The Roomie The Roomie PresentationPresentationYour Guide to Successfully Living Your Guide to Successfully Living with Other Peoplewith Other People

People IssuePeople IssueWho Should I Live With?Who Should I Live With? Strangers vs. FriendsStrangers vs. Friends Many vs. FewMany vs. Few Opposite sex vs. Same sexOpposite sex vs. Same sex Roomie’s significant otherRoomie’s significant other PetsPets

Which one is best for you?Which one is best for you?

SharingSharingFood:Food: Plan to have people eat your food! Even Plan to have people eat your food! Even

if you have your name on it.if you have your name on it. Come up with a systemCome up with a systemClothes:Clothes: Plan to have people borrow your clothes, Plan to have people borrow your clothes,

claim them as their own, and ruin themclaim them as their own, and ruin them Come up with boundariesCome up with boundaries

SharingSharingShowering/Bathroom UseShowering/Bathroom Use When people shower?When people shower? In what order?In what order? TowelsTowels How long do people get the bathroomHow long do people get the bathroomOther Items:Other Items: CD’s, DVD’s and other personal itemsCD’s, DVD’s and other personal items

CleaningCleaning

Who does what? When do they do it? How Who does what? When do they do it? How do they do it? And What happens when do they do it? And What happens when they don’t do it?they don’t do it?

Establish a system early!!!!!!Establish a system early!!!!!! Chore board—cheesy, but so effective.Chore board—cheesy, but so effective. Community items and cleaning products? Community items and cleaning products?

TP, dish soap, garbage bags… TP, dish soap, garbage bags…

BillsBillsEstablish this EARLY!!!Establish this EARLY!!! Split the bills evenly among the roomiesSplit the bills evenly among the roomies Put the bill in the name of the person who Put the bill in the name of the person who

is in charge of that bill—the is in charge of that bill—the collecting/payingcollecting/paying

Have a spot for the bills—cork board, Have a spot for the bills—cork board, magnet clipmagnet clip

TIPS: NEVER EVER have long distance TIPS: NEVER EVER have long distance and ALWAYS avoid having the heat or and ALWAYS avoid having the heat or utilities in your nameutilities in your name

Other IssuesOther Issues Phone messagesPhone messages Parties—ALWAYS remember that the Parties—ALWAYS remember that the

party is ALWAYS at someone else’s party is ALWAYS at someone else’s househouse

TV timeTV time Quiet timeQuiet time LaundryLaundry

TipsTips Establish communication early about: Establish communication early about:

cleaning, guests, food and billscleaning, guests, food and bills Clarify roles and boundariesClarify roles and boundaries Don’t expect perfectionDon’t expect perfection Label everythingLabel everything Be prepared for conflictBe prepared for conflict Try living with different types of peopleTry living with different types of people Learn from each situation for future living Learn from each situation for future living

arrangementarrangement