave it in the sun.

NTA. If you go by your friend's logic, I would also have people write down everything they ate, and have them compensate for that as well. You split the costs of what was bought, and if people felt the leftover food needed to be distributed evenly, they could have spoken up. If he continues to make a big deal out of it, I would pack up all the groceries, buy them new if you have to, and drop them off at his place...problem solved.

NTA. Don’t let him get a money grab. Pay your 5th and be done.

NTA, and quite frankly if it was left and you were the last man out, it’s none of his business that you took the leftovers home. Learn when to play the game and keep your mouth shut. It’s not worth such a petty fight.

NTA, offer to drop them round if they’re worried about the cost.

If not, he can shove it

I used to hang out with a guy who would plan these extravagant meals for guys trips because he liked to cook. He would come with a grocery list, go buy everything, and we’d all chip in. Without fail this man got hammered drunk everytime and never cooked. We would be left at the end of the trip with a mountain of food. He was the only foodie/cook in the group as we were mostly single guys living off pizza at the time so he’d always leave with hundreds of dollars of groceries we paid for. Never agree to purchase food before hand. Boy it as needed. NTA.

NTA - Nah homie, show me the receipt and I’ll throw you 1/5 as discussed. As far as they know, you might have left everything in the fridge.

NTA. In college I went on a beach trip with friends. It was a fend for yourself kind of deal with my plan being to eat out every day. Every pretty much did that but, for some reason some people bought so much food. I took home a whole unopened bag of chicken tenders that one of my friends was just going to throw away. They didn't expect me to pay for it. Its ridiculous to expect someone to pay for something you left behind because you didn't want it.

Let me see if I have this right. So you paid 1/5 of the grocery bill but he also wanted you to pay the full price for stuff you took that you everybody had already paid for?

Was there a cost/fine to leaving anything behind? If so, was that also going to be split 5 ways? NTA. I hate waste. I would’ve done the same.

NTA.

The organizer of the trip (let's call him S) bought everything and the plan was for everyone to pay 1/5 of what he got from the store. Now, he wants us to split everything that was shared, but wants anyone who took something home to pay for that separately

So....if I'm reading this right... he's getting paid twice for the food? Reimbursed for everyone's portion plus the hidden added fee... which would likely cover more than his original 1/5th of the cost therefore he gets out ahead. Dick move.

The agreement was "groceries get split 5 ways", period. What if no one took anything and left it all at the house? Then what??

As you didn't charge the other people a cleaning fee for removing all the items left behind, I think you are in the clear.

NTA

NTA. This dude probably would have trashed the leftovers. Instead he left everything for you to clean up and since you wanted them, he is now trying to capitalize on it. Groceries need to be a shared decision. You can’t just go out and unilaterally decide to buy an excessive amount of food and expect people to pay you for it.

NTA

It needs to be split five ways. Nit picking details and cost to death like this, that ruins relationships--family, friends, partners. He can't go back on the original arrangement because he suddenly thinks he can get extra for it.

NTA. This is crazy to me. So if you had overeaten during the trip leaving no left overs then you wouldn’t have to pay any extra? Or if you decided not to take the leftovers home but put them in the trash, you still wouldn’t have had to pay extra?

NTA, “everyone is welcome to come get 1/5 of what I took home”

NTA

There is some merit in just saying that when you cleaned the fridge... as the last to leave... you disposed of it as you assumed that no one else wanted it.... because no one else took as they left.

Doesn't matter that disposing of it means that you took it home and ate it.

Never let this type of guy be the group accountant. NTA.

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My friends and I (5xM30's) all took a long weekend trip together to a cottage rental. One of the guys went to the grocery store and bought more food than we needed. When the trip was over, a few of them grabbed a couple of things, but left most of the leftovers behind.

Basically, eggs, fruit, bottled drinks, frozen stuff, etc. Maybe $100 total.

I was the last one to leave and took what was left so it wouldn't go to waste. We didn't discuss it beyond: "Anyone want these things?"

I assumed we would split the cost of everything 5 ways. The organizer of the trip (let's call him S) is now asking me to pay 100% of the cost for all the groceries I took home.

S started by asking me what I took home from the trip in detail, then I asked him why he was asking, he said it was for accounting purposes since another friend (let's call him A) offered to pay for a few things he took home.

