How to move in with a partner for the first time ?

It’s only natural to feel a bit anxious and have questions about moving in together with a partner for the first time. Even if you’re feeling very upbeat about your relationship, living together with your partner for the first time is a major milestone. And it’s not without its perils.
Living with a partner means having to alter your habits and everyday routine. This adaptation period can create tension between you unless you prepare for it in advance.

Here are some tips for you that will hopefully smooth out the process of moving in with your partner.

1. Set your budget together

One of the first major points to discuss with your partner is how much you can afford to spend. It’s critical for each of you to be aware of the other’s finances so you can set a budget for rent and everyday expenses.

It’s a good idea to set ground rules and agree on your respective responsibilities to pay various household-related costs.

Some couples simply halve the total household income, while others prefer to weight expenses proportionately. In any case, what matters most is to find a modus vivendi that suits both parties.

Another tip is to open up a joint account for shared expenses (e.g. electricity, shopping, furniture purchases).

2. Talk in advance about how you will divide up household chores : it’s an unsexy, but vital conversation 

Living together also means sharing out the household chores. Finding the time to do daily household chores may not be easy, especially if both of you work full-time. It’s important to talk about this beforehand so you can come to an arrangement that fits both of your schedules.

It’s worth asking your partner what household chores they like doing the most so you can find common ground.

3. Give and take for a more harmonious relationship

In practice, living together is all about compromise. You may have to give in on certain points to keep your relationship on track.

Even if you are deeply in love with your partner, you are still both individuals with different needs and tastes. That’s why it’s important to listen to what they have to say, so you can maintain a balanced and harmonious relationship. You can draw up a list of each partner’s priority needs to help you find common ground.

4. Respect your partner’s need for privacy

Even if you’re living under the same roof, it’s important to respect your partner’s need for privacy. You or your partner may feel the need to spend some time alone. That’s a perfectly normal feeling, especially when you move in with someone for the first time.

If your budget so permits, we recommend finding a larger property so you can both have some space of your own.

5. Set aside time as a couple, even if you are living under the same roof

When a couple moves in together for the first time, sometimes they think that living together means spending more time with each other. Sometimes, certain couples may get bogged down in their daily activities such as paperwork, shopping and household chores.
Even though these are necessary tasks when you’re living together, it’s still vital to spend quality time with your partner, and for that, some forward planning might be needed. 

Try to do an activity away from the home (e.g. go out for a meal, watch a film, spend a weekend away together) so you can spend time with your partner without having to think about daily chores. Building this into your routine can help maintain a balanced and harmonious relationship.