h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Everyone else has said, it, and I'll say it too: discuss your expectations beforehand. And always tackle the things that bother you immediately- don't let them fester... Be gentle- and always be wiling to admit, "Hey, I'm a little bit anal/compulsive/frogetful/stupid about this..."

Bills:

When you mix friends and money, you lose one or the other.

That in mind, here are some ways to try to hang on to both: BEFORE you turn on a single utility, decide whose name they will each go into- BEWARE-if it is your name on the utility bill, you are responsible for the WHOLE thing. If you are not in a position to be able to cover someone else's portion if they are short on cash one month, drawing up an agreement (yes, with signatures) stating that each roommate agrees to pay 1/4th (for example) of the total cost of the electricity bill might be a good idea.

It can help to have one person in charge of the bills. Different people use different systems, and that can get confusing if you're rotating who's in charge... Some of us are less organized than others anyway and need a *gentle* reminder to pay things on time. In exchange for not having to be responsible for making sure bills get paid on time, we less-organized persons agree to *not* resent the organized persons when they remind us. Decide ahead of time who will pay late fees if one roomate has his money available and two does not at the due date.

Cleaning:

Write it down. Just because you agreed to it, doesn't mean you will 2 months into your lease. Be honest when talking about your expectations. If someone is suggesting a level of cleanliness you just can't live with, don't say ok and think you'll get over it.

Food:

I have never known anyone who lived in a shared habitat and was successful sharing groceries with her/his roommates. I suggest buying separate ones, marking them with initials if needed, and asking to borrow things that you may run out of. Most people are happy to share if asked. Never, ever finish the last of someone else's ANYTHING without explicit written consent.

Dirty dishes- Make a plan- any plan- rotating, you-cook-I'll-clean, whatever- and stick to it. If you have one person who can't get their act together- buy yourself paper plates and plastic utensils. A friend of mine had to do this once. It's not very environmentally sound, but the circumstances were extreme...

Sex:

If you're going to have sex, try to do so when you're alone in your dwelling. If that simply isn't possible, at least keep sounds to a minimum. The old sock-on-the-door trick is lovely for preventing unfortunate walk-ins.

Thermostat:

Decide in advance what a comfortable setting is for everyone for summer and winter.


It's a nasty thing to do, but people's mums are great tools in getting them to clean up/pay up under dire circumstances...

That said, the "mums" can also be your biggest nightmare, as well. One of my roommates had parents who were the nightmares from hell, with domestics and boozy drunken bust-ups. Every other week was the Jerry Springer show, with a crying mum in the living room. We finally got them away from each other, but it was a bad learning time. Be prepared for anything.

Yikes, good point...

"Sex:

If you're going to have sex, try to do so when you're alone in your dwelling."

Doesn't that like, defeat the point?

lol depends what you mean, I suppose- I was just thinking of two of my housemate who hooked up all the time- they were so noisy- it made the rest of the housemated pretts uncomfortable

Now, of course, if your housemates don't mind haring you get it on, then turn up the volume.