Do I really want a roommate? What it means to share a place
They say “birds of a feather flock together” but I’ve never seen two birds in a flock nest together. This is a true fact: sometimes even the best of friends can hate each other when they become roommates. So the question is do you really want a roommate?
The reality is money talks. If you love to hear the sweet sound of dollars in your wallet instead of the ghostly silence of an empty wallet than a roommate is a good idea. Here’s a short list of things you’re almost certain to split with your roommate:
- Rent
- Utilities
- Internet
To add some context we’ve added a short list of your most costly living expenses every month:
- Rent
- Utilities
- Internet
See what we’re getting at? The opportunity to split the most expensive aspects of your off campus pad will create quite a financial advantage. Yet, for some, money talks but so do roommates. You’re sacrificing quite a chunk of privacy. You may be sick, studying for biochem, or trying to watch a movie when your roomie has the loudest of possible loud friends over for some Halo or gossip sessions. If you can’t establish some friendly, co-op ground rules having a roomie can go from a financial heaven to a noisy hell in a heartbeat.
Some important ground rules to cover with your roomie:
- Guests and visitors – When it’s okay and when it’s not
- Cleaning duties – Living in a slum is no way to live
- The Refrigerator – If the cream cheese is YOUR cream cheese than you both need to be on the same bagel — I mean page.
- Rent – If one of you doesn’t pay your rent then you both don’t pay your rent. Make sure your roomie is responsible enough to hold up his end of the lease
If you’re going the roommate route give a lot of thought to what kind of person you want to see almost everyday. Grimacing at a pile of smelly dishes your roommate was supposed to wash is a lousy way to start your day. Discretion is the better part of valor—and picking roomies.