If you’re living away from home in college, then it’s likely that you’ll have to probably live with roommates. Outside of freshman year, the choice to live with roommates is entirely yours. There are roommate pros and cons to be aware of before signing a lease.
If you’re thinking about living with other people in college, then consider these roommate pros and cons before making the decision.
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Roommate Pros
Access To Bigger Apartments
Don’t be forced to settle for a one-bedroom studio with roommates.
When you have roommates available to help split rent, your housing options increase. You’ll likely be able to afford a bigger apartment or house.
Everyone can have their own private space with better accommodations like:
- Large living room
- Additional bathrooms
- Designated kitchen and dining area
- In-unit washer and dryer
Splitting Bills
You don’t have to carry the financial burden alone.
When you live with roommates, utilities and other common expenses can be equally divided. Common costs include:
- Water
- Electricity
- Internet
- Heat/Air Conditioning
- Groceries
The biggest thing you need to work on is ensuring everyone pays their fair share. If someone wants an extra amenity that the others don’t agree to, then that person will either need to pay for it themselves or skip it.
Forming Friendships
Roommates can turn into life-long friends.
It’s not surprising that many college roommates turn into close friends afterward. You live together with people who aren’t family, but in essence, become a surrogate family usually.
If you’re looking for a fun atmosphere to come home to after work and class, then living with roommates is definitely helpful.
Sharing Items
It’s quick and easy to ask for items to borrow.
Want to go out for the night but need an outfit? Forgot to pick up something at the store? Having roommates means that, as long as you all get along, you can pool resources and items together to make living easier for the group.
Everyone Cleans
Keeping a home clean by yourself can be taxing.
However, when you split that responsibility with one to three more people, it becomes very manageable. Plus, with the workload spread evenly, no one person gets annoyed with anyone else chore-wise.
In the end, you maintain a clean living space and don’t have to stress over how that is accomplished.
Roommate Cons
Sacrificing Personal Space
You will need to get used to less personal space.
If you’re a person who greatly values their private space, then living with roommates is an adjustment. You’ll need to share several common areas:
- Kitchen
- Living room
- Bathroom
- Garage
It may end up where your bedroom is the only personal space available. If you need life to be on your terms alone, then consider living by yourself.
Schedule Conflicts
Don’t assume you’ll be together at the same time.
Schedule conflicts often arise from differing class and work schedules. Some people have weekends off, others may have random weekdays off. These conflicts can often cause problems with sleep schedules, dining, and enjoying free time.
If you and your roommates have different routines, then it’s good to lay down basic ground rules everyone can follow.
Too Much Interaction
Sometimes you need to be left alone.
If you’re having a rough time personally, then it’s possible that you need a certain amount of time to be alone for reflection. Living with roommates, especially if your home is small, can again cause conflict due to getting on one another’s nerves unexpectedly.
Unnecessary Messiness
Some people are just naturally very messy.
It’s a fact of life; some people are just very messy in their living habits. It could be due to how they were raised or general attitude. If you find that most of the cleaning is caused by one or more messy roommates, then it will quickly raise tensions.
Missed Bill Payments
Roommates sometimes can’t cover the bills.
A common problem faced when living with roommates is when one of them comes up short with rent and bill money. If they’re dealing with rough circumstances, like losing a job, then it’s understandable.
However, it’s then left to you and the others to cover their share financially, or else everyone suffers.
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Roommate Pros And Cons FAQ
What’s the biggest advantage to having roommates?
When you have roommates available to help split the rent, your housing options increase. You’ll likely be able to afford a bigger apartment or house.
What’s a common problem I’ll face when living with roommates?
The biggest thing you need to work on is ensuring everyone pays their fair share. If someone wants an extra amenity that the others don’t agree to, then that person will either need to pay for it themselves or skip it.
What’s a problem that most people don’t realize before living with roommates?
If you’re a person who greatly values their private space, then living with roommates is an adjustment. You will end up sharing many common spaces, with likely only your bedroom as the only guaranteed private space.
What’s an added perk of living with roommates?
Want to go out for the night but need an outfit? Forgot to pick up something at the store? Having roommates means that, as long as you all get along, you can pool resources and items together to make living easier for the group.