As a new school year approaches, thousands of young adults will move out of their parent’s homes for the first time. The experience can be both frightening and exciting for parent and child, but signifies the transition from child to adult. With this transition also comes the reality that the student with also be living with someone else, and maybe even a complete stranger. Like the initial shock of moving out, rooming with someone else is a new experience that brings a mixed bag of feelings. Following a few simple tips can help to avoid a lot of the unpleasant situations new roommates find themselves in.
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Pick a location that suits everyone- If you are a first year student, then odds are you will be staying in the dorms and you will be assigned a room. In this case, you do not need to worry about location. However, if you are moving off campus or if you are not a student at all, then you will want to make sure that all parties agree on a location. It is important to try to make the location as convenient for everyone’s work, school, and life schedule. Keep in mind the proximity to important businesses like grocery stores and laundry mats, as well. Deciding on a neutral location will also help disputes from rising in the future.
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Be clear about household responsibilities- Nobody likes doing the dishes or cleaning the bathroom, but they are just a few of the many things that need to be done to maintain a healthy living space. Making a chart or list of some kind that delegates responsibility for each task is the best way to make sure things get done and get done fairly. For neat freaks, you may have to compromise on your standards. The same can be said for people that do not mind a little dirt. In the end, you will all have to meet in the middle to determine a level of comfort for everyone.
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Be clear about bills- Money can tear apart a friendship and create tension quite easily. It is not fair for one roommate to foot the bill. That is why it is important for everyone to understand when bills are due, and to pay them on time. Letting roommates know a few days in advance of bills being due can also help to make sure payments are made on time. If you are unable to meet your obligations, it is important to let the rest of the roommates know as soon as possible so arrangements can be made. Pushing things off until the last minute will only make things worse.
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Cook for each other!- Everybody loves a nice home cooked meal, right? So, make it a point to cook for each other one night a week. Cooking for each other will help save money, and can help develop a skill you will use for the rest of your life. A great compromise is also having one roommate cook one night and the other roommate does the dishes. That way you get a great meal and the chores are done!
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Communicate effectively- This may be the most important item of all. Effective communication can resolve disputes in a positive way. Sometimes people step on each others toes while living together, and it is important to acknowledge this in a healthy way. Shouting at each other or bottling things up until you explode is the wrong way to handle things. Sit down with each other and express you sentiments and then come to a solution as a unit. Not only will the issue be resolved, it will help bring roommates closer together.
While this is not a comprehensive list of tips to help you survive rooming with someone else, it is good start. Following these easy tips can help eliminate stress, keep your household running smoothly, and just make life that much more enjoyable. So do not fear the unknown and dive in head first!
