Should you live alone or with roommates: The Ultimate Guide

If your new college life away from home is about to start, you might be dealing with many questions that will significantly impact your college life. One of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is whether to live alone or with roommates. It’s a big dilemma, especially when you don’t know exactly what you want.

Another problem with this decision is that it can either go perfectly or turn into a nightmare. This means you need to be thoughtful when choosing what suits you best. I hope this article will help you make an effective decision for yourself.

Things to consider before deciding

Living with a roommate is undoubtedly a big question for anyone planning to move out of the home. To figure that out, you need to consider multiple factors like your finances, personality, and previous experiences, if you had any, etc. No matter what you choose, trust the process.

By answering these questions, you will know what exactly you will be dealing with incoming years. What changes you will have to make according to your situation. Where you can compromise and where you can not.

Do you enjoy sharing?

When you share a room with someone, you share your life with them — how much you want to share is entirely up to the two of you. You’ll share financial information to cover rent and other monthly obligations. Of course, you’ll have to share living quarters. (You may even have mutual friends!)

What is your level of privacy?

Another factor to consider when deciding whether or not to share your life is the level of privacy you require. If you live alone, you can eat Nutella straight from the jar at 3 a.m. However, if you live with other people, you may not be able to do what you want.

Your roommate may have friends over. You may have to respect your roommate’s request not to be noisy at particular hours. Living with a roommate may not be ideal if you prefer privacy and freedom.

Could you use some additional help?

It’s helpful to have a roommate who can assist you from time to time. It’s good to be able to share the less-than-fun responsibilities that come with having an apartment. For example, if you don’t want to do the dishes tonight, you can persuade your roommate to take care of that chore.

If you have a pet, having a reliable companion who can watch your dog or cat while you’re gone for the weekend is ideal.

Do you already have someone in mind, or will you have to look for someone?

Living with someone you already know isn’t always a good idea, but it can be beneficial. Finding a roommate from a massive pool of strangers can be a risky proposition, especially if you aren’t the most outgoing person. In the best of conditions, you’d be starting a new friendship while living with someone, which is a tricky balancing act.

How do you handle conflicts?

Even if you live with your best friend, you will have disagreements. Maybe they’re behind on their rent, or they keep playing games at all hours of the night when you’re trying to sleep. You’re bound to have arguments with your housemates, no matter how thoroughly you screen possible roommates or set up agreements to avoid confrontation.

These, whether large or tiny, might build up to a stressful scenario at home. If this thought concerns you, living alone may be the best way to prevent these interpersonal difficulties.

Is it better to live alone or with someone else?

Unfortunately, there is no correct answer for this. But if you have answered the above questions, you might already know the best option for yourself.

To help you make this decision, you should understand the dynamics of the living situation you will be in. Here are the pros and cons of both living alone and living with roommates.

Conclusion

Choosing to stay alone or with roommates is a big decision in your life. So give it a good thought. Do your research — sleep over your decision. Talk with your parents and friends. Decide what is worth the effort you will be putting in and what you want in your heart. Follow your heart. Don’t let anyone talk you out of your decisions. So you won’t have any regrets in the future.

And if you plan to live with a roommate and wish to know more about roommate compatibility, check out our blog on Roommate Compatibility Formula.