Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
In life, there are certain milestones which mark the beginning of a new phase of life for each individual – moving out on your own is one such decision which usually gives you a sense of independence that you can never get when living at home.
While some people choose to move out alone, others prefer doing so with friends or partners, which is not a bad idea either, especially if you’re an extrovert and don’t fancy living alone.
Nevertheless, you could find yourself in a tough situation when you’re trying to decide whom you should be moving out with – is it better to move out with a partner, or with a group of close buddies?
In this article, we’re going to walk you through some of the pros and cons of each decision, which should help you narrow down on your choice, once you figure out what’s going to work for you and what’s not. Without further ado, let’s get started!
Moving out with friends – the pros and cons
In most cases, friends are like family, especially if you grew up together and have known each other through thick and thin.
However, like everything in life, moving in with friends can have its advantages and drawbacks, depending on what kind of person you are and what kind of flatmates or roommates you’re looking for.
Here are some important factors you should have in mind before making this decision.
Pros of living with friends
- The cost of living is cheaper, since you’ll likely split all the bills in half.
- You don’t have to invest alone on furniture and appliances, since everyone will chip in.
- You can take turns doing household chores and cooking, so you don’t have to cook and clean every single day.
- It’s better to move in with friends than with complete strangers, since you can trust them and won’t have to worry about your things going missing.
- You can get them to chip in on insurance, if you happen to own anything that’s of high value that you’d like to protect. You can go through this article if you’re unsure about what is home and contents insurance, and what all it covers.
- You won’t have to feel awkward about bringing your family to visit your place every once in a while, since your friends probably know and like your family too.
Cons of living with friends
- Some friends may take the liberty to use your things without your permission.
- It can be awkward to remind your friends that they haven’t paid their share of monthly expenses if they ever happen to forget.
- Some friends can take advantage of your generosity by expecting you to cover their share of expenses, especially if you’re earning more than them.
- You may not be able to have a lot of personal space, especially if your friends are nosy or like to get involved in your affairs.
Moving out with a partner – the pros and cons
Pros of living with a partner
- You get to spend some quality time together, especially if you live busy lives and are only free on the weekends.
- Living together can help you understand each other better, and also see each other for who you really are.
- You’ll be able to split finances while also being more open and honest about what expectations you have when living in the same space.
- You can work on improving your relationship by figuring out what works and what doesn’t early on.
Cons of living with a partner
- You’ll have to share the same living space when you’re in the middle of a big fight.
- Things can get messy if you aren’t able to communicate your feelings and expectations with each other.
- Some couples may quickly realize that the relationship isn’t going to work, leading to a break up – after which one of you will have to move out.
