Bunkin’ With Your BFF
Article by Kortnie Franzen, Photography by Laura Ashley Hartline, Social Media by Sophia Zhong
When it comes to going off to college, there are so many things to be excited about! No more parents telling you what to do, teachers telling you how to dress, and you get your very own space to decorate! Why not have a year-long sleepover with your BFF while you’re at it? Lots of people argue that great friends don’t always make the best roommates. Seeing them 24/7 and having to split rent and clean the house can put unnecessary strains on your friendship. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. Let’s explore some tips on how you can successfully live with your best friend.
Make sure you have similar habits.
When you are deciding whether or not you want to live with your bestie, you’ll want to make sure you both have similar habits. For example, if you are a chill-at-home and turn-in-early kind of person, then you might not want to move in with a stay-out-late, social butterfly type for a roommate. Another example would be if you have a very tidy, organized, everything-in-its-place sort of personality, you might not want to bunk with a person that doesn’t prioritize cleanliness or might leave a mess a little too often. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to have everything in common. Just make sure you know what your bestie’s living habits are prior to moving in together.
“Take the time to listen to each other, compromise, and don’t forget the love you have for one another.”
Set ground rules.
Once you have decided that you want to live with your BFF, it’s important to create some guidelines for a successful living situation. Think about how you both will split up the chores. Who will do the dishes and by when? Are you in charge of vacuuming and are they in charge of mopping? Are you individually or collectively buying groceries? Will you shop together and split the cost, or will you both have separate sections or items in the fridge? These are critical aspects of living together that are important to figure out ASAP.
Don’t be afraid to ask for some “me time.”
Living with your best friend can be an absolute blast! It makes mundane tasks like grocery shopping, cleaning, and cooking way more enjoyable. Not to mention, they’re almost always down to go to coffee shops and accompany you as a study buddy. Although it’s fun to do almost everything together, it is important to take some time for yourself every once in a while. Transitioning from being besties to also being roommates will take some time to get used to. You may feel obligated from time to time to hang out with your bestie whenever they’d like, even if you don’t have the energy. Understand that it is okay to step back and let your friend know that you just need some alone time.
Remember that no matter what, you love each other.
The most vital aspect of moving in with someone you are close with is having mutual respect. We’re all trying to figure life out as we go, and people make mistakes. If there’s an issue between you and your best friend-turned-roommate, just be patient and understanding with one another. Take the time to listen to each other, compromise, and don’t forget the love you have for one another!
There are lots of amazing things that can come from rooming with your BFF. You’re only in college for so long, and trust us, it flies by. Might as well spend it waking up and having a cup of coffee with your go-to person every morning.