Moving In Together: You'll Need More Than Just a Floor Plan

You finally decided to keep a toothbrush over at his place, which soon graduated to a shelf in the medicine cabinet. Next, you were given a whole drawer in his dresser.

Before you know it, you're talking about moving in together. But let the transition be a smooth one. Like any other merger or acquisition, there are subtle nuances that will make the process a more seamless one.

And while right now you think there is possibly nothing that could interfere with your co-habitating bliss, by exercising a little clear-eyed planning now, you can possibly miss the inevitable dings later on.

According to Shape magazine, these are the best five tips to help you avoid those "you're not keeping that old ugly recliner, are you baby?" moments:

Move into a new place that's new for the both of you. No ghosts of boyfriends/girlfriends past can haunt the closets where heaven forbid you find some long-ago cast away garment. Keep it neutral on new (and equal ) territory.Maybe keep your finances separate. You can join hands and hearts, but save joining the checkbooks. That's for marrieds or long-term relationships. Even it you're sure you're in it for the long haul, it doesn't hurt to exercise a little fiscal caution.Take stock, in a very honest way, about your beloved's habits. If they aren't pretty (or are pretty disgusting) before you live together, chances are that they'll stay that way or get worse once you are living together. Set up reasonable expectations and then work on those together.Go with that lovely rule of balance: everything is 50-50. If you always pick the restaurant, let him always pick the movie. Figure out a way to keep the equilibrium in the relationship and inside the home.Don't chalk it up to a "failure to communicate." Keep the connection by keeping honesty and openess in your discussions. If something (his leaving the toilet seat up, for example) really, really grinds you, then make that a sticking point, but be sure to do it in a forum that will be accepted, instead of perceived as a scold.

In other words, don't sweat the small stuff, keep it fair and balanced and save the really important things (like who gets to record the voicemail message on your new home phone line!) for times that count.

 

Photo courtesy Lana@Flickr.com.