Deciding to move in together with your partner is an exciting new life stage – it marks a solid commitment between you and the person you love, and it’s a new chapter that will hopefully make your relationship even stronger.
There are also lots of practical advantages to living together: you don’t have to make as much effort to spend quality time together, such as by travelling between two living spaces. You can also save money by sharing expenses such as rent, groceries, electricity and household equipment between two people.
Despite these advantages, moving in together can also be a stressful time. Everyone has their own preferences and style of doing things, which can be especially clear if you’re used to living alone and doing things your own way without ever having to compromise. With this in mind, here’s our advice on making the transition to co-habitation as smooth as possible:
1. Where will you move? Will you move in to your partner’s place (or vice versa) or will you find somewhere new to move into together? This depends on your personal circumstances…perhaps you both want a fresh start and the opportunity to build a new home together, or maybe your partner has the perfect pad that would suit both of you.
2. Discuss your expectations beforehand. Do you expect household chores to be shared 50/50? Do you like home cooked meals every night, and if so, who will make them? Do you love entertaining at your home while your partner prefers to keep his or her own company?
3. Be prepared to compromise. Perhaps you like your house perfectly neat at all times, while your partner is a little less rigid in terms of picking clothes up off the floor. Or, maybe you like to do washing every day while your partner is happy with only once a week. Whatever your preferences, it’s unlikely that you’ll be living with someone who does things exactly as you do. Decide what’s important to you and be prepared to compromise on the rest.
4. Open a shared bank account. Since your expenses will now be shared, a shared bank account is the easiest way of keeping track of money for household expenses. Even if one of you is paying proportionately more or less than the other, a shared bank account is a great way of keeping track of what expenses are going in and out each month.
5. Do an audit of your possessions. No one needs two washing machines. Or two toasters. Go through the items that may be duplicated and then sell or give away anything you don’t need.
6. Have your own space. Just because you’re living together doesn’t mean you’ll want to be in each other’s personal space all the time. Creating spaces within your new home that are just for your use – such as your own office, or a room that your partner can use as a studio – can be an important way of maintaining your own independence.
7. Keep some parts of your life separate. Maybe you love to go to the gym in the evenings, or perhaps your partner loves catching up with their school friends regularly. Whatever it is, allow your partner the space to do some activities on their own and ensure that you keep your separate interests too. Besides allowing each other to do the things you love, spending time away from your partner also keeps things fresh and exciting.
Moving in with your partner can signal an exciting new chapter in your relationship. Enjoy every moment!
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.
