Making the decision to move in with your significant other is an exciting step, but it can also be one filled with nerves and uncertainty. After all, you’ve probably only seen each other in your own spaces and don’t know what things will be like living together – will you guys accept each other’s weird and quirky habits? Will your partner be of help with cleaning up and keeping the space tidy? Will they keep up with their part of the household chores?

Well, if you’re preparing to make the big move then here are five tips that we recommend to make the transition as easy as possible, for you both!

First and foremost, decide that you are both moving in with one another because you want to and not because you have to. 

Moving in with one another is not only a huge step for your romantic relationship, but it’s also an added long-term commitment. Because of this, you’ll want to make sure that you both are entering into it excited about sharing spaces and not feeling forced to do so – whether that’s by the opposite partner, or by external factors like finances – you always want to make sure that you’re taking this step because it’s something that genuinely interests and excites you both. Not because it's something being done out of necessity or coercion. 

Make sure you both have an honest and transparent conversation about household obligations and financial expectations.

One of the biggest things that couples struggle with upon moving in together is finances. Before you guys make the big move, make sure that you have an honest and open conversation about each of your incomes, and how you plan to come together to take care of expenses like rent, groceries, utilities, etc. Will you guys be splitting expenses down the middle? Or will you each take on different financial responsibilities? 

And remember to have this conversation about household chores. Will one person be in charge of cleaning the house while the other takes care of the cooking? Or will you guys be alternating these tasks or creating a weekly schedule? 

Each partner should take the time to assess what belongings and items they are bringing into the shared space. 

Whether one of you is moving into the other’s living space, or you both are going into a completely new space together; you should each take the time to look at all of your belongings and determine what items are essentials to bring with you and what items you may have to let go of. Combining two households, essentially, can be difficult and you want to make sure that you're allowing each other enough room for their personal items, as well as making room for the items that you’ll want to bring into your household together. 

Remember that you can still maintain a sense of individuality while living with your partner.

Sharing living quarters with your partner definitely means that you'll be spending a lot more time together than you ever have before. And at first, you may get completely caught up in this. But do your best, to remember that it’s still okay to have your own life outside of the life that you share with your partner. Remember that it's important for you both to make time for the activities and hobbies that interest you, that way you can each take time apart to re-energize and rejuvenate yourselves physically and mentally. Doing this allows both of you to come back together in a better space to then properly take care of one another.  

Communicate your frustrations and concerns but don’t let them get the best of you. 

Living with another person is never the easiest thing to do – no matter how much you love them. There will be times when you and your partner will make mistakes and fall off your routines, and there will be times when living with your partner becomes more frustrating than fun – but always step back and remember that you both made this decision out of love and frustrations should never escalate to situations of disrespect. Remember the reason why you each decided to take this step in the first place. And if you need to, allow yourselves the time and space to decompress, so that you both can come back together and work on a solution for whatever the issue may be.

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