If you are in the process of moving in with your new mate, don't be surprised to discover that living together will take some adjustments and plenty of compromise before your house will once again feel like a home. After having lived alone, its natural to become accustomed to your own routine, but someone else living in the house will almost always require a change.



In an effort to make the transition easier, some couples sell their current homes and purchase one together as a couple. This will help to eliminate some of the territorial issues that may arise if one person moves into anothers house. The new home will be new to both of you, free of existing habits or attachments to specific rooms, decor, etc. In addition, the following tips will help to make both you and your significant other feel right at home in no time at all.

- Bathroom fights are surprisingly common. If you have more than one bathroom, designating them as "his" and "hers" can help avoid many arguments. If you only have one bathroom, divide the available space up for your respective toothbrushes, razors, etc so they don't get mixed together or otherwise disorganized.

- If either you or your spouse is a smoker and the other is not, living together can be trying unless you work out the details before moving day rolls around. In this case, its best to designate one room in the house for smoking or the individual can simply go outside to avoid congesting the home with cigarette smoke.

- If your spouse has a different work schedule that yours, you might have different sleep schedules also. For instance, if your significant other works the late shift and often needs to catch a few winks throughout the day, keep the television volume down, adjust the ringer on the telephone and be mindful of any distractions that may interrupt his/her sleep.

- Discuss and divide up household responsibilities. Make sure each of you know what you're responsible for and, if possible, pick one day of the week as "housecleaning day" and work together.

- It's important to learn to share. Most of us have been spoiled at one point or another, dominating the television, the kitchen, the bedroom and bathroom. No longer will you have the covers all to yourself, but such sacrifices are necessarily accepted in order to enjoy sharing a life and a home together.

- Divvy up storage space (closets and drawers) and make sure the both of you have enough room for your stuff.

- Decide who will be responsible for paying which expenses, when they will be paid and who will be fixing out and mailing the bills on time.