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About a year ago I moved into my partner’s apartment. It’s only a small place, but we are very happy together – there are a lot of financial advantages to moving in together! I knew it would be a big change of lifestyle, but nothing can really prepare you for exactly how it is going to be.
I thought I would share with you a few things which I think you should consider if you are thinking about moving in with your loved one.
Photo Credit: www.dompedro.com
Things will feel very different, very quickly
Before you live together, you arrange to see each other at a time to suit you both. This probably means that you put a lot of effort into getting yourself ready and looking your best. Unless you are staying over for the night, you don’t really see each other first thing in the morning, bleary eyed and a bit smelly. This instantly changes when you move in together. Yes, it’s true that some of the romance goes as bad habits surface, but it turns into a different kind of relationship and you’ll soon be able to see whether you’ll be able to stand the test of time.
You need to make it known where you stand
Just because you are moving in together, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are engaged. You need to communicate and be clear with each other where you stand. It’s unfair for one side of the couple to get the wrong idea about how serious things are now you are living under the same roof.
You may have to get rid of some of your stuff
If, like me, you have to move into a smallish flat or house, then you will need to find space for both your own and your partner’s belongings. This can be quite difficult and you may find that you need to get rid of some stuff and compromise on what you need to keep. Luckily, I managed to sell a lot of my stuff online when I moved into my partner’s place last year, which made me some extra cash. Craigslist is also a great option! It is worth sitting down together, making a list of everything you own and working out what you want to keep and what you are willing to get rid of.
You become a working partnership
Most importantly, living together is about compromise. It’s unfair to leave your partner to do all of the housework and you do nothing in return and this will lead to growing tensions and rows in the future. So if, for example, you aren’t a fan of doing the washing up but don’t mind vacuuming, then you can split these responsibilities. Equally, try splitting out the cooking responsibilities, or if your partner cooks more than you then try to make up for it by doing other things. By doing an equal amount of chores around the house, you’ll find that you will be able to live together in (relatively) perfect harmony!
