Feature image credit: Buzzmove
Were you to stumble upon AskMen while scouring the internet for information about moving in with your partner, you’d be left with the impression that it’s only a good idea if you are:
- a middle-aged man still living at home
- eager to save some money on your rent and utility bills, or
- sick of your commute and your boy or girlfriend lives closer to your office.
This is, of course, utter nonsense, and is really only useful for someone with the imagination or emotional capacity of a table. Moving in together is a big step that requires intense scrutiny, both on a personal and practical level. To help guide your thoughts, here’s what we’d recommend you consider before you take that step.
1. Make sure you’re ready
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Well, obviously – but it’s true. Do you love your current living situation, whether it’s with family, friends or alone? Does the idea of giving up your current independence make you shudder? A little nervousness is good and totally normal, but if you’re filled with dread at changing the way you live, it might be time to ‘fess up and think again about moving in together.
2. Be realistic
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It seems wrong to talk of such things so close to Valentine’s Day, but it must be said: things don’t always work out, so be practical when you make your decisions. Think about whether or not you could rent alone if they moved out, or get somewhere with an extra bedroom for a potential future roommate. And when it comes to your stuff, even though you might move in with two of everything, don’t throw it out just yet.
For short or long-term storage for things big and small, Boxman – London’s on-demand storage specialists – can help while you make up your mind. If there’s no room in her life for your lava lamps, just remember that people can change. Give her a little time. You don’t need to throw them out. Let us hang onto them while you get the measure of one another.
3. Be prepared to compromise
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Look, we’ll be frank: it ain’t always going to be easy. Maybe you’re a bit of a neat freak and believe everything has its place – trust us, we can relate – and your other half is an untidy rogue, or perhaps your partner thinks it’s fine to cut their toenails in front of you. (Note: this is never fine.) It’s all about compromise and adjusting, but not sacrificing your habits to make it work. Suffice to say, you may lose a little of the romance when you start cohabiting, but you’ll get a lot closer.
4. Feel comfortable around each other
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No girl wants to feel she has to get her make-up on first thing in the morning before her other half surfaces, nor should a man feel the need to breathe in when he’s wandering around freely in his boxers. If you’re truly comfortable around one another both physically and mentally, you’ll know. If you’re not, for the sake of your sanity, don’t move in together.
5. Feel confident in the state of your relationship
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It’s too prescriptive to say, ‘You should have had one terrible fight and survived. You should have been on holiday and had a great time.’ But knowing each other inside out in different situations is super important. Nobody wants to get to DIY weekend number one and discover that their beloved is a grumpy painter. No, sir.
6. Trust their financial decisions
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If you’re looking to cohabit, chances are you know whether or not your partner’s good with money. There are those, however, who always seem to be broke – not so much of a problem if you’re dating and crashing at each other’s pads, but a big problem if you’ve got joint rent and bills to pay. Suss out their situation and make sure you talk it through.
7. Discuss tastes and habits
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So you love the slick, 20s Danish interior style but they’re really into a mismatched vintage style. And you always wash up straight after dinner but they’re happier leaving it until the morning. We all have our ticks, habits and preferences, which can be worked around or compromised on – but remember, folks: always be prepared. Chat about how you see your lives together panning out in your new pad, so you can prepare for any conflicts – and get really excited about it, too.
This article was produced by Boxman, London’s specialists in self-storage with a difference. Looking for somewhere to store your stuff while you get comfortable with each other? We provide cheap, on-demand storage from £5 per month, with no extra hidden costs. Book your boxes online and we’ll deliver them to you, collect them when they’re packed, store them in an ultra-safe environment and return them to you when you’re ready. Everything can be electronically tagged on our website, so you can get specific boxes returned to you at the click of a button. Just think of us as your virtual spare room!
Fantastic tips. It is very important to compromise. Neglecting yourself is not an option, though. Moving together is a hard task. Don`t stress each other too much. Greetings!