How To Mooch Off Your Friends (Politely!)

Say something like, "is it okay if I stay here tonight?" Don't assume. Be willing to make an alternate plan, if needed. If you have several friends in the area, try to spend just one or two days at each place at a time - take turns.

Wash dishes. Clean off the bathroom sink. Take out the trash. Feed the dog. Do something productive to earn your keep. It doesn't have to be fancy, any little thing will be noticed and appreciated.

Part 2 - Be sure to NOTICE if your host actually ASKS you to do something (ie: will you wash up these dishes after supper?) and be sure to do it! (cheerfully, too!)

Make the bed. Tidy the bathroom. Keep your stuff put away in your box or backpack or whatever you have. Unless you and the pals have already discussed the idea of you staying on for a longer time, keep acting like you remember you are a temporary guest and that you'll be leaving soon.

If you are at the point of needing to mooch off your friends, they are going to be concerned you are not getting enough to eat, or the best kinds of healthy foods to eat (and they are probably right, you probably aren't). Therefore, when they offer you scrambled eggs (protein!) in the morning or a piece of fruit (vitamins!), say thanks and eat it right up. You are already using their heat or air conditioning, you are already sleeping in their bed, you are already using their water for flushing the toilet, and it's fine to eat their food, too. They would not offer if they did not want you to have it.

Keep in mind that "eat the food they offer" is completely different from sneaking through cabinets or the fridge and helping yourself to whatever you find.

I'm just sayin'.

:-)

Play with the little kids and be friendly. Most likely they are excited to have someone new in the house and they are probably mostly clueless that something must be going off-track in your life, that has resulted in your situation of needing to stay there. All they see is - fun! Depending on their age, there is often nothing productive to be gained by sharing the details of your situation with them.

Support the family in the values they are teaching. If you know the family doesn't do drugs, then don't tell tales about your exploits. If you know the family values education, don't make it sound like dropping out of school is a great thing to do. If you know the family is trying to teach a good work ethic, don't brag about being a slacker.

There are many kinds of medications that people might use on a regular basis. These include mental health meds or prenatal vitamins or thyroid medicine or insulin or whatever it is you need. If you get sick, that's not going to help anything.

If everyone else is headed out to work or school, you should be, too. You might be going to look for a job, or apply at school, or attend classes, or make the rounds of welfare offices or mental health appointments, or just stroll in the park and look at birds while you figure out the next step in your life. Whatever, it's fine, just be gone. That way your friends won't become resentful that you get to lay around in your jammies watching TV or gaming while they are out working to support your lazy self.