Sharing Expenses with a Roommate
How to Fairly Divide Bills, Chores and Grocery Expenses
Whether you and your roommate compare yourselves to Felix and Oscar of The Odd Couple or the Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer characters in Two and A Half Men, sharing a home with someone else is never easy, especially when it comes to money. It doesn’t matter if one person’s neat and the other’s a slob, if you forgot to pay the milk man and your roommate’s penchant for long hot showers ran up the gas bill, you both have more pressing issues, like how to stay afloat financially before ending your housing arrangement:
Set up a budget before moving in. Don’t sign a lease with someone until you both sit down and go over how to divide bills and expenses. It doesn’t matter if you’re friends now, because that may change if the two of you start arguing over money. If you establish a budget at the beginning and plan out every single financial detail of your living arrangement, you’ll prevent future stress. Even if you decide to split every utility bill down the middle, establish in advance who is responsible for making the payment on time. Also, if one person likes to set the thermostat higher than the other, come up with a compromise at the beginning. If you both decide to do your own grocery shopping, make it clear no "borrowing" from the other. And set up separate shelves and refrigerator compartments for each of you. Labeling every shelf and drawer will alleviate confusion.
Set up a living schedule. If you’re a night owl and your roommate is up with the roosters, come up with a schedule so you both can get sleep. If you share a bathroom, place limits on bathroom and shower time. Also, if you determine who uses the bathroom at which half-hour intervals in the morning, you’ll both save yourselves a lot of aggravation. Put together an agreement as to how often and how long each of you will have guests stay. If your roommate has a significant other who practically lives there and isn’t paying rent, the situation has to change.
Be considerate. Even if you set a rule that states no more than one guest at a time and your roommate’s parents visit from halfway across the country, cut him/her some slack. These are simply guidelines to follow. Common sense still rules.
Finally, don’t ruin a friendship by becoming roommates. If your best friend since grade school begs you to room with him, don’t give in just to avoid hurt feelings. Go with your instincts. You know if that person is someone you could get along with on a day-to-day basis. If he procrastinates paying bills and you pay them the minute they come in the mail, or if he hoards everyone else’s clothes and food, you’re better off looking for a different housemate. Sometimes it’s better to keep a friend and room with an acquaintance you know you can get along with.
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How to share a college dorm room with a roommate.
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