Preventing Trouble in Paradise: 5 Ground Rules to Establish before Moving in with Your Significant Other
One of the most exciting milestones of becoming a couple is moving in together. What could be better than seeing that special person on the daily and doing various activities together like endless cuddling and cooking?
Although the thought, and the experience for that matter, of being with your significant other can seem a dream come true, it’s important that you remember that living with someone else requires compromise. That means you and your partner are going to have to set some ground rules before finalizing the move. Continue reading to learn five ground rules to establish before moving in with your insignificant other.
Finances First
Talking about finances can be a touchy subject, but if you plan on moving in together, it’s crucial that both of you are open and honest about your current financial situation. Before anything, you need to make certain that both of you are able to split the bills equally. To make sure everything goes smoothly, be honest about your income and total debt.
Set Rules about Having House Guests
Entertaining friends is also one of the many perks of living with your better half. However, it’s important to set boundaries of when and how long before you start texting your buddies.
Decide Who Does What Chores
Another sticking point for many couples to deciding who does what when it comes to housework. If you seriously can’t stand the thought of washing all the dishes, be upfront about it. Don’t pout and then explode later on because your partner gets peeved you didn’t do the dinner dishes. Come to a compromise and let them know you are willing to scrub the tub if they will man the after-dinner duties. Or maybe it’ll mean cleaning up your specific messes separately within a certain amount of time throughout the week and then cleaning together on weekends. Whatever works for you and your relationship is the right way to do it.
Limit Screen Time
When you live alone, you probably never thought about how long you scrolled through Instagram or chatted with friends online. However, once you move in, you seriously need to set limits of how long both of you will devote to screen time. Even if you don’t think reading your email at dinner is rude, your partner might.
Eliminate Unnecessary Conflict before They Come Up
Sometimes, being with a person all day every day can cause little problems to become bigger problems. Things like bed space, who hogs the covers, toothpaste squeezing techniques, and closet space are all common points of conflict. If you’re particular about something, talk with your partner about it. The solution might be something as simple as not sharing a bed every night, getting your own blankets, having separate toothpaste tubes, or labeling your closet space.
If you know you get frustrated while doing certain tasks or physical labor, hire someone else to do it for you. For example, if you get distracted while moving boxes while your partner is very focused and gets frustrated at your supposed disinterest, hiring a moving company to do it for you will eliminate this unnecessary conflict.
What you think is the “perfect” relationship probably isn’t that perfect. Every relationship is different and requires different amounts and areas of compromise. Deciding to move in together is big decision, which needs serious thought. Before jumping in with both feet, make sure you’re on the same page so your relationship can grow and flourish as you share a space together.