Moving in with each other is an exciting step in your relationship, but that doesn’t mean it’s always smooth sailing. Even if you already see each other nearly every day and want to spend all your free time together, living together can still be a bit of a challenge…
We’ve put together some of the most popular pieces of advice for couples considering taking the next step in their relationship – especially whilst at uni. Follow our top tips to make sure you’re ready to live together and you don’t make a decision you’ll regret later on.
Whatever you do, it’s important not to rush to move in together. Moving in together for financial reasons or convenience might be tempting. However, it’s crucial you take the time to consider if this is the right step for your relationship.
Here are a couple of reasons that shouldn’t be your sole reason for moving in together:
The short answer to this question is that it depends on the couple and their living situation. Some couples might move in together after a few months, while others might wait years until they feel ready.
A recent survey of 2,000 British couples found that the average time people waited before moving in together was 14 months after they first met. However, 61% of the surveyed couples said they wished they’d waited longer to decide to move in together. If you’re not sure if you’re ready to live together, there’s no harm in waiting a bit.
Having a serious discussion about your finances and your approach to chores and budget should be at the top of your couples moving in together checklist.
The last thing you want is to end up arguing about the weekly grocery shop or whose turn it is to wash the dishes. It’s a good idea to have a chat and work out how you’ll divide the household chores and work out a cleaning rota before you move in. Ensure you’re both on the same page about who will do what:
Make sure you discuss how you’ll divide rent, bills and other expenses. This is especially crucial if you make different amounts of money – you’ll need to decide on a fair way of splitting things that both of you are comfortable with.
A simple way to stay on top of your utilities is to use a bill-splitting service that automatically sets up and manages your bills to keep things simple.
The pair of you will also need to decide on a monthly budget for rent, bills, groceries, and any shared expenses or subscriptions. Agreeing on a budget ahead of time will reduce the chance of arguments later down the line.
When it comes to living together, where you’ll live will be one of the biggest decisions you’ll make. It’s generally advised to move into a new place together; this way, it’s a new space for both of you, and no one feels more ownership over the place. You’ll get to decorate and furnish your new living space together!
Sometimes, this isn’t always possible and your partner might move into your place. If your partner moves in with you, you’ll need to ensure that you both feel entitled to the shared space. You might need to compromise on how space is currently organised and sacrifice some of your furniture to make room for your partner’s belongings.
No matter how strong your relationship is, discussing what will happen if you break up is important. It might be a depressing conversation but being mature enough to discuss the possibility of breaking up is a sure sign that you’re ready to move in together.
Make sure you discuss what will happen to the furniture and who will stay in the property if you break up. This is especially important if you’re buying a property together or moving into a property one of you owns.
Moving in with your partner is an exciting step, especially if you’ve followed the above tips to ensure you’re ready. Working out how to split your utility bills is an extra hassle that can easily be avoided by using our stress-free bill-splitting service…
Split The Bills helps to simplify your household bills. We’ll set up utility accounts on your behalf and split the bills equally between you, your partner and anyone else you’re living with! There’s no need to worry about setting up a joint account and possibly affecting each other’s credit scores.
You can customise your bills package to include gas, electricity, water, broadband, and even a TV licence if you plan on watching live TV.
Get a monthly price for your household bills today and make moving in with your partner as simple as possible!
With the end of the year fast approaching, you may be thinking about heading home for Christmas to spend time with family and friends. The uni term will slowly be winding down, and you’ll feel more and more festive each day.
The move from first to second year at university often comes with a lot of change as most students will have to start paying bills for the first time. In this feature we discuss how you can keep your finances organised and pay bills responsibly.
The move from first to second year at university often comes with a lot of change as most students will have to start paying bills for the first time. In this feature we discuss how you can keep your finances organised and pay bills responsibly.