November 28, 2016
Ellie Colpitts
Finally living with like-minded people your age seemed like the light at the end of the parent-governed tunnel.
But the chance of you and your high school bestie going to the same college were slim to none and the dreadful unknown now looms before you: you will have to live with strangers.
The first few weeks of sharing an apartment are usually fine; you get comfortable with each other and might even become friends.
But all hell breaks loose as soon as someone walks around naked, you hear each other poop, your food starts to disappear and dirty dishes sit in the sink for days.
The bottom line is that roommates are not as fun as our college fantasies would have it.
Maybe living with randomly assigned roommates isn’t what you chose and you wanted to live with the friends you made at freshman orientation.
But this is a mistake too. The little quirks in your friends that never bothered you before now choke you day and night because there is no escaping them. Your friendship becomes strained due to incomplete chores and unpaid bills.
Sharing room and board is not all it’s cracked up to be, but for financial sake, you have to make it work.
According to Business Insider, the number of adults living with roommates is about one-third of all households in 2014.
Only one way to deal with this sad reality is available: be a good roommate. This may sound difficult, but it’s not hard to do your part.
One of the most commonly disputed issues between roommates is cleanliness. Some people are clean freaks and some people just don’t care. You and your roommate need to find a happy medium if this is the case.
It all boils down to having respect and consideration for the people you’re living with.
If you use someone’s pot to cook soup, make sure to clean it after so your roommate doesn’t come running into the kitchen, stomach seizing from hunger, only to find they can’t make themselves food right away because you didn’t clean.
You should also plan your get-togethers accordingly. If you want to have a few friends over to celebrate surviving another week of college, you should ask your roommates if it’s OK. Set a time that your rowdy friends will leave by, so everyone can get some sleep.
Paying rent is another concern. While most living spaces require you to pay a set price each month, utilities will vary and you will need to find a way to budget for the discrepancies.
What is arguably one of the most aggravating instances for roommates is when one is super conscious of their energy and water use while the other uses it carelessly. At the end of the month everyone pays the same.
It’s not difficult to turn off the lights in your room when you’re not in it.
Finally, be aware of your roommates’ significant others.
The best way to avoid conflict here is by communicating. Tell your roommates when you’re having your significant other over so they don’t walk around without pants on. Tell your significant other to be friendly and generous to your roommates. And don’t forget that the walls are thin.
Learn from your roommates’ annoying habits so you don’t make the same mistakes. When something they do bothers you, let them know. Communication is always the key.