Moving in with your girlfriend is a big step for your couple. It’ll be your first time living together, and you’ll have to share a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen again — but this time as partners rather than roommates. This transition can be scary for some people. After all, it’s one of the biggest changes after dating someone for several months. Then again, it could also lead to marriage sooner than expected, which is great! Moreover, moving in with your girlfriend means that your relationship has reached a new level of commitment and trust. You probably know her better than other people. Still, moving in with your girlfriend can be challenging, so read these tips if you’re thinking about doing so soon.
Discuss your living expectations together
Before you even start looking for a new place to live together, you need to discuss your living expectations together. What are your long-term goals? Where do you see each other in five years? What are your daily routines? What are your plans for the holidays? Do you see yourselves having children in the next few years? When you move in with one of your mail-order brides, you’ll have to learn how to live together as a couple. You might have certain habits that annoy her and vice versa. It’s essential to discuss these things so that you can avoid unnecessary conflicts.
Discuss how you’ll handle shared expenses
Moving in with your girlfriend comes with certain financial expectations. You’ll need to discuss how you’ll handle shared expenses like:
- rent,
- utilities,
- groceries,
- cell phone bills,
- Internet service,
- and any other bills that you’ll need to pay together.
If you’re relying on your girlfriend for half of these expenses, you should have a serious talk about her income and whether she feels alright about such a division.
Discuss your expectations for the living arrangement
How much space do you need? Do you need your own room, or will you be okay with sharing a room? Do you need a home office? Where will your stuff go? Is there a certain amount of space your partner’s stuff should take up? Is there anything that your partner can’t have in their half of the house? These may seem like strange questions, but you’d be surprised at how many couples fight over simple living arrangement issues. It’s critical to discuss these things so that your living situation is maximized for both parties. You don’t want to move in with your girlfriend and then find out that she’s a slob or vice versa.
Decide how you’ll split chores
You may want to take turns cleaning the house every other week, or you might want to do it together as a team. You might want to alternate cooking dinner every night, or you might want to go out to eat every other night. Likewise, you might want to share the yard work, or you might want to hire a landscaper. The bottom line is that you need to decide how you’ll split up chores. If you don’t do this, you’ll likely find yourself arguing about who does what. It’s best to decide on this issue beforehand so that you’re on the same page.
Establish basic house rules
Moving in with your girlfriend means that you’ll be sharing a living space:
- You probably have different ways of keeping the space clean, maintaining the appliances, and taking care of the furniture.
- You’ll also have different ways of using the space.
- You might like to throw parties, for example, or your significant other may be at an age when she likes to go out with her friends.
- You might have kids, or you might want to adopt a pet.
- You might want to go on vacation a couple of times a year and leave home for one of your friends to take care of.
All of these things will impact the way the two are living together as a couple. It’s crucial to establish some basic house rules to avoid unnecessary arguments.
Conclusion
Moving in with your girlfriend can lead to a lifetime of happiness, but there are certain things you should talk about before making such a big decision. Keep in mind that every relationship is different. What works for one couple may not work for others. No matter what, you should always make an effort to communicate with your partner to be on the same wavelength.
