According to a survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics between 2006 and 2010, 48% of women between the ages 15 and 44 had chosen to live with their male partners before deciding to get married.
This is in comparison to the 1995 survey, which showed 34% of women having the same views. If you’re among the growing number of women who are looking into taking your relationship to the next level and move into a new place together, here’s a simple guide that could help you.
As long as you do all the necessary preparations, moving day can be one of the most thrilling and life-changing experiences in your journey together. Here’s how you can keep the first day of living together as organized and easy as possible:
Get rid of things you won’t use
Once they start packing, a lot of couples tend to realize that they have more items than they haven’t used for a while and can actually just toss. So, spend a few days together to clear out each other’s clutter before moving day to reduce all the excess.
Visit each room you have and get rid of anything that hasn’t been used in the last six months. For items that are still in good condition, consider selling those online. If you don’t have time to sort out all these items and put them up for sale on the Internet, you can donate them to charity and expect some tax deduction towards the end of the year.
Combine each other’s belongings
When you’re done getting rid of the things you don’t need, it’s time to decide which ones you’ll actually take with you to your new home. It may not be easy to make decisions regarding this matter. After all, some people tend to get attached to their belongings.
So, find an agreement in advance to make moving a lot easier for both of you. Avoid unnecessary arguments by deciding which pieces are absolute must-keeps. Look at the floor plan of your new home to see where each item would specifically go, especially the bulkier ones.
Manage all moving expenses together
One of the things that make moving extremely stressful other than the packing part is dealing with all the expenses. So, have a talk with your partner about how you want to handle all the costs and how you’ll do the actual move.
Are you going to hire a professional moving company in Lauderdale, FL, rent a van or a truck, or ask your friends for help? Who’s going to purchase all the moving boxes and other necessary packing supplies? Come up with an effective plan that you both agree with.
If you’ve decided to hire movers, create a list of all the questions you want to ask. If you’re enlisting the help of your friends, consider preparing some simple thank-you gifts.
Make moving in together a lot less stressful by understanding each other’s roles. If you know who’s in charge of what, you’ll be able to work a lot faster and avoid any misunderstanding.
