Are You Ready to Move In Together?
You have probably heard the saying “you don’t know someone until you live with them.” The same goes for couples. While you are close, you may not know all of your significant other’s little quirks and weird habits, because when you live together there is nowhere to hide. But moving in is a huge commitment and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
One of my best friends just moved in with her boyfriend, and she shared that it took months to finally commit to the idea. That is because moving in is much more than just the next step in any relationship, but it is a shift. You become a “we” overnight, and all of the sudden it becomes you and your partner against the world.
Before jumping to this next level of commitment, evaluate a few things. Make an extra effort to communicate your concerns with your significant other before you start packing or sign any papers. When you finally feel comfortable and ready, you will know you are ready to move forward. There is not set deadline when you have to move in with your partner, because it varies from relationship to relationship. For some, it only takes a couple months, but for others it could take years.
But moving out isn’t all stressful. There are so many bright sides to taking this leap of faith. Here are a couple benefits to that prove the risk is worth the reward:
Power of money
From a financial point of view, moving completely makes sense. Two paychecks are better than one, and one rent that can be split in half is even better. This leaves so much extra money to save or spurge, whatever you please. As long as you are ready to talk about money openly, living together is super convenient. But, if you are uncomfortable with money talk, wait a bit before you jump into this huge financial commitment.
Sharing is caring
Saving money is only one perk. Hand in hand comes sharing. Instead of buying two of everything, now you only need one. As long as you are willing to share and not be stubborn, you are good to go. This also mean you will have to learn to compromise. But if done properly, this will only improve your relationship and make you stronger.
Future thoughts
When you are coming home to someone everyday, it is hard not to think about a future together. They are always by your side, and you are hardly ever alone without a comfort buddy or a shoulder to lean on. Having that constant support system is essential when you are dealing with work stress or issues with family and friends. Then you start to realize you can’t live without this person, and the next thing you know you are envisioning the ring, the wedding and the kids. It sounds crazy, but when you live with someone for awhile, it is actually a comforting feeling that makes you look forward to those commitment milestones.
If you are ready to give up your selfish ways to live a shared life, then you are ready to make a leap of faith and move in with your partner. Note that things won’t be perfect. They will have weird habits like leaving clothes all over the place — yes I am talking mismatched socks and jeans under the cushion. But if you are ready, there are so many benefits. So enjoy transforming from a me to a we and make the most of this huge step forward.
Born and raised in Northern Virginia, Christina aspires to be a public relations professional in a big city after graduation from James Madison University. In her free time when she’s not blogging away about dating and relationships, Christina loves to go shopping, watch Netflix and play with every puppy that crosses her path.