Tips for Living With Roommates
Living with housemates and roommates might seem daunting at first, but it’s actually a lot of fun and an excellent opportunity to make good friends! That being said, it doesn’t always go swimmingly, and even people you’re really close to might not make good housemates. Thankfully, there are certain things you can do to make a living with other people way easier for yourself and them. Whether it’s easing tension, keeping the flat tidy or saving money, there’s a way to do it all. Here are some top tips for living with other people.
Keep your door open
One thing people do to stay social with their housemates and roommates is propping their door open into the hallway. This is great for creating casual conversation and letting your housemates know that you’re inviting them to come and speak to you. It’s almost like an unspoken etiquette at university, and so you might find the people you live with will do the same! It’s especially great to do in the beginning when you don’t know each other. Over time it’s not as important because hopefully, you’ll be a lot closer to them, and you’ll be a lot more approachable too. It’s a small detail that could really impact your initial conversations. Keep that door open!
Create a rota
One thing that does seem to be inevitable at uni is that you’ll have messy housemates. And if you don’t, chances are it’s you! Being messy at university is the worst, and it can cause a lot of tension with the people cleaning up after you. The best way to solve this is to create a rota between you all to keep the place clean. You can schedule this by duties such as hoovering and washing up or even rooms (particularly useful if you share a bathroom). Discuss between yourselves how you’re going to organise it but make it fair. Some people are keen to help, but they shouldn’t be left with everything! And last but not least, make sure people stick to their duties!
Decide what you’re sharing
Another common occurrence when living with other students is that people often use each other’s things. It happens all the time! Dishcloths, washing up liquid, knives and forks, they all seem to get moved around, and it can be really irritating when it’s you who has to clean them or buy more. That’s why establishing what you’re all going to contribute to will be useful. Everyone needs washing up liquid, for example, so you could take turns buying the next one when it runs out. Some people even do shared meals at university, but this isn’t very recommended as it can make things difficult. Find out what works best for your flat, and don’t be afraid to make changes.
Have a group chat
Speaking of making changes, having a group chat for you and your housemates will be a lifesaver. There are so many things that need to be discussed when living together, and while it’s always better in person, sometimes you need that mobile chat to get everyone together. It’s also very important in case one day you forget your keys and can’t get into the flat. It happens to everyone at some point, so having that chance to message whoever is in will work wonders. In many cases, it will also bring you closer together, and that is what really matters.
Invite your housemates out
The best way to bond is to make plans with the people you’re living with. Especially when you’ve got freshers, there are so many opportunities for you to hang out and get to know one another. Making an effort will be appreciated, and it could have a significant impact on your relationships. Another good idea is to invite your housemates to any gatherings you want to have in your accommodation. You might find that your plans clash or that it helps avoid noise annoyance. If you invite them along, they’ll feel better about having lots of people around, and they might even get along with your other friends! The more inclusive you are, the better.
Get to know their schedules
Any roommates or housemates you have will appreciate it if you get to know their schedules. This could mean being considerate of when to have people around or throw parties. It could also mean being more inclusive when you make plans as a flat. Particularly if you have a roommate, it’s important you respect their quiet and their time. Once term time starts, make sure to find out who is busy, when. If you know their schedule, you can work around it so that you’re not causing any upset with anything you decide to do.
