Things To Do When Moving In With Your Partner To Make The Transition Smoother

Moving in together checklist: things to do that can make your relationship even better

Moving in with your partner for the first time is exciting and it gives you the chance to do more things together. From decorating your new place, to shopping for furniture and exploring your new neighbourhood, there’s a world of fun awaiting. If you’re moving in with a partner, the following tips will help make the transition smoother.

Start with financial discussions to build confidence

Your first step when moving together is to get the nitty gritty details out of the way. The sooner you sort out your financial situation, the sooner you can move onto the fun parts of your new life together. Start by deciding how you’re going to split your finances. You don’t need a shared bank account to do this, just work out the monthly spending within the household, including rent, utilities bills, internet, and so on, and split it. You can include groceries as well, or you might like to shop together and split it when you’re there. Be completely open about your debt, including student loans and credit cards.

YOUR FIRST STEP WHEN MOVING TOGETHER IS TO GET THE NITTY GRITTY DETAILS OUT OF THE WAY.

Split the chores so you can halve the load

Now that you’ve talked about money, it’s time to discuss who does what. When it comes to chores around the house, there’s no law that states women should vacuum and men should mow the lawns. Instead, talk to each other about your preferences and make a clear plan. If one of you prefers to cook, the other might do the dishes afterwards. You might enjoy gardening and cleaning up the yard, while your partner might prefer sweeping and polishing. Write a list of everything you have to get done, how often it needs to be done, and then decide who is going to do what. It’s a good idea to get the long-term picture on paper in case circumstances change as well (for example, if someone loses their job, they might be able to do more around the home).

Explore the new neighbourhood to find new routines

The best thing about living with your partner is the freedom it gives you to get to know each other. You’ll learn their annoying habits, and you’ll be a self-proclaimed relationship expert on each other if you decide on tying the knot further down the line. Living together before marriage also gives you the opportunity to create new habits that you can do together. Start with a walk at breakfast time and see if you can find a nice bakery, or café where you can enjoy a delicious and hearty meal. Check out some of the businesses participating in Shop Small to see what’s in your area, or simply take a walk around and explore. Keep walking to find local parks where you might be able to enjoy a picnic together, seats by the beach to watch the sunset, walking or cycling tracks where you can exercise and get fresh air, and so on. You can enhance the things you already enjoy doing together or try something new to add to your new life routine.

Consider each other when decorating for comfort

When it’s time to move, consider the living spaces you have in your new home and decide how you’re going to decorate and furnish. This allows you to get creative so you can blend both your needs and wants into the design as you work together and to learn to compromise. You want to make sure you both feel comfortable, so if you’re moving in with someone, they probably won’t want the entire house to be completely your style.

YOU BOTH NEED TO LEARN TO COMPROMISE, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, KEEP YOUR OWN PERSONALITY SHINING THROUGH AS WELL.

Take into consideration your partner’s opinion so it doesn’t turn into a big deal later on. You both need to learn to compromise, while at the same time, keep your own personality shining through as well. Try avoid arguing over little things, like where a couch is going to go. If your partner wants the couch somewhere in particular, add your own coffee table to the space as well. If you really can’t stand his superhero action figures collection, set aside a room or space where he can have his things where he wants them. Which leads us to our next point...

Keep your independence with your own space

Everyone needs personal space and when couples move in together for the first time, you want to be able to enjoy each other’s company – but you also want to have time out to yourself. Try to create a space in the home that’s just for you, and on that’s just for your partner. You might decide to keep your cars out on the driveway, so your partner can create their own gym area the shed. Or you might use the spare room as your personal office or meditation space, complete with lounges and surround sound music. Decorate your space, and let your partner decorate their space – it’s a great way to keep your individuality, while at the same time giving you both room to do your own thing.

If you’re ready to make the move, take into account the above tips and you’ll set the scene for smooth sailing.