If you’re looking to take your relationship to the next level, moving in together with your significant other seems like the obvious thing to do. Although sharing your living space with another person is not an easy thing to do, the following seven tips will help you prepare for everything this exciting new chapter might bring.
Do Relationships Change When You Move in Together?
While living together might seem like the next obvious step in your relationship, be aware that many things will change once you move in. After all, you’ll get to know each other in ways you never have before. If you have never spent much time in the same space, be prepared to go through a turbulent adjustment period. But how do you know when it’s right to move in together? Before you say “I think we should move in together” to your significant other, make sure that you are both genuinely ready for the next step.
Do Relationships Change When You Move in Together?
While living together might seem like the next obvious step in your relationship, be aware that many things will change once you move in. After all, you’ll get to know each other in ways you never have before. If you have never spent much time in the same space, be prepared to go through a turbulent adjustment period. But how do you know when it’s right to move in together? Before you say “I think we should move in together” to your significant other, make sure that you are both genuinely ready for the next step.
How Long Should You Wait to Move in Together When in a Relationship?
Is 6 months too soon to move in together, or should I wait longer? While many Americans decide to move in after only three months of dating, most relationship experts say that that’s the bare minimum. Couples need at least a year to get to know each other well, but if you’re comfortable with your significant other, it’s completely acceptable to start living together even after a few months.
#1 Know When to Make a Compromise on Something
What to know before moving in together with your significant other? Although this might be the next obvious step for the relationship, be aware that you’ll often have to make compromises. Despite having many similar traits and interests, you’re still two different people with specific wants and needs. Considering you can’t always have it your way, communicate with your partner and find a solution you both like. This should be applied to all aspects of your new life, from choosing which Philadelphia neighborhood to live in, to deciding how to tip movers after relocating.
#2 You’ve Got to Be Honest When Discussing Finances
Money is one of the main reasons why many couples end their long-term relationships. That’s why you’re going to have to talk about finances before deciding to move in. If the relocation is just around the corner, there shouldn’t be any secrets between the two of you. Although this might not be the most pleasant conversation topic, understanding your current situation will help you make the right financial decisions right from the start. Try to speak freely about existing mortgages, debt, or anything else that could impact your chances of getting the home you always wanted.
What Are Some Important Financial Things to Discuss Before Moving in Together With Your Partner?
Deciding to live with your significant other means you’ll often have to handle all important financial decisions together. Although it might take some time to get used to sharing your hard-earned cash, you’ll undoubtedly appreciate having someone to lean on when things get rough. But before we get ahead of ourselves, a few details need to be dealt with before you start living together:
- Who gets to handle finances? – Although men used to have a leading role in keeping the cash flowing, most of today’s couples choose to split the responsibilities and handle all the resources together.
- How will you pay the bills? – While some prefer to split all the expenses equally, others prefer to cover only what they’ve spent. If one of you earns significantly more than the other, it might be better to split the bills proportionately to the income.
- Who will cover the relocation costs? – Decide who’s going to pay the Philadelphia moving companies. If only your significant other is getting professional moving services in Philadelphia, step in and cover a portion of their relocation expenses as a sign of goodwill.
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Free quotePartners Should Consider Opening a Joint Bank Account
Unless you really feel uncomfortable sharing the control of your earnings, consider opening a joint bank account with your significant other. Combining finances allows both of you to keep track of all the expenses and deal with potential issues right away. Seeing how it makes budgeting a lot easier, it’s particularly handy for those not good with organizing important documents and dealing with paperwork. Those who get married will have even more benefits, as filing taxes with your spouse doubles the value of your current taxable income bracket. Unless your earnings were already in the same bracket, this essentially means you will have lower taxes at the end of the year. To learn more about joint bank accounts, check out the video below.
#3 Find a Living Arrangement That Suits Both of You
Deciding where to live has to be one of the hardest things to do before relocating. While some prefer their partner to move in with them, it’s often best to start looking for a new home together. However, considering finding an apartment you like is already complicated as is, imagine how hard it can be to find a place that suits both of your needs. If one person lives in West Philadelphia while the other one is in South Philly, both will likely have to compromise in one way or another. Still, most couples should be able to agree on some key details, including the location and the size of the place.
#4 A Couple Moving in Together Will Have to Declutter
Unless the place you choose to move in has an unlimited storage capacity, both you and your significant other will have to give some stuff away. Considering all your belongings will be transferred to the same place, deciding what to give away is much easier if you sort through the inventory together. While you can freely box up shoes, clothing, and other personal essentials, there’s really no need to pack furniture that both of you own. Besides the multiple sets of chairs and tables, avoid packing plates and other fragile items that you never use, as they’ll just continue collecting dust. The same can be said about anything easily replaceable and non-functional, so don’t even bother boxing up electronics that are clearly out of date.
How to Deal With Everything That Can’t Fit in the New Place?
Although these objects might not be needed anymore, you shouldn’t throw away something just because it can’t fit in the new home. In fact, there are several different ways to deal with these belongings that don’t involve tossing them in the trash:
- Place in storage – Storing stuff that can’t fit will allow you to keep almost all the belongings. If you can’t move a piano or other large items, our local Philly movers will be more than happy to help. Getting our in- and-out-of storage service allows you to quickly store anything, making it a perfect option for those relocating in a hurry.
- Sell them – Anything that’s relatively new that you certainly won’t use in the future should be sold either online or at the local garage sale. Money earned this way should be more than enough to pay for moving and storage in Philadelphia or even a few rents.
- Donate to charity – If some of the stuff didn’t sell, try donating it to Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, or The Salvation Army. These charity organizations have stores across the entire city, so you should be able to find a store in your area relatively quickly.
#5 Although it Can Be Hard, Try to Divide Chores Evenly
Sharing a home with your significant other has several benefits, particularly when it comes to keeping the place up and running. Considering you won’t be the only person cleaning the apartment anymore, you’ve got to find a way to split all the chores. Although it will be hard to do everything 50/50, it’s important to make an effort and help each other out when the need arises. For example, if only one of you cooked that day, the other person should offer to set the table, take out the trash, or wash the pots and pans and other dishes after the meal. All the efforts will undoubtedly keep the relationship healthy in the long run.
#7 Talk About Your Plans for the Future
Considering everyone has unique wishes, needs, and aspirations, it’s crucial to know what both of you expect from the relationship. Sharing your plans about the future will keep you on the same page, so make sure you talk about all the important stuff. If you are unsure what to discuss before moving in together, things like getting a pet, marriage, and starting a family should definitely be brought up. Although it might be uncomfortable to talk about some of these subjects, it’s essential to have a discussion before deciding to move in. While smaller differences might be resolved with a compromise, couples with vastly different goals usually end up breaking up sooner rather than later.
How to Move in Together With Your Significant Other? Hire One of the Best Moving Companies in Philadelphia to Assist You
With everything that has to be considered before making this decision, using these few tips should help you settle much more quickly. Ironing out all the crucial details takes time, though, so you will likely need to hire a Philadelphia moving company to assist you with the rest of the relocation preparations. Booking the best packers and movers in Philadelphia, PA, will provide you with an excellent residential relocation, allowing you to move efficiently, like never before.
If you have a ton of items to pack, just get our incredible packing service, and don’t worry about a thing. You won’t even have to get supplies, as our team will bring all the necessary tools and equipment. Philadelphia Movers also offer excellent commercial relocation, allowing aspiring entrepreneurs to move their business to a completely different location in just a day. Contact us as soon as you decide to move in with your significant other, and we’ll provide both of you with a free quote.