A majority of unattached individuals indicate they would expedite cohabiting with a romantic partner to reduce expenses.

A recent eharmony report reveals that over 50% of unattached individuals would prefer to live with a partner earlier than anticipated in order to cut costs.

It's no wonder that almost half of American renters exceeded the financial experts' rule-of-thumb of spending no more than 30% of their income on housing in 2023, as reported in a recent U.S. Census report.

If someone you care about offers to alleviate some of your financial burden, it's challenging to decline.

A significant step to move in with someone should not be made solely for financial reasons, advised Jessica Small, a marriage counselor and therapist at Growing Self Counseling & Coaching in Denver, Colorado.

She stated that relationships thrive when they are driven by desire rather than necessity.

It's best not to let external pressures influence your decision about cohabitating.

"Taking the step of living together in a relationship should be done with the belief that the relationship has the potential for a long-term partnership, rather than just because it is convenient, financially beneficial, or because everyone else is doing it," she stated.

Before cohabiting with someone, it's crucial to have an open and truthful discussion about what that entails and what shared living will entail. Here are some questions that can initiate the dialogue.

How will we divide up household tasks and financial responsibilities?

Couples living together often face challenges related to unequal distribution of responsibilities and significant differences in personality traits, according to Small.

Before moving in, it's important to discuss with your partner how you will split the cost of groceries and furniture, as well as whether they prefer to spend more money on fancy weeknight dinners.

What are we anxious about?

Small stated that individuals are not typically prepared for the emotional turmoil they may encounter when moving in with their partner, which can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed and experiencing grief.

Not having a romantic partner is not uncommon and does not necessarily indicate anything unusual.

"It will be easier to manage these feelings if you are prepared for them and have communicated that you might feel this way to your partner, as these feelings are normal and valid," she said.

What does this next step mean for our relationship?

If one of us sees this as a step toward marriage and the other doesn't, we should discuss it.

Asking these questions will help you align and set expectations, Small stated.

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