Roommates: good or bad idea?

To save money, not to live alone or to share household chores, many are faced with living in a shared apartment at least once in their lives. But living with your parents and living with a stranger is not the same story at all. 

Benefits

First, and arguably the biggest benefit, colocation reduces costs. If you are going to live in a big city in particular, a room in an apartment will cost you less than an entire studio. In addition to this, the additional charges will be divided: electricity, gas, water, wifi…To top it off, if you get along well with your roommate(s), you can agree on groceries or household products to buy and again, split the price. 

Then, roommates allow you to never be alone. The transition from family to living alone can be difficult for some, so roommates are a good way to feel a little less isolated. There will always be someone in your home, whether it's to talk or just to have a familiar presence.

Finally, roommates are a good way to make friends or discover new cultures. Indeed, if you decide to share a flat with someone you do not know, this is the perfect opportunity to become sociable. In addition, if you are lucky enough to live in a shared apartment abroad or to have strangers as roommates, it will allow you to discover new cultures and lifestyles that you will never have discovered without living with others. 

The downsides

But, like anything else, there is not only positive about roommates. Indeed, living together means that you will never be alone. This was, of course, an advantage, but it can quickly become a negative point. If you're a bit of an introvert or just likes to have your own space, roommates can be hard to live with. Even if you have your own room, you will never be entirely alone, and sometimes you have to be prepared in advance. 

Then roommates can confront very different lifestyles. If you regularly like to do karaoke nights at home while your roommate prefers to read quietly, this can create problems. It is therefore important to communicate and respect your living space and your roommates so that everyone can do what they want, without disturbing. 

Finally, in order to have a good cohesion and to be able to live as everyone wishes, it is necessary to establish rules that, sometimes, can be problematic. "Who's to clean up?" "Why wasn't the dishes done?" These kinds of questions could happen if rules have not been established. It may seem long and useless at first but it is enough to take a little time to communicate so that everyone can enjoy the cohabitation serenely. 

Good or bad idea, it's up to you to decide if roommates are right for you. The choice of roommate or housing can also play a big role, which is why you have to prepare in advance in order to make the most of this experience and come out positive.