Eight Tips for Living Together to Keep You Staying Together
Geplaatst op 07-08-2025
Categorie: Lifestyle
Why is it that roughly 50 percent of cohabitating couples never marry? Some say living together is more stressful than actually tying the knot. When my boyfriend and I moved in together one September, we barely made it past Christmas. We eventually made it to the altar, and from our bumps, I gleaned several tips that might smooth out your road to domestic bliss.
Purge to Merge
Nothing says “I love me” like a closet for your handbags. But nothing says “I love you” like a judicious pruning of all the stuff you’ve been lugging around from one apartment to the next. Swap notes with your honey to eliminate duplicate kitchen appliances, but also take the move-in as an opportunity to review your personal items. If you haven’t worn something in a year, donate it.
Sponsored Ads
Looking For Single Men in the US? Try Loveawake Dating Site
Delegate the Heavy Lifting
Moving in can be stressful enough without fighting over which way to angle the sofa so that it gets over a banister. If you can afford movers, do that. Or if you’ve got some good pals wanting to lend a hand, pay them in pizzas. And when all else fails, wear kneepads, gloves, and a thick skin to combat the grouchies.
Equate and Decorate
Be fair when it comes to deciding whose painting goes over the mantle. You both want to feel invested in your new surroundings. Not every decision requires a unanimous vote, but if one of you buys something, just make sure to keep the receipt in case the other strongly dislikes it.
Bust Out the Chore Wheel
Going halfsies on chores is a headache. For a couple of months, we split dishwasher duty—I loaded and he unloaded. In theory, this could work swell. In practice, not so much, as it was often the case that just as I was ready to load up the dirty dishes, I’d open the dishwasher to find it full. So take on the dishwashing in its entirety and give him the laundry.
Figure Out Finances Before the Movers Come
Before you’re hit with moving bills, decide whether you’ll split things fifty-fifty or based on a percentage of your salary. Get a credit card that the two of you can share, which is a step away from opening a joint checking account. Use that card only for dutch expenditures, so it’s easy to settle up. Most importantly, get a card that offers incentives—those new curtains could mean a free night at a swanky hotel.
Give Each Other Space
Once you’ve unpacked the overnight bag for good, don’t forget about hanging out with your friends. Having time away from your partner reminds you of the identity you had before he came along. And at home, try to carve out a nook for yourself where you can read a magazine while he’s on his laptop. No matter how much you love each other, everyone needs breathing room every once in a while.
Establish House Rules
Maybe he prefers to be in the bathroom solo, even if the door is unlocked and he’s only brushing his teeth. Maybe you’d rather him not be on his cell phone when you’re watching TV. Either confront the small stuff as it comes or get the details on the table from the start, but consider larger questions too like whether it’s OK to leave the house after an argument. You might want to write down your agreements or just talk about them, but either way communicating those desires straightaway is imperative.
Don’t Forget about Date Night
Just because you’re living together, doesn’t mean that every date has to be couch-bound. Consider a weekly date splurge: one week it’s your pick and the next time it’s his. Getting out of the house reinvigorates the relationship and reminds you how nice it is not to have to worry anymore about whether you’ll be going back to his place or yours.