Is Living With Friends A Good Idea? | 11 Tips For Staying Friends

Are you moving in with friends? Whether it’s for financial reasons or because you just need more space, living with others can be a great way to save money and feel more connected.

However, it can also be difficult to navigate the waters of sharing your space successfully. In this blog post, we will give you some tips for making sure that everyone is happy and that things run smoothly!

Benefits Of Living With Friends

There are a number of advantages to sharing an apartment with a friend.

• It can be more affordable, as you can split the rent and other expenses.
• You and your friend can afford to live in a cool apartment that neither of you could afford on your own.
• Living with someone you trust makes you feel more secure and relaxed.
• It can be a great way to make new friends and get to know people in your city.
• It can be a lot of fun to live with friends.
• You can (usually) rely on them for a night out or some company.
• It can be helpful to have someone to help with chores and maintenance around the apartment.
• You can build strong relationships that will last for years.

Is Living With Friends A Good Idea?

Whether or not living with friends is a good idea is up for debate.

It can be a good idea to live with a friend; you’re sharing everything, the good and the bad. If you both communicate, respect each other, and don’t worry about the small things, you should have a great time.

There is only worry of living with a friend. That worry is that if things go wrong you might find that a precious friendship is ruined.

Follow our tips to preserve your friendship and have a stress-free shared life.

Our Tips For Living With Friends (And Staying Friends)

On one hand, living with friends can be a great way to save money on rent and utilities. On the other hand, it can be difficult to live with someone you’re also friends with. If you’re thinking about living with friends, here are 11 tips for making it work:

Before Your Move In

The first few tips are for what you’ll need to work out before moving in together. It’s a good idea to take notes during your initial meetings.

1. Talk About Your General Expectations Beforehand

Before you move in, have a conversation (or several) about what everyone expects from the arrangement. It’s important to talk about things like who will cook dinner, who will do the dishes, and how often everyone is going to want to hang out. Some people are very strict with their cleaning habits, while others are much more casual in their attempts to clean.

Spend as much time as you need to to put together your roommate agreement.

This way, there won’t be any surprises once you’re all moved in together and you’re living in close quarters.

2. Talk About Finances Before Moving In

One of the most important things to consider when living with friends is money issues. Who will be responsible for what bills? Will you split everything evenly, or will some people pay more than others? Will you have a shared bank account for household expenses? These are all important things to discuss and figure out before you move in together.

3. Talk About Your Schedules So That You Are All Prepared

Another thing to think about is schedules and daily routines. If you have different work schedules, who will be responsible for taking care of the household chores? Which roommate will do the dirty dishes? What about grocery shopping? Will you need to coordinate your schedule so that someone is always home? Do you sleep at opposite ends of the day?

4. Decide Your Living Situation Before You Sign The Lease

Another thing to consider is your living situation. Will each person have their own bedroom, or will you be sharing a room? If you’re sharing a room, who will get the bigger bed? Who gets the desk? These may seem like small details, but it’s important to figure them out before things get too chaotic.

5. Set The House Rules And Stick To Them

Once you’ve talked about all your different types of expectations, it’s important to set boundaries and ground rules. Make sure everyone agrees to them. This will help to prevent future arguments and make sure that everyone is on the same page.

Some things you may want to consider include creating a chore chart, designating specific areas for each person’s belongings, setting quiet hours, sharing food, visits from guests, noise levels, cleaning, or establishing a no-smoking rule.

After You Move In

These next tips are to help you to maintain a happy mood among yourself and your roommates.

6. Be Considerate Of Your Roommates

This one may seem obvious, but it’s important to remember anyway! Just because you’re living with friends doesn’t mean that you can be disrespectful or thoughtless. If you want things to run smoothly, it’s important to be aware of your roommates’ needs and feelings.

This includes the little things, like:

• Be considerate of noise levels, especially at night.
• Do your fair share when it comes to cleaning and chores.
• Compromise when you need to.
• Keep in contact if a situation changes, for example, unexpected guests. A quick text will do it.
• Be aware of your own habits and how they might affect your roommates.
• Don’t be afraid to talk about money matters; it’s in the best interests of you and your roommates.
• Exchange emergency contact information to protect you and your roommates.

7. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

One of the most important things you can do when living with others is to communicate effectively. Communicate openly and honestly about any issues that come up. If something is bugging you, say something!

By openly communicating with your roommates, you keep the atmosphere in your apartment relaxed.

8. Be Flexible

Things change, and people change. Just because you have an agreement with your roommates doesn’t mean that it’s set in stone. If someone wants to change something, be open to hearing them out and potentially making a change.

9. Respect Each Other’s Privacy

Even if you’re close friends, it’s important to respect each other’s privacy.

This includes things like not going through each other’s belongings, and not reading each other’s messages. Your friend may need some personal space or quiet time every now and then; allow her (or him) to have some alone time without bugging them or taking offense.

10. Don’t Let Petty Arguments Turn Into Bigger Disagreements

It’s important to remember that things can go wrong. Work on letting the little things go; don’t let them turn into a big deal.

If you’re not careful, petty arguments can turn into bigger disagreements that can ruin your friendship.

To avoid this, try to diffuse any arguments as they happen and always communicate openly with your roommates. If you have a disagreement, try to resolve it quickly and move on. Don’t let it drag on and become a bigger issue.

11. Enjoy This Time!

Just because you’re living with friends doesn’t mean that it can’t be fun! Don’t forget that you’re still friends. Make time to hang out outside of the shared living space.

Take some time to enjoy your time together, whether that means watching movies and eating popcorn, or just chatting.

Conclusion

If you can follow these tips, living with good friends can be a wonderful experience. Just remember to keep the lines of communication open, to be respectful of each other’s space and belongings, and make time for fun! We hope that these tips will help you successfully navigate the waters of living with your friends.