10 Things to Consider Before Moving in With a Partner

How serious are you about your relationship? If you’re considering moving in with your significant other, here are 10 things to consider before doing so.

2) Do you both want the same things?

Does one partner want children and the other does not? Is one partner looking for a less expensive lifestyle than the other? Do you want to live in close proximity with friends or family, or do you want your own space? There are numerous things that need to be considered before you move in with your significant other. 

3) Routine & Lifestyle

This may seem like a no-brainer, but taking the time to assess your routine and lifestyle together will help you figure out if the extra day-to-day logistics are something you're ready for. It may not seem like much now, but having two sets of plates or how you divide up your weekly grocery shopping trip can take some getting used to, and that might change depending on which one of you is busy with work/school.  Similarly, trying to stay on top of cleaning and cooking can be tricky when there's more than one person living in the house.

4) How do you make decisions together?

One of the best things about living with your partner is that you can make decisions together on the big things for relationship harmony. The decision making process can start from the get-go, when you're considering how to divide up living space and who will do what chores. No matter how it's done, as long as both people are getting their needs met by the plan, everyone is happy.

5) Safety

It's important to feel safe and secure before making the leap. Think about your partner's habits, how they might respond in a bad situation. How would you react if you were awakened by an intruder? What if someone had a medical emergency? Is it close enough for either of you to come home from work or school at any time during the day? Does your partner have some type of routine that would interrupt sleep? 

 Does your partner smoke? If so, does he or she plan on giving it up for you? What about alcohol, or other drugs?

6) Are they your forever partner?

Are they your forever partner? If so, you are not just moving into someone's house--you're moving into someone's life.

1) What is their idea of personal space?

2) How much time can I spend away from my home base and still be OK with it? 

3) Am I free to make changes in the living space? 

4) How often does he/she want to go out together?

7) What are you giving up?

Before you move in with a partner, make sure you're not giving up anything you love. Living with a partner means compromises on lifestyle. If you love to run marathons but your partner is really into competitive slow-pitch softball, this might not be the right time to move in together. Choose your battles wisely before moving in together and trying to enforce a decision if both parties are happy with it. Plus, move in agreements are tricky and most likely will not be honored.

8) Love Vs. Lust

Love is a story of endless trust, never-ending companionship, and sheer determination. It's also difficult to quantify. Lust is fickle - one minute you want it, the next minute you don't. That's why many people choose to only make love with those they're in committed relationships with. The benefits of living together before tying the knot are weighed against the implications of living together for lust versus living together for love.

9) Commitment Level

You're not just making a commitment to your partner, but to their lifestyle as well. Make sure that you and your partner are on the same page when it comes to rent/mortgage, who is responsible for utility bills and what time each of you will get up in the morning. You don't want to start out living together with assumptions about your living situation only to find out down the line that things aren't going well.

10) Flexibility

While you may think it sounds romantic to move in with your significant other, be sure that you and your partner have discussed all the specifics, so there's no surprises. In fact, once you are on the same page about some of these important matters, this will allow for peace of mind and stress-free living together.