Tips on Moving in With a Girlfriend
Moving in with your girlfriend is an important step in getting serious about your relationship. You can get to know each other while dating, but living with someone will reveal many aspects of her personality. On the same note, it will be more difficult for you to hide your bad habits and idiosyncrasies when sharing a living space. If you want to help facilitate communication in your relationship and promote a healthy living situation, it's important to address essential details, such as finances and personal space, before moving in together.
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Discuss Finances Beforehand
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Before you move in with your girlfriend, it needs to be absolutely clear who is paying for what. It's best to keep your finances separate when you first move in, so discuss the rent, bills and expenses. Decide how you will handle house expenses such as groceries and Internet service. Put your agreement in writing to prevent any confusion later on. Make sure both of your names are on the lease so that you are both legally responsible for paying rent.
Set Boundaries and Guidelines
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It is extremely important to set guidelines and boundaries for your personal space and time before moving in with your girlfriend. If you expect to be able to do what you want when you want and she expects you to check with her before making plans, you will have plenty of fights ahead of you. Have a serious and specific discussion about the expectations you have and what you need to maintain your personal space.
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Separate Space
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It's easy to feel suffocated when you first move in with someone, particularly when it comes to your stuff and your personal space. Divide up closet space, drawers and bathroom space into equal areas or give her slightly more space if you are willing to sacrifice it. Women tend to have more clothes, more shoes and more products than men, so it's possible you will feel like her stuff is everywhere. If your apartment or house permits it, assign separate closets to avoid fighting over available space.
Give Yourself An Adjustment Period
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Moving in with your girlfriend is a big step, and it can often take time to get used to sharing your space with someone all of the time. It can be a particularly difficult transition if you have never lived with someone before or are used to living alone. Give yourself a specific time, such as two to three months, to get used to living with your girlfriend before drawing attention to problems.
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References
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