Moving in with your partner: Do's and dont's

The question is how soon is too soon and how late is too late? Too late may mean the relationship is in a rough spot or has ended. Too soon may mean a few months into a relationship.

Either way, there are signs that can point you in the right direction on whether it is right to move in together.

Maybe something feels off or maybe you want to make sure that it is the right decision for you or your relationship.

Here are the dos and dont's of moving in together.

Couples move in together for a variety of reasons in this era other than marriage. Some move in together to save time or money. But as mentioned, there are signs that indicate whether living together will work out for you or not.

Dont's

You have not had the money talk.

Discussing money with your partner is essential even though it can be awkward. We are not suggesting you present your financial statements and how much you earn. But talking about how to handle living expenses, saving, paying debts, and establishing financial stability is important.

You have not had a big fight

If you have not had a big conflict you don't have any way of knowing if you can get through it together. Fighting is easy and sometimes expected, but the aftermath is the hard part. If you don't know how you recover and your big fight ends the relationship, breaking up while living together can be very unpleasant.

You have issues that you hope moving in together will solve

Living together can test a healthy relationship but it can make relationship issues worse, not better. For example, if you lack trust, don't assume that having your partner in your sights will make you trust them.

One person or both of you feel anxious about moving in

If you don't feel 100 percent comfortable with the idea of moving in together, wait until you're ready. Trust your gut feeling when it is screaming at you or bubbling up when the idea or topic comes up.

You have frequent arguments

The problem with frequent arguments is that they don't get resolved as quickly as they occur. This means you will have to endure many silent and awkward dinners and sleep with unresolved feelings. If you can't imagine spending your evenings like that, hold off moving in.

Dos

You talk about a future together

With the right person, talks about the future happen naturally. If your conversations happen around future plans and big life events, it shows that you are on the same page.

You have good relationships with each other's friends and families

If your partner gets along with your friends and family, and vice versa, it is a sign that you have support. Dynamics with their friends and family can make or break the relationship. It is important to get their approval and have their support.

You know each other's finances

You should have zero doubts or surprises when it comes to finances. You know how to handle your groceries, utilities, and rent, and have discussed how to integrate both your finances to live together. Transparency is key in navigating finances as they come together.

You’re frequently staying at each other’s places anyway

It is time to move in if half your clothes are at your partner's place or you have bought twice your essentials to leave at their place. Your place is becoming a storage more than a living space.