This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
10 Things To Consider Before Living With Your Partner
#10 Don’t allow the 50% discount to cause higher spending
If you and your partner split everything down the middle, you’re getting a 50% discount on life, which is one sweet deal. Not only that, but if you don’t like living alone, you’ll always have someone around for better or worse.
But, before you seal the deal and decide to live with your partner, ensure these ten things are in place. If you already live with your partner, it’s not too late to take action on the following list:
Avoid sharing debt
Avoid sharing credit cards
Maintain separate bank accounts
Maintain a separate emergency fund
Maintain independent income sources
Have conversations about finances early
Avoid borrowing money from one another
Maintain your own form of transportation
Avoid becoming financially dependent on one another
Don’t allow the 50% discount to cause higher spending
10 Things To Consider Before The Move
Disclaimer: Many of these things may never happen or apply to you. These are only example scenarios you should be aware of that have happened to many other people in relationships.
1. Avoid sharing debt
As easy as it is to split the tv and furniture and not pay it off right away, it’s best to keep the tabs separate. Make a split payment and use separate credit cards or cash so you don’t create new debts.
Most people have some form of debt. 85% of people have a car payment. What’s the point of creating new debt – specifically debt that is not beneficial?
2. Avoid sharing credit cards and loans
It’s not uncommon for one partner to have better credit than the other partner. Cosigning might seem like a “good” option, but it’s best to allow each other the freedom to obtain lines of credit and loans based on where they currently are. Imagine being a cosigner for a loan with an ex; that’s no fun.
3. Maintain separate bank accounts
It’s okay to share a bank account with your partner, but ensure you still have your own. You never know when you will need money not tied to anyone but yourself.
One of the worst situations to be in is when you’re trying to access your money because your partner is acting a fool, or it’s no longer there because someone (aka your partner) spent it all.
4. Maintain a separate emergency fund
As a couple, you should build an emergency fund together, but you should also have a separate emergency fund only you can access when you need it. Let’s say both partners lost their job; not only would you have the shared emergency fund, but you would also have a separate emergency fund that you can utilize to grant you extra breathing room.
5. Maintain independent income sources
Whether your partner is covering the expenses, always keep an income source – even if those income sources come through investing. You never want to place yourself in a position that is entirely financially reliant on someone else. What if they lose their income or the relationship dissolves? Who will take care of your financial responsibilities then? Most likely, it will be you. Avoid scrambling if your partner ever drops you or loses their income.
6. Have conversations about finances early
You can’t know how someone handles money until you talk about it and see how they manage their money in real life. I know the discussion could be uncomfortable, but you should push through it anyway to ensure both parties are on the same page about money.
7. Avoid borrowing money from one another
Never willingly give a partner financial leverage over you. If you can help it, try to avoid borrowing money and instead offer it to avoid being in complex financial situations in a romantic relationship. Family and partner loans can get a bit complicated.
8. Maintain your own form of transportation
If you live in a walking city, that’s wonderful, but if you don’t, you got to go somewhere, your partner is utilizing their car, and you don’t have access to taxis, Uber, Lyft, or friends, what will you do?
It’s prudent to have your own form of transport. You’ll never have to rely on someone else to get you from point A to B.
9. Avoid becoming financially dependent on one another
The 50% discount is sweet if you decide to split everything down the middle after moving in together, but that can also mean you lose sight of other things, as you’ll see in #10.
When you live together, it’s easy to start leveraging each other’s income as your own. You start to live as if you will always have that income. Of course, that is often the hope – that the relationship will last indefinitely – but it is not always the case. Be realistic and ensure you maintain your financial independence so that if you need to end things, the separation process is not impeded by financial dependence on one another.
10. Don’t allow the 50% discount to cause higher spending
When rent, utilities, and bills get slashed in half, your income increases quite a bit. Use this opportunity to save and invest more money versus spending. It’s easy to use this opportunity to buy everything you feel you’ve been missing out on and inflate your lifestyle, but it’s better to slide these extra savings into an investment account that will work hard 24/7 to inflate your net worth.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.