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I've listed these suggestions in order of importance based on my experience with my kids as well as what I've heard from their friends.

In order to save on rent, you might want to consider sharing your home with friends, aka “roommates.” That way you can split the rent by the number of tenants.

The most important thing you should do in a roommate situation is to make sure everyone’s names and signatures are included on the lease or rental agreement. This ensures that all parties involved have made the commitment to be accountable for the rent as well as any terms included in the agreement, such as the condition of the home.

Here are a few things that should be discussed and agreed upon amongst roommates that are not talked about in a lease or rental agreement:

• Who will sleep where?
• What do everyone’s work, school, and sleep schedules look like? This will help everyone to be aware of when quiet time is needed.
• What will the guidelines be regarding visitors? This discussion might include when visitors are welcome based on work, school and homework schedules. Talk about evenings, weekends and overnight stays. And while it should be understood that each person is responsible for the behavior of their visitors, it is worth talking about up front.
• How will housework be split up? This might include discussions about keeping the common areas of the house clean such as the living room, bathroom, and kitchen. In regards to the kitchen, you should discuss meal preparation as well as the subsequent cleanup.
• How will you handle grocery shopping? Will you share things such as milk, eggs, and cereal? This discussion might include where each persons’ groceries are to be stored.
• How do you all feel about sharing personal items such as dishes, glasses, towels, silverware, pots and pans, toilet paper, soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, clothes, etc.?

Those are just a few topics you should discuss with potential roommates. You may also want to consider a Relationship Agreement so you don’t end up all kinds of pissed off at each other and losing good friends.

To learn more about the roommate experience, talk with your parents or other friends and see how their situations panned out. I’m sure everyone has a story!!!

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