How to Live in Peace with Multiple House/Apt. Mates

Living with other people you don’t know very well can be a headache and make your living space a place you dread instead of a place to unwind after a long day. On the other hand, living with others can create a successful social network, and a place of communal peace.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• An open mind
• A willingness to communicate

1. Establish monthly meetings as a household. This is a great way to reconnect as human beings and to make sure the household pays the bills on time.
2. Set up household rules. You may have one general rule to not have rules, but the important thing to remember is to have a common way you all will communicate with each other when you need to collaborate on household issues.
3. Have a different person in charge of each of the bills. This ensures equal ownership over the household. No one feels like she/he is just renting a room out of a boarding house. Most likely the lease holder will be in charge of rent, but there will be other bills that may or may not include: gas/electric, land-line phone, internet, cable, water, or trash.
4. Set up a rotating chore list. The worst thing about living with other people is keeping the house clean and depending on everyone doing his/her part. A rotating chore list ensures one person isn’t always in charge of cleaning the bathroom.
5. Decide as a household what will be communal and what will be individual. This can apply to a number of aspects: groceries, dishes, chores, furniture, cleaning products, or mail pick-up.
6. Coordinate a shower schedule. There is nothing worse in the morning than being half awake and in a rush to work, and the bathroom occupied. This step is crucial to smooth morning routines, and in turn, smoother living relationships.
7. If you plan to have overnight guests, give your housemates some notice when possible, especially if they are staying for more than a few nights. In addition, YOU are responsible for your guests at all times! They need to respect the common spaces as much as you do.
8. Plan to get together as a household every once in a while, separate from the ‘business’ meetings. One successful idea is to stay in for dinner and a movie night once a month.

Tips & Warnings

• Direct communication is the key to a cohesive household. Face-to-face conversations are the best way to get your point across to your housemates.
• Don’t use notes if you have a serious issue with a housemate.