How to Move in with Your Girlfriend

Taking the leap from girlfriend to roommate is a decision that needs to be taken seriously. Moving in together could be a natural next step in a wonderful relationship. Unfortunately, it can also sometimes be the beginning of the relationship's end. No matter, how strongly you feel about your girlfriend, there are assessments that need to be made prior to the move.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Take some time to fully understand what you are about to do. Moving in with your partner will create changes that are similar to changes that would take place after a marriage.

2. Discuss the reasoning you have for moving in together. Some couples move in together so that they can split their finances or for security and support. The ideal reason for cohabitation is to take the relationship to the next step and in many cases to practice a marriage-like scenario.

3. Discuss your intentions with your girlfriend. Both of you need to be aware of the reasoning behind the cohabitation. You should not let your girlfriend believe that moving in together is a step towards marriage if you don't share that goal.

4. Create a written cohabitation agreement. Come up with guidelines and rules that you will both live by. Split chores and responsibilities so that both of you are pulling your own weight.

5. Decide where you will live. Most likely both of you have your own place already, and the question now becomes where will you both live? In most situations, one of you will move in with the other. If this is the case, the person doing the moving needs to legally cut his or her ties with their current landlord if they are renting.

6. Decide what you are going to do with your furniture and personal belongings. Chances are both of you combined have enough stuff to fill two homes. You need to plan on what stays and what goes.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that you and your partner have similar reasons for moving in together.
• If you are moving out of a home that you own, you should rent it out, or sell it. In some situations you and your partner may decide to move into a third residence that is new and shared. Mortgages, loan status, leases, and numerous other costs are all major factors to keep in mind while deciding on a residence.
• Discuss all issues such as children, pets, work scheduling, closet space, bathroom time, etc. There is no "petty" issue here. If it has the opportunity to cause a future argument, then it is an issue worth putting some preemptive thought into.
• Create a list of your personal belongings before moving in with anyone.
• Storage facilities are a relatively inexpensive way to keep things that you just can't let go of.
• Even if you do make the decision to move in together, that does not necessarily mean that you have to combine your finances. Bank accounts for example, are sometimes best left separate. If separation occurs, a joint bank account can become very ugly business down the road.
• People who rush into a marriage often end up in divorce court, and the same can be said for people who rush into cohabitation.