How to Live with a Roommate

By Leah Maurer

When you go away to college, you end up living in the dorms or renting a place. This usually means you have a roommate. This can be a tricky thing. You're not used to living so close with a stranger, but there are ways you can survive.

Step 1: Share

You'll have to learn how to share. When you are living with another, there are things that are needed: television, dishes, a microwave, and furniture. You are not living alone so the things you have are not only yours now. If you need to buy anything, go shopping with your roommate and divide the purchases.

Step 2: Be Considerate

Another big thing about living with another person is you have to be considerate of each other. Some examples to keep in mind are:

• Don't be rude when the other has guests over.
• If one is doing homework, is sick, or going to bed, don't blare the music or television.
• Respect your roommate's items that you are able to use. You don't want to trash something that isn't yours.

Treat your roommate how you would want to be treated.

Step 3: Compromise

You have to learn how to compromise. You are not living by yourself. There will be new things that you'll have to get used to but you'll have to adjust in order to have a comfortable living arrangement.

Split up the chores. In order to equally divide the tasks, make out a weekly list of who is doing what. Take turns each week with such tasks as doing the dishes, vacuuming, and dusting.

Step 4: Conserve

Another good tip is to conserve. If you are paying electricity, try to save as much as you can. Bills can be high and they aren't fun to pay!

If you have air conditioning, turn it off if you are leaving. Also, turn it off at night, especially if you have your door closed-it can't get in there if you leave your door closed so what's the point of leaving it on? Open a window if you need to cool off.

Turn the lights, radio, and television off when you leave a room. There is no need to leave a million things on when you are in one room.

Step 5: Bond

Bond with your roommate. You will be living with that person for at least the school year. If you don't get a long or know that person well, it can get uncomfortable. Besides, everybody needs somebody to talk, vent, or cry to. Memories are made when you spend time with each other. Chatting late into the night makes for some good memories.

Some activies you can do to spend time bonding are to:

• Go bowling.
• Go to a movie.
• Cook dinner together.
• Rent movies.
• Go out to eat.
• Go shopping.
• Go to a lake.

You get to know a person when you bond.

Step 6: Be Responsible

Last but not least, be responsible. Pay your share of the bills. That is a part of living with a roommate. You don't want to stick your roommate with all the bills. That is rude and irresponsible. Besides, bills can get to be quite expensive and one person can't do all the paying. You're living together so split it fairly. Pay your bills on time, too. If you don't, there will be consequences to pay.

Also, do your part in the cleaning. You're both living there so you both have chores. Take blame if you did or didn't do something and you are at fault.

You are out in the real world now so take responsibility for your own actions.

Other Tips

• Decorate your living space.
• Learn to communicate.
• Talk problems out.
• Take your share of responsiblities.
• Spend time together.
• Share the cleaning.
• Respect each other and your roommate's things.
• Try to get along.
• Keep your junk in your own area.

Things to Share

• television
• VCR
• stereo
• computer
• couch
• chairs
• tables
• microwave
• refrigerator
• silverware
• dishes

Links

Women Today Magazine

Stories