Moving In as a Couple

by Sierra Schuette
Blog Content Contributor

*KTSW consists of and respects varying opinions within its staff. Opinion articles do not reflect the opinion of KTSW as a whole.

In college, some people find the person they want to spend the rest of their lives with. They get feelings they never felt before and truly fall in love with the person of their dreams. They feel comfortable and accepted. More often now, college students are moving in with their significant others before marriage. A lot of people judge this decision quickly and think that it is morally wrong to do so before marriage, I disagree. I think that moving in with the one you love can be a very smart decision, as long as you consider all outcomes before signing that lease. If you are considering moving in with your special person, here are some things to consider first.

• Do your parents like the person you are moving in with? Can they accept you living with them? Many parents have a knack for judging the people you date, I’m sure you have dated someone they did not like, and they probably did not like them for a pretty good reason. If your parents are not okay with the move in, I would definitely advise you to reconsider. Maybe take a few more months to think about it.
• Consider what would happen if, God forbid, the relationship went sour. Would you be stuck living with them? Would it be hard to get a sublease? Could you move back home for a little while? Some apartments will allow one resident to be financially responsible for the bills and they allow you to split the bills on your own. This way, you could move out if needed, without having to deal with breaking a lease.
• Does your partner’s home right now look like a place you could comfortably live in? Looking at someone’s current home will give you a good idea of how that person will manage a place you own together. Have you stayed with this person before? Did you feel comfortable using their bathroom? Does their cleanliness match yours? Or exceed  it? The road ahead will require both of you to give a little and compromise to meet a good middle ground.
• Where do you see this relationship in five years? I think this question is self-explanatory. If you do not see the relationship heading towards something bigger, why take a step forward.
• Do you push each other to do better in everything you do? Moving in together means you are risking your abilities to work hard and get good grades. However, if you know already that you are both dedicated to your work and you are both very supportive of each other, you could actually push each other to do better. Have you ever done homework or studied together? Do you get frustrated when they are busy with work and school? Do you love seeing your partner succeed in what they do? If you think moving in together may be a huge distraction from your work and school, stop right there and remember your success should come first.

Of course there are many more things to consider and I am not the love guru, but from personal experience I think these are some very important things to consider before sharing your space.