Moving in with your boyfriend is a fun, exciting, and scary time in any woman’s life. You’re finally ready to take the next step in the relationship and move in together! But it can be scary to make such a big change. This guide will help you know what to expect and how to start off on the right foot. Here are some important tips to consider before you plan your big move!
1.Be honest with yourself about what you want.
Are you just looking for someone who can help pay the rent or do you want to move in with the person you’re going to marry? Being honest with yourself at the very beginning can save both parties some heartache down the road. I’m not saying you should have a long-term plan when you’re just starting out, but it’s good to have a general idea of where you see this relationship going.
The next step is talking with your boyfriend. Are you on the same page, or is he not looking for anything serious? If he might not be, that’s something you need to know before packing your bags and moving into his place!
2.Set boundaries now.
If you have never lived together before, you may not know how he will act once he gets comfortable in his new home. Set boundaries right away so that he knows where you stand on things like smoking, drinking, spending money, and other personal habits. If he breaks these rules, do not hesitate to enforce them.
Communicate everything from the beginning so that there won’t be any surprises later on in the relationship.
3.Make a plan for the first night.
Before you even move in, plan what you’re going to do on the first night in your new place. It’s possible that after unpacking, buying groceries, or setting up furniture, neither of you will feel like cooking or entertaining guests. Make a reservation at a restaurant nearby or order takeout so that all you have to do is show up.
4.Discuss your financial situation.
Discuss how money will be spent and saved once you are living together. You both need to be aware of how much each person makes as well as how much each person will contribute to rent or mortgage payments and bills such as utilities, cable and Internet access.
5.Set up house rules and chores ahead of time.
Disagreements about how to divide household chores, decorating, or how much screen time is okay can cause friction if you don’t talk about them ahead of time. It’s important to set up these rules as soon as possible so that there aren’t any surprises along the way.
6.Be respectful of each other’s space
If you’re moving from separate places into one apartment, chances are you’re going to be used to having a lot more space than you’ll have now — especially if it’s a studio apartment or another small space. The first thing you should do is discuss how much space each person needs for their belongings and determine whether or not they fit in the new place comfortably. If it won’t work, it may be time to have a garage sale (or two).
7.Plot out your apartment’s layout together.
You might already have an idea of how you want to arrange your furniture, but it’s important that you both agree on the layout of the space. After all, it will be your new home!
8.Set aside time for each other.
Make it known that you want to spend time just the two of you, like going on dates or taking weekend trips. Even if you’re living together, you don’t want your relationship to feel like roommates — make sure you’re still dating each other.
9.Have a game plan for furniture.
f you’re moving into his place and all he has is a mattress on the floor, don’t freak out just yet! You can replace that mattress and buy a new bed together. This will be a fun bonding experience, as well as an opportunity to get some new furniture that matches both of your tastes.
If you’re moving into his place and he already has cute furniture, then obviously you want to keep it! But if there are pieces that clash with your stuff or just aren’t your style at all, do not hesitate to sell them on Craigslist or give them away. After all, this is going to be your home now too.
Discuss how often you should clean. This is one of the most important things you have to discuss before moving in with someone, especially if you have different cleaning styles. Some people
10.Consider an open relationship agreement.
This is more commonly known as a domestic partnership agreement, living together contract or cohabitation agreement. This can give you peace of mind and help the two of you discuss how you will handle issues that may arise during your living situation
Make sure your credit scores are compatible. When you move in together and start sharing expenses, one person’s credit score is going to be used when applying for loans and other things that require a credit check
Have an exit strategy. When you first move in together, everything is new and exciting. It’s easy to overlook small annoyances like leaving dirty dishes in the sink or forgetting to take out the trash. If a major argument does arise or the relationship doesn’t work out, having an exit strategy in place can make this difficult time easier on both of you