It's really not a lot of money, but I'm annoyed at the request, since it wasn't discussed beforehand and my only intention was to use the food instead of throwing it away.

Sidenote: I don't know if this is of consequence or not, but also on the trip I accidentally broke the host's blender (cost ~$80). I offered to pay for it, but friend A insisted we split it. I also got everyone a round of drinks (~$60) one night out.

I don't mind being a little generous here and there, but I told him it's one thing for someone to make an offer like that, it's something else entirely to ask them for money.

AITA?

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NTA Unless you specifically asked for certain items to be purchased, this should be a 5 way split. As to what you took home, tell your friend he is welcome to come by and pick up the leftover stuff from you and you will gladly waive the storage and cleaning fee (for clearing out the items left behind). Yes, I am that petty. And also, never travel with this friend again.

NTA.

So basically the option was let it go to waste and everyone split it evenly, or you pay more because you didn't throw out food?

That is ridiculous.

NTA If you already paid your 5th of the cost, then you have a right to the food as much as he does. He already got back his money from you guys so he really hasn’t paid for all of it just his share. If he didn’t want to take anything home, that’s his problem, not yours and he shouldn’t try to make a profit from this. If you can’t exactly split it 5 ways, then leaving it to spoil is worse than just letting the guys who paid their share take it home. Really, he’s the AH not you.

NTA. If no one else took that food home it would have gone in the trash. Your friend wants you to pay for trash. 

NTA - how is everyone going to remember exactly what they shared and how much of the things they shared, they ate. That's too much trouble. I suggest you keep to the 1/5th this trip and say next time people should just buy for themselves.

NTA. This guy is a fucking asshole. You took the stuff home bc if you didn't, it would've gone to waste. If you knew you were going to be charged for it, you probably wouldn't have taken it. You absolutely should split everything 5 ways evenly. It's not based on what was shared or what was taken home that was left behind. That's absurd. Your friend is just looking for a way to get all of his money back.

INFO: If you were the last one to leave, how did everyone know you took it home? Did you tell them?

NTA- everyone already paid at the time of purchase so he would be double charging. EVERYONE could have taken some of what was left, since they paid for it. Separately tell A, he doesn’t owe anything more, additional for leftovers. The tell both in a group convo the same. This should shut S down for double charging. If S wanted food he should have taken it. But to try to charge afterwards is petty. Personally, I would reiterate about the blender, by saying please have the host contact me if he wants to pursue the blender replacement.

NTA. Dude sounds not cool.

Just say you're happy to return anything unopened to him

Just say you're happy to return anything unopened to him, he can come pick it up and then problem solved 

Nta. Who would have paid for the groceries if no one took them and just left them there to rot. The appropriate split is 5 ways as agreed.

NTA, and now you know who not to task with buying the groceries next trip.

From what you've shared, it sounds like there was a misunderstanding about how leftover groceries would be handled. Your main intention was to prevent waste, which is admirable. However, your friend S seems to be handling things more formally, possibly because another friend, A, set a precedent by offering to pay for what he took home.

Your frustration is understandable given that the plan to split everything 5-ways was not explicitly changed during the trip. Communication seems to be the key issue here.

To address this, it might help to have a calm and honest conversation with S. Explain your perspective, emphasizing that you took the leftovers to avoid waste, not to get free groceries. You can acknowledge the misunderstanding and suggest that, moving forward, clear agreements should be made about how to handle leftover groceries and other shared expenses.

Based on what you've described, it doesn't seem like you're the asshole here. You acted based on what you believed was the agreed-upon plan, and your intentions were good. However, for the sake of maintaining good relationships with your friends, a little extra communication and understanding could go a long way.

NTA. He’s changing the agreement after the fact. You guys all need to split the costs 5 ways. You all assume responsibility for cost of excess food (assuming S bought what was agreed). You taking it home was to prevent wastage, if other people had wanted to take it, they could have. Basically, by letting you take it, they were gifting you their food.

I don't think you should have split the cost of the blender. You should have insisted you pay for it. They're also being ridiculous about the food.

NTA. Pay as agreed (even 5 way split) drop all the leftovers at the buyers house if he’s so upset about this. If you hadn’t of picked them up they would’ve just been binned or even worse a cleaning fee applied for leaving rubbish. Why is he so salty that you’ve got the most? When it literally was not your fault as you were last to leave?

