Your time to move out has come. Perhaps you’ve grown tired of living with Mom and Dad, or you just got your first job, but if you’re moving out on your own for the first time, you might need some help. Paying rent, groceries, utilities, and any other type of living cost can stretch your wallet pretty thin, but having a roommate can help. However, when you move in with someone, you are committing to a long-term relationship. Many places will require you to sign a yearlong lease. A roommate, or roommates, can make or break your living experience. We here at The What want to help you make that experience a great one. Starting with our first part – picking a roommate.
How do you pick the right one? Start with people you can trust, and who can pay their share - this way you do not need to worry about your stuff, if the utilities will still be on, or if you are going to find a ‘Notice to Vacate’ on your door. If you want someone you can have fun with, make sure it fits with how and when you want to have fun too - living with someone who goes to bed at 9:00 pm every night when you are a nocturnal-social-butterfly might not work out for the best. Offer to share responsibilities - do the dishes, clean the bathroom, take out the trash, buy the groceries, etc. so one person isn’t doing everything. Communicate - just like any other relationship, good communication will keep everyone happy.
Perhaps you didn’t do your research before moving out. For example, take my friend TJ. He just moved to Manayunk this summer, and this was his first time moving out. He had a close friend, Chris, to move in with, but Chris had another friend who TJ was not very familiar with. They hung out together a few times before moving in together, but 7 months later TJ is not happy. Some things had not been disclosed to TJ: Chris and his friend were actually a couple, and their heavy marijuana use. This is making him uncomfortable, because he was not aware of all the facts. It is better to have full disclosure when living with someone; so everyone is happy, comfortable, and know what he or she is getting into.
Our Next topic on Better Living Through Chemistry - Finding a place to go.
I've done alright with roommates. However there is always the case where the roommate starts off good but doesn't stay that way.
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