Choosing to live together is not something to be taken lightly. Joining your life with another person is a big step. On the other hand, if you and your partner feel like you’re ready to do it, then there are a few things to keep in mind. Although many couples are perfectly happy living together, cohabiting with your partner often requires a little more work. Living together can be complicated, so here are some helpful tips with suggestions on how to make living together work for you.

Cleaning and maintaining order: cleaning can lead to many arguments when a couple lives together. If your partner is more tidy than you, it is vital that you put a little more effort into keeping the apartment clean. While your partner may be obsessed with cleanliness that the average person can’t match, you should try to work with your partner to find a fair balance so that both of you are satisfied with the state of the apartment.

If you find the reverse context, where your partner isn’t up to your standards of cleanliness, you’ll need to figure something out. Maybe your partner can be in charge of some specific tasks. Maybe there’s something your partner would rather do, like cook or organize the bills. Try to work together, building on each other’s strengths. When living together, it is essential that one person does not feel that he is doing all the work.

Paying the bills: As much as you love your partner, you should keep in mind that she should play an equal role in helping with the household bills. It is unfair to count on one person in a relationship to support another. Remember to pay her part of the bills to prevent financial problems from arising. You should be careful if your partner seems to run out of money from time to time, especially towards the end of the month. Lending money to your partner or paying your partner’s share of the bills can set a dangerous precedent. You never want to think of your partner as a financial burden or worse, a worthless bum.

Time together and time apart: The main challenges of staying in the same house is managing the time to spend together. It is key to continue with the activities that are important to you. Moving in with your partner shouldn’t make you the same person. Don’t expect your partner to spend all his time entertaining you when he’s free. Both should have separate lives. Likewise, it’s a problem if your partner suddenly becomes overly possessive and can’t handle the fact that you have your own life outside of him or her. It’s important to spend quality time with your partner, however, giving yourself a break from facing your partner is just as important.

Annoying Habits: No matter how well you know a person, you’ll always be surprised at what you learn about them when you move in together. Like it or not, both of you will have habits that the other will not tolerate, whether it’s snoring loudly at night, leaving socks everywhere, or tidying up the bed. The truth is that no one is perfect, and there are probably things about you that bother your partner as well. Make an effort to look past the minor habits and focus on the positive side of things.