NTA.  Though depending on how the friend dynamics go, you just have to deal with the consequences if they happen.  

What?! So strange. Just bag up the leftovers and put it on his porch. He can split the cost with his dog that he feeds it to.

Although you're NTA because you took things that were going to go to waste, if it isn't a lot of money, is it worth a friendship to argue over? You aren't really out anything because you've got the groceries.

NTA, but you alone should have paid for the blender.

NTA. Had a similar trip with friends. Told them not to buy extra food because me a two other guy already got food. they said it wasn't enough. Queue the morning we are leaving to have to junk 90% of what they bought.

NTA. You discussed splitting five ways, everyone could have taken food, and you took it so it wouldn't just go in the trash.

I would not pay anything more than the 1/5 and if they refuse to send you the amount, tell them thanks for paying for everything.

I would not travel with these people again.

NTA. He wants you to pay twice for food that was going to be left behind anyway. You don’t owe him anything. He’s trying to get blood from a turnip.

nta, he doesnt get to get paid twice for the shopping

Send him back an invoice for cleaning the fridge that's greater than the grocery cost compared to the cleaning fees. Then tell him don't worry about it cause your a cool and you can just call it even.

The costs of groceries are split evenly, but since you took some home S asks you to pay more. If everyone pitched in evenly, why do you need to pay on top of the even split? Then, S makes a profit from the grocery tab.

NTA you had an agreement. What a money grubbing jerk your mate is

If everybody was asked you pay 1/5 of the food bill has everyone already paid their share if so then the food was already bought and paid for he shouldn't be asking for more money that's just ludicrous

NTA ask him for disposal fee

NTA. I hope this is the last time you go anywhere with that dude

NTA.

I probably would have venmo'd the five or six bucks and made a mental note to never share expenses with him again.

Indeed, I'm so petty, I'd likely cut off his friendship....gradually.

So he wants more than 100% of payment? 

If you each pay a fifth that is 100%. The items are paid for at that point. Why should he make money off of you not wanting to throw something in the garbage? Or am I misunderstanding because that is absolute batshit crazy so I'm having a hard time grasping that somebody would be like yeah you all paid 100% of the grocery bill but I want you to pay me even more because you didn't throw them in the garbage!

It seams like you would be being paying for the same food twice.

NTA. How many times are you supposed to pay for the same groceries?

NTA, friend sounds broke

Nta. If you didn't take the food with you it would have been tossed. Split it 5 ways as previously agreed.

Uf

I’d tell him you’re happy to put the groceries aside for him to come pick up. Before they spoil. Since no one seemed to want them.

I'd have asked my buddy if he was in need of some extra $. If not then why are you trying to steal some?

Nta but you should pay full cost of the blender replacement and you buying drinks is completely irrelevant and has nothing to do with the story or something to hold over anyone's head

Nta. Friend S, is shady. Especially if the 1/5th, wasn't discussed into this mix.

If he asked anyone what they needed, before he shopped....that's a different story.

NTA. S was free to take it all,do some “accounting” and figure the new five-way costs.

So you were the last one there, thus the one stuck cleaning out the cabin, and took home the leftovers?

NTA.

NTA

I’d say cough up anyway for the sake of the friendship, but if you only took stuff that would have gone to waste otherwise then asking you to pay is akin to trying to scam you.

NTA, but you broke the blender. Just say "sure, whatever" and venmo him $20. Your friend sounds exhausting. Rise above. You won't regret it. 

NTA this should have been discussed before hand, especially if in the past things were paid differently. I’m sure if you were made aware this was the case you wouldn’t have the leftover food.

YTA, you got a lot more than was supposed to be split. Just pay for what you got.

NTA. sounds like S tried to set A's offer as precedent and wanted to see if you'd pay up lol just pay the 1/5th y'all originally agreed on and leave it at that

NTA I would tell S to shove it. They're being ridiculous. It was agreed to split 5 ways so they can't just suddenly decide to change it up. I would send S the $20 for the 5 way split and leave it at that. They can get upset and call you names or whatever and if that's the case, they were never a friend.

NTA. S is trying to double charge for anything that got taken home. Everyone agreed to the 5 way split, so the food is already being paid for. S is entitled and greedy.

NTA you were literally last to leave and lock up the house. I can’t believe they’d get so tight over groceries they completely left behind, especially after a 5-way split

You should have told him, that what was left went in the trash.

