8 Things You Should Consider Before Moving In With Your Partner

If you’ve been with your partner for a while, you may be looking for signs you’re ready to move in together. This is a big step hence you need to consider a lot of things first. To help you make sure, here are eight signs you’re ready to move in together.

1. You Have Your Own Life This is not just one of the major signs you’re ready to move in together, it’s one of the cardinal rules of relationships. It’s so important to have your own life. Don’t neglect your friends or family completely for the sake of your partner. Sure, there will be some give and take, but always be true to the things that define you. Keeping your own schedule and doing your own thing is key when it comes to living together. You’re going to want time apart at times, so having your own life will really be important.

2. You’re Out of The Honeymoon Phase Being out of the honeymoon phase is essential if you’re thinking of moving in together. The honeymoon phase doesn’t always have a specific time limit, but it’s usually anytime within the six months to one year mark of a relationship. During the honeymoon phase you’re still craving each other at all times. You still think your partner is beyond perfection. You haven’t quite gotten to the point where you recognize a few of each other’s quirks in order to start accepting them.

If you feel you’re still in the early part of your relationship – or the honeymoon phase – you may want to hold off on signing that lease together, because it wouldn’t be a nice thing when your partners true colors come out after you have decided to move in with them.

3. You’re Secure with Your Finances Moving in together isn’t all peaches and cream. There will suddenly be a number of bills and expenses you’ll need to decide how to divide. This can put a strain on any relationship, let alone a romantic one. Make sure you have your finances in order, and don’t be afraid to have a serious talk with your partner about their finances . The last thing you want is to be stuck in a signed arrangement with someone who suddenly can’t pay their share.

4. You’ve Spent Serious Time Together Think this through logically: you will be spending a lot more time together. Right off the bat this sounds great, right? No more traveling to each other’s places, no more coordinating and planning in order to see each other. While that all sounds grand, remember that it means your partner will be around most of the time. Your place is now their place. If you have similar schedules, you will be home together a lot. Make sure you’ve spent some real time together, meaning more than two nights per week. It’s a good preview of how your bae is going to act once you’ve settled in to a shared space.

5. You’ve Cooked Together When you live alone or with your friends, food is pretty easy. You can do your own thing, grab a pizza … anything goes! You don’t really have to worry about people eating your grub, especially if you have the labeling system down with your roommates. When you’re living with your lover, though, things are a little different. Most times you’ll cook and eat together. Cooking together is fun, romantic, and a good way to tell if you’ll get along in a domestic situation.

6. You’ve Defined Your Relationship Do not – I repeat do NOT – move in together if you have not yet defined your relationship! This is so important! You don’t want to co-habitate with someone who has a completely different idea of what your relationship is than you. Maybe he just wants a steady supply of p*ssy or maybe she just wants a man to support her financially. Nothing more.

Make sure you’re both in the relationship you want at the level you mutually feel it should be at this point. Don’t compare yourselves to other people, but do have a clear and determining conversation about your relationship status before sharing a place.

7. You’ve Discussed The Future Some people feel moving in together is the last step before marriage. Others might think it’s a way to avoid marriage altogether. Still others feel it doesn’t denote whether you’ll marry or not, it’s just the right situation for your relationship. Make sure you discuss this with your lover to make sure you’re both on the same page. Ladies, If you’re gunning for a wedding ring and he’s not even thinking along those lines, you’re in for quite a misunderstanding that could botch your relationship.

8. You’re Excited Moving in together is a big step, but it’s also an exciting one! If you have serious concerns about your relationship or if you feel you’re not ready to share your space, pay attention to these feelings! You don’t want to rush something like moving in together. If you’re genuinely excited and love the idea of learning how to live together Moving in with anyone is a big decision.

Moving in with your partner brings a number of additional things to consider. Make sure you’ve done your due diligence and really determined if you and your partner are both ready to move in together.