Tips for Living with Roommates

Living with roommates doesn't have to be such a scary situation and it shouldn’t be. Home is supposed to be your sanctuary and in order to keep it that way you’re going to have to master conflict management or figure out how to avoid a disaster in the first place.
 

1. Assess the situation: Friend vs. Stranger
   Stranger: Make a list of your likes and dislikes so you can understand each other better. Understanding what kind of people you are and establishing boundaries beforehand will help avoid collisions later in your living situation.
   Friend: When it comes to living with your friend, you need establish open communication. Living together takes as much effort as maintaining the friendship, so be open when things are bugging you. Make sure this person is someone you can handle for the specific amount of time your lease is.
    
2. Bills
   It’s always helpful to split the bills up in each roommate’s names. In addition, it’s beneficial to have everyone’s name on the lease and utility accounts. That way, someone can't tap dance their way out of the situation and if any legal action needs to be taken, you’ll be in a better place.
    
3. Share responsibility
   If you’re going to share groceries, keep a special cupboard for stuff you’re not willing to share with others. The same goes with hair products, clothes, or any other personal items. Also, when it comes to certain community products for example, toilet paper or cat food, try to establish a system for who buys what and when. Make a chore list for different areas of the house. It’s exhausting for one roommate to always be doing dishes while the other sits around.
    
4. Open communication
   If you think your roommate is not doing their fair share around the living quarters, tell them! If they’re too loud when you’re trying to sleep or you don't appreciate coming home to a party every night, let your roommate know. You cannot come to a solution if the other person does not know there is a problem. If you just become hostile and rude, they’ll just do the same which won't make for a favorable living situation.
    
5. Pets
   Pets can also be the cause of a hostile living environment. If your roommate refuses to clean the litter box located in your bathroom, something needs to be said. If your roommate says they cannot live without their pet, you need to make sure it is a pet you can live with and the ground rules have been set.
    
6. Establish some sort of bond
   It’s always helpful to establish some sort of one-on-one time with your roommate in order to keep your living quarters a comfortable environment. So whether it’s reserving time once a week to watch “The Office”, having lunch once a week or having a 10-minute chat every week to catch up briefly, it can be beneficial and make your living situation much more harmonious.

Thank you Ashley Wioskowski at the Western Herald for these great tips!