NTA - If OP had consumed the extra food during the weekend, that would be OK, but now if he consumes it afterwards, he has to pay extra?

No. It was jointly purchased for the group to consume. OP is part of the group. OP can consume the group's food.

You can't afford to do this stay home. Lol.

Is S like a neurodivergent accountant or something? Cuz that's not how things normally work on group trips...

Like you said, 1/5 for everybody, then at the end, whatever is left is up for grabs so as not to waste...

NTA

NTA, offer to send the food back to him, in the condition it would have been left in the refrigerator to rot. Tell him that frankly, you didn't really need it but you didn't want it to go to waste. So you took it, but you wouldn't have if you realized you were going to be sent a bill. Offer to pay for the blender and tell them to STFU you don't need friends like this. Seriously. Some petty cheap ass dudes right there.

... The $100 was split 5 ways? Your friend is truly being this petty over not wanting to pay a full $20?

NTA

They literally all walked away from it. You saved your group a cleaning deposit lost.

You guys are in your 30s. It's time to start acting like it. I'll buy my buddy's whole family dinner one night and raid his fridge for everything he's got the next. Shouldn't be a transactional experience anymore. Like is he going to ask for gas money next since he physically went to the store? embarrassing.

Nta

OK, let me get this straight. The groceries were all split by the five of you so on top of that he wants the people to pay for what was taken home so now you’re paying double for the groceries. Is that right??? if that is right that is a huge hard hell no !!!

NTA if splitting costs 5ways discussed and agreed upon before&during the stay.

NTA. If it had gone to waste, who would've paid for it then?

This shit isn't difficult. How some of you fuck it up is wild. S bought groceries. What was shared was split five ways. The rest is to be paid for by whoever took it. To give you a clear example:

Groceries = 500

Eaten = -350

Leftover = 150

 Everyone pays 70.

A takes 50 from leftovers, and pays 50 more. 

S is trying to get out of paying for the extra 100 they took.

Sorry, but just fucking pay up. YTA.

NTA

Just tell him you didn't take anything, that you threw it away to avoid a cleaning fee.

NTA

You offered to pay for the drinks so that has nothing to do with the post and should have been left out. You broke the blender and should have just paid for it instead of only offering to pay for it. Offering was weak as it means you really don’t want to but if the owner is going to make you then you will. It puts the onus on the owner instead of on you, where it belongs.

As far as the groceries go, at best you should only have to pay 1/5 but really you should only have to pay for what you ate on the trip. It doesn’t sound like your friend asked anyone before buying groceries but just bought a bunch and dictated what everyone would pay after the fact. Now he’s trying to do the same with what people took home, again after the fact. He needs to get agreement beforehand if he expects to get paid.

NTA

The group's standard process was to split the shopping bill 5 ways, you didn't jump on the leftovers and claim them you cleared out the fridge at the end of the trip, S doesn't get to change the process after the fact particularly if he purchased significantly more than was needed/usually purchased and was just gonna leave it behind. However disusing money has a habit of ending poorly and the blender incident may get thrown in your face if you bring up the uneven split of the grocery bill so be sure that you want pursue this issue.

NTA 

I am petty enough to send a photo of the food being dropped off in the donation box outside a church. 

You guys are too old to be splitting hairs over a couple of bucks.

NTA

NTA…Honestly, friend is being the a$$. It was going to be tossed because nobody wanted it. Your “friend” should be grateful it was claimed and not get tossed in the trash.

Hold on a minute, you all agreed to share the food costs equally. So he got that money back. And now he is looking extra on top of what your fair share was? So he basically gets paid twice? And not only off you, as the other friend offered to pay him extra again, too? Man, he has you all twisted. Do the math. He ends up paying nothing for his part as he gets a 5th of everyone plus extra off you and the other friend. Nope, NTA. He is

NTA Next time just toss it in the trash my goodness.

NTA, the minute the grocery buyer left without taking any leftover food, he was absolved of responsibility of the items left behind and owed $zero from that moment on for any more than the fifth that was arranged in advance. You don't owe any extra. What a cheek of them to ask for money for that.

NTA you're all 30 years old. This is some college age immature stuff.

Split total cost 5 ways and be done with it.

If he kept pushing the subject, I'd tell him look I'll throw it away, and you can pay me for disposing of the trash, then.

NTA it was leftovers not things you asked for.