She Strengthens

The Surprising Truth About Moving in with Your Partner

When I decided to take the leap and move in with my boyfriend of four years, I thought I was making a smart financial decision. After all, wouldn’t sharing expenses with someone you love be a great way to save money? But six months into our cohabiting adventure, I’ve realized that the reality is far more complex.

The Dream Begins

We met in college, and our connection was instant. After years of navigating long-distance semesters, crazy exes, and drunken jealousy, we knew our love was the real deal. So, when we graduated, we decided to take the next step and move in together. The timing was perfect – we were already spending all our time together, and our families were eager to see us take our relationship to the next level.

The Hidden Costs

But here’s the thing: moving in with my partner hasn’t been the financial windfall I expected. In fact, I’ve discovered four significant expenses that have increased my spending.

Renting a Bigger Space

We opted for a two-bedroom apartment to ensure we had our own personal space. While it’s perfect for hosting wine nights and video game sessions, it comes with a hefty price tag – $100 more in rent than I paid when I lived with roommates. I didn’t realize the impact this would have on my limited income, and we rarely use our “me time” anyway.

Splitting the Grocery Bill

I’m happy to pay my fair share, but men tend to eat more, and our weekly grocery bill has skyrocketed to $100. We treat weeknights like date nights, cooking fancy meals together, which adds to the expense. I wish we’d discussed this before moving in together to find a more affordable solution.

Creating a Home

Moving in together was a big milestone, and we celebrated by buying new furniture, decorations, and a sectional. The first month, I racked up a high credit card bill, which was uncomfortable. If I had to do it again, I’d save up beforehand and space out our big purchases.

Keeping Up with a New Lifestyle

My partner’s engineering job pays significantly more than my PR job, and he doesn’t have certain bills like health insurance. While I don’t blame him, his financial situation has given me an inflated sense of what I can spend. I find myself saying yes to expensive dinners, upgrades, and weekend trips more often than I used to. We’ve started having open conversations about this to find a more comfortable spending balance.

Lessons Learned

After six months, I don’t regret moving in with my boyfriend, but I’ve learned some valuable lessons. We’ve started having honest conversations about our financial situations, which has been a positive step for our relationship. I’ll continue to share my experiences and insights as we navigate this new chapter together.