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Moving in together is a huge step for any relationship– so it is critical to discuss some of these topics before officially making the big decision. You will be happy you brought them up with your partner, so moving forward you will be on the same page and you can settle any discrepancies.
1.Your Living SituationÂ
Clearly, this is the biggest one. If you are planning for a future family, you may want to consider the school district your children will be in. Is living near the coast more important to you or do you prefer city life? Will you be renting or buying? Is the home near grocery stores or parks?
Are you considering furnished apartments, unfurnished apartments, or a single-family? These are all excellent topics of discussion before you make a commitment.
2. Finances
It is important to discuss finances before moving in together. Decide if you’d like to set up a joint account for expenses or who is responsible for what. Would you rather keep separate accounts and split the bills evenly? It’s okay if you don’t always see eye to eye on spending, but it will definitely require compromise moving forward.
Another great topic to discuss is prior debt. Most of us attended college and acquired some debt that needs to be paid off. Talk to your significant other about your debt and how that may affect your financial life together. Another great consideration is household cleaning supplies or tools. Is this something you want to split?
3. Cleanliness
Are you the type that hates a mess, or are you a little scatterbrained sometimes? Would you like the house deep cleaned weekly or can it wait a while longer? Are you someone who leaves dishes in the sink often? Talk about your preferences with your partner to ensure your needs are being met. This may be an area where you both have different preferences, meaning you may have to compromise.
4. Grocery Shopping and Cooking
This is something to think about also! Who wants to do the grocery shopping? Who is going to cook? It could be a great idea to split this task up depending on the other’s needs. For example, if you had to stay longer at work, while your girlfriend got off early, it could be her turn to cook dinner. Otherwise, it could be a fun bonding experience to cook together when you have the chance. You both should consider food allergies and diets, if one of you is vegan while the other is not, then it may be best to go grocery shopping for your own food.
5. SleepÂ
An optimal sleep schedule is essential for a productive day. Are you an early riser or a night owl? Can you sleep with the TV or lights on? Are you a light sleeper and will sounds bother you? This is going to be one of the first things you notice when moving in with someone. So, you may want to discuss your sleep habits to ensure the other person gets their well-deserved quality sleep.
6. Chores
Will you split chores 50/50? Will one person handle chores, while the other cooks? These are questions to take into account. You don’t want your partner feeling resentful towards you because you never do any household tasks. Maybe, it works out in both your favors as you like taking out the trash while your partner enjoys raking leaves.
7. Sharing and Compromise
If you had siblings growing up, I’m sure you’re aware of sharing and how that can cause fights in the household. Maybe, you would get really upset if someone used your headphones without you knowing. Moving in together is going to present a lot of room for compromise. You should both consider creating boundaries where needed– and share when you don’t mind!
8. WorkÂ
How will your work lives merge? Will your significant other wake up earlier than you for their job? Do you travel frequently for work? Will your work schedules pose any significant issues once you live together? For many of us, work is a huge part of our lives and another schedule that you need to manage when you’re in a relationship. A discussion prior to moving in could be a great idea.
9. Pets Â
Do you have any pets? Will you still be the only one responsible for them when you move in together. Maybe, your partner never agreed to have a pet and does not want to be responsible for one. Will you eventually want one together as more time passes?
10. ChildrenÂ
Hopefully, you already discussed this in your relationship so that you’re aligned with your futures moving forward. If you have both decided you want a family then it is best to have kids in the back of your mind when you plan out your living space. Although a video game room could be fun, is it more useful to turn it into a nursery for a future baby to come?
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This content is brought to you by Anne Davis.
Photo: Shutterstock
