Five Things to Consider Before Signing a Lease With a Significant Other

By Sammy K

Are you considering moving in with your better half? The consideration is an exciting prospect, but something to think about very seriously before signing your lease. Follow these tips for an enjoyable experience that will be the start of your future together.

1. Consider your lifestyles. Are your lifestyles compatible? When you’re spending time together, you’re only thinking about the two of you. But what about when you spend time with your friends or family? Are you an adventurous spirit and love to go out and be social? Is your partner? Living together requires acceptance of the good and bad, but having similar lifestyles is a foundation for making it work.
2. Consider your finances. Are you both frugal? Is one a saver and one a spender? Are you both employed and able to pay rent and other obligations? Household finances are important for your rent, bills, living expenses, and entertainment. Being on the same page is crucial for a successful living arrangement. Neither one should have to take all of the responsibility for your household while the other spends. Finances need to be a mutually agreed upon factor of your life together. It’s not a very pleasant subject, but that’s being a grown up!
3. Consider your commitment to one another. This is a very crucial consideration and should take precedence before any others. Are you having doubts about your relationship while your partner doesn’t? Are you planning on marrying each other? If there is any hint of doubt, you shouldn’t move in together just yet. Discussing and evaluating the direction of your relationship should be done before picking out curtains.
4. Willingness to accept your differences. You’re not the same person, so you’ll have differences on some fundamental level. Does your partner have a quirk that drives you crazy? This shouldn’t be an issue of tolerance; you have to accept your partner for who they are. Just tolerating won’t last long and will cause problems later down the road. Consider if you accept them wholly, annoying quirks and all.
5. Be prepared for the worst case scenario. Nobody wants to hear about the potential end of their relationship, but it’s an unfortunate necessity to consider. Do you have an exit strategy? Who gets what? Don’t dwell on it too heavily or make it a huge deal right now, but have some of the ground work laid out in case it does happen. It will save a lot of frustration and hurt in the event you call it quits.

Moving in with a significant other can be an amazing experience, but it can also go from great to awful quickly if you rush it. Stop to think about these things before you make the decision and go from there. You’ll be making the right choice for the both of you and will keep your relationship alive and well.

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