So how do you really feel when her guy friends call?
As James so eloquently put it, jealousy and cohabitation do not mix. Are you still worried when your girlfriend goes out with her best (guy) friend from college? Are you steaming when your boyfriend calls his female coworkers to invite them for drinks? If so, it's probably not time to live together. Work out your confidence in your relationship first, before the ex comes by for a visit.
Money is an object.
Love and money don't always mix. That's why it's a good idea to talk about money with your partner. Are you going to detail who buys what, pool your money on everything, or find some other way of keeping track of finances? Some couples open a special joint checking account to cover household expenses like rent and food. Others just go by what feels right to them ("You got the phone bill this month so I'll spring for the new vacuum cleaner."). Figure out early which type you are.
"If I have to tell you one more time to do the dishes . . ."
Sometimes, it's the little things that suck all the romance out of living together. Did you hate it when your roommate paid the phone bill two months late? How about when she polished off all the leftover moo shu pork without asking if you wanted any? Just wait till that roommate is your significant other. Things that you don't notice when you're just spending a couple of nights a week together are magnified when you're shacking up. Make sure you know each other's feelings about the following potential peeves and you can avoid a big brawl later:
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Housekeeping: Make sure you agree on the definition of "clean" before you sign the lease.
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Overnight guests: Is it cool if her mom spends the weekend and ends up staying for a month? Are his bandmates encouraged to crash at your place?
- Pets: If one of you is a pet owner, is the other one suddenly expected to share the litter-box-emptying responsibilities? How about Fido's food bill?
"Do you have any idea what time it is?"
One last thing. Not to be parental, but it's common courtesy to call and let your girlfriend/boyfriend know if you won't be coming in from "going out to a movie" till 5 a.m. the next morning. There's a balance between paranoia and passive aggressiveness. Hint: it's called communication.
Joined at the hip syndrome a.k.a. "Attack of the Annoying Couple People."
You hang out together, you sleep together, you wake up together, and you do everything together. Gross, isn't it? If you find that the two of you have suddenly become simply "the couple" and your friends have given up on you, ease off. Spend some time alone, for God's sake. Call your friends and make plans (the phone works both ways, you know). After all, you don't want to get sick of each other.
