8 Ways To Know If Moving In With Your Best Friend Is A Good Idea
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If you're moving in with your best friend, congrats! You've found someone you can trust to have your back and help when times get tough.
Moving in with a friend is a big step. We've been there and done that. So we definitely know how tough it can be to move out of a college dorm or your parent's house and into a new home. But is it the right choice? If you need to figure out if it's the right decision, we can help. Here are eight ways to know if sharing a living space with your close friend is the right move for you.
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Here's How To Know If Moving In With Your Best Friend Is A Good Idea
01) You Already Spend Most Of Your Free Time Together Anyway.
If you spend more time with your good friend than anyone else, perhaps it's time to take a chance and move in together. After all, why pay two separate rents when you can live together and split the cost? In addition, living with your BFF means you'll be able to see each other more often and hang out whenever you want. Adult life can push friendships apart with busy schedules and other commitments, so moving in together can keep your relationship strong in the long run.
02) You're Both Financially Stable.
Both of you must have reliable incomes — and enough money saved up — so neither of you has to worry about financial difficulties like making ends meet if one of you loses a job. If one of you doesn't have enough money saved up, it can make moving in together more stressful than needed. This is a good time to start practicing healthy spending habits and a savings account.
03) You're Both Comfortable With Sharing Living Space.
Having a shared apartment or house with complete strangers is one thing. It's another thing entirely to live with someone whom you've known for years — and who knows all your faults intimately. If you're not comfortable sharing space, then moving in together probably isn't the best idea for you two at this time.
04) You're Comfortable Around Each Other, No Matter What.
The best part about being the best pals in the world is that you can be yourself around each other without judgment. This level of comfort and acceptance is essential if you're living together. After all, there's nothing worse than feeling like you have to put on a show or act differently to please your roommate. With your best friend, you'll always be able to relax and be yourself.
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05) You Already Know Each Other's Quirks.
Part of being best friends means knowing everything about each other, including all of those little quirks that make each person unique. For example, maybe your best friend leaves their clothes on the floor or forgets to put the milk away after using it.
Whatever their quirks, living with someone means having to deal with them daily. But if you're already best friends, chances are you already know about (and accept) each other's quirks. We recommend making certain that you're both mature adults and can live in a house without bickering over who left the dishes in the sink.
06) You're Both On The Same Page When It Comes To Life.
When making big decisions like moving in together, both people must be on the same page in life. For example, if one person is more focused on their career right now and the other is more invested in partying, it might not be a good fit. However, if both people are at similar stages in life and want to live together for similar reasons (like saving money), it's time to start choosing the best removalist for the job and getting the boxes packed!
07) The Idea Of Sharing Your Space With Someone Excites You.
At the end of the day, living together is a big commitment and should be something you're both genuinely excited about. After all, it's a big change and will require lots of work and compromise to make it successful. But if you feel that moving in together is a step you're both eager to take, that's great! You've just assumed the first step towards a new and exciting chapter in your friendship.
08) You have the same idea about what "living together" means.
If there's any disagreement about what "living together" means, then it might be worth talking about before moving in together so that neither person feels blindsided down the road when they realize their expectations are different. Some people see living together as sharing the same space while still maintaining their own personal space (e.g., having separate bedrooms and bathrooms). Others see living together as sharing everything — including closets and refrigerators — which can lead to some tension if one person's messy cleaning habits annoy another person's OCD tendencies.
Best Things To Remember To Avoid Potential Problems
Sit down together to create house rules.
Learn to compromise.
Discuss boundaries early on.
Don't take each other for granted.
Agree to disagree on certain issues.
Be flexible with schedules and expectations.
Keep arguments respectful and professional.
Assign household chores by creating a chore chart.
Create a clear guest policy to avoid awkward situations.
Communicate openly about any problems or concerns.
Make a budget together and discuss living expenses & spending habits.
Be respectful of each other's space — even if they don't have their own bedroom!
Make sure you're on the same page about what you want from the arrangement.
Be sure to have alone time and space for yourself, even if it means having your own room!
Refrain from assuming you know what your roommate needs.
Keep the thermostat at a reasonable level and avoid unnecessary use of air conditioners or heaters.
Never make fun of each other because it is not lovely, and you don't want anyone to make fun of you either!
Support each other in whatever they do, even if it's something that you don't like or agree with.
Have mutual trust & be honest with each other.
Make sure that both of you are happy because if one person is unhappy, the other person will feel bad too!
If moving in with your best friend is the right decision, go for it! Living with your BFF will bring unique challenges, but it will also be fun and strengthen your friendship in different ways. We wish you good luck!