Moving in with your partner is exciting. Plus, it’s a step in the right direction for a healthy relationship. The journey will be both thrilling and stressful. Where will you go if you get into an argument and who will do what household chore? Here are a few tips and things to consider before making the big step of sharing an abode.
1. Set Boundaries
Before you reside in close quarters, you need to establish boundaries. Make sure that you stipulate who is paying for what and how often you should check in with each other. Also, make sure you set aside time for friends. By establishing these guidelines before the big move, you can avoid arguments later. Communication is the key to making any relationship work.
2. Consider The ‘What If’s’
You don’t want to think about your relationship failing, but moving in together will make or break you. What will you do if your relationship comes to an end? You should have a plan on how to handle things like joint checking accounts and pets. It’s not a bad idea to have a legal contract to protect you if and when something should happen.
3. Understand Common Values
Make sure that you and your partner have similar goals for moving in together. Some people take this step as seriously as they do a marriage, while others tend to act lightly about it. Each person is different, so you need to know what this act means to your significant other. Is this a way to speed up tying the knot? Remember, there are many ramifications if you get loans and sign a lease together, so you need to know the other party’s intention.
4. Are You Ready for An Around-the-Clock relationship?
When you share a living space, you are forced to spend a great deal of time together. You can’t stay for three days and then go back home. Your partner’s habits will become a significant concern. If you are a tidy person that likes everything in its place and the other person is a slob, then it could become a major conflict. It’s essential to know every detail about the other person before moving in together. Small things during dates can become significant issues when you share a dwelling.
5. Check the Inner Motivations
Lastly, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement over sharing a space. It’s a new stage in your life that is probably long overdue. Make sure that you’re moving in together for the right reasons. Is one of you on the rebound? Does one person have a fear of being by themselves, and they need someone to fill their empty space? Make sure that your intentions are rooted in growth and not fear. You want the relationship to work, and for things to go according to the plan, you need to make sure you are in it for the right reasons.
