5 Tips to Successfully Living Together
In today’s economy, especially in Colorado, it is becoming more and more common for couples to move in together in order to save on money.
If this is the case for you, or even if you're newlyweds beginning a new life, it is important to recognize there are a lot of struggles that couples face by living together. It’s a new journey in life, but with hard work, love, and determination, these challenges can be overcome.
Here are 5 tips to keep in mind before and during your transition.
1. Keep your problems between the two of you. It is very easy to want to turn to someone else and tell them just how wrong you think the other person is, but know that there are consequences to that. Venting every now and then is OK, but try to keep it to a bare minimum. You don’t want to give away so much information to influence your friend and family’s opinions about your significant other. Chances are you’ll end up forgiving them. It’s best just to cool down and go straight to the source and work things out with them.
Pro Tip: Never air your dirty laundry over Social Media.
2. Have a financial plan. Finances are VERY important to talk about in order for you to be on the same page. It is also a very difficult discussion for some especially if you have a mountain of debt or don’t make as much money as the other.
Try to “suck it up” and have the conversation. Knowing where you both stand in your finances and what you can or cannot afford will save a lot of problems down the road.
3. Continue dating. That’s right- keep up with date night. After you discuss your finances, you’ll be able to decide what kind of dates you can afford. If you’re lucky enough, dinner and a movie (outside of the house) will be great to plan every Friday or so. If your finances won’t allow for that, have a picnic in the park. As long as you’re out and spending time with each other. Staying home every night doing the same thing will get boring and can possibly drive you both crazy.
4. Have patience. Patience will make or break you. Having little to no patience causes more problems than necessary. Try to keep your cool and talk your way through things- everything, in fact. If you find yourself stirring up inside, walk away until you’re calm.
Some people have issues with this and if that’s the case for you, have a discussion about it and you will both be able to work on it together. It is possible to grow your patience so don’t convince yourself that you’re just not a patient person. It takes time and practice.
5. Learn to agree to disagree. I’m sorry to break it to you, but you guys will disagree. A lot. It’s nature- you were broth brought up different ways and by different sets of rules. It’s engraved in you to think one-way or another. It’s also important to recognize this about each other and know what you can agree on and when to decide no one’s going to budge and the issue just needs to be left alone. Please take note that it shouldn’t be swept under the rug. Agreeing to disagree is different from avoidance.
Have you conquered the difficulties of transitioning into the role of living together? If so, tell me that ONE thing that worked best for you.
