The Roomie Presentation Your Guide to Successfully Living with Other People

People Issue Who Should I Live With?  Strangers vs. Friends  Many vs. Few  Opposite sex vs. Same sex  Roomie’s significant other  Pets Which one is best for you?

Sharing Food:  Plan to have people eat your food! Even if you have your name on it.  Come up with a system Clothes:  Plan to have people borrow your clothes, claim them as their own, and ruin them  Come up with boundaries

Sharing Showering/Bathroom Use  When people shower?  In what order?  Towels  How long do people get the bathroom Other Items:  CD’s, DVD’s and other personal items

Cleaning Who does what? When do they do it? How do they do it? And What happens when they don’t do it?  Establish a system early!!!!!!  Chore board—cheesy, but so effective.  Community items and cleaning products? TP, dish soap, garbage bags…

Bills Establish this EARLY!!!  Split the bills evenly among the roomies  Put the bill in the name of the person who is in charge of that bill—the collecting/paying  Have a spot for the bills—cork board, magnet clip TIPS: NEVER EVER have long distance and ALWAYS avoid having the heat or utilities in your name

Other Issues  Phone messages  Parties—ALWAYS remember that the party is ALWAYS at someone else’s house  TV time  Quiet time  Laundry

Tips  Establish communication early about: cleaning, guests, food and bills  Clarify roles and boundaries  Don’t expect perfection  Label everything  Be prepared for conflict  Try living with different types of people  Learn from each situation for future living arrangement