The FastDay Forum

So very exciting news for me in that I have just moved back out of my parents and into a house that I am renting with a colleague of mine. Having been very much caught up in the frenzied excitement of having a beautiful house in a city I have never lived before, I haven't given the practicalities (save for budgeting etc) much thought. So I thought it might be a good idea to pick the forum's wisdomy brains and ask whether anyone has any tips for house sharing? The only time I have house shared previously was at uni but that was in catered halls of residence and we were all mostly drunk. Or hungover. Two things I do not plan on being too often here (famous last words or what?) So any tips would be gratefully received!

Is it your friends house or are you both renting somewhere new? I think that makes a difference as to how you agree your 'house rules'. I suggest you jointly create a set. That way you know what is both important to you and you both have guardrails. If it is your friends house, then I guess you will need to fit in with her rules first.

I think Rawkarens advice is very sound. Sit down together and thrash it all out before there are problems. You need to agree things like, visitors, visitors who stay over, washing up and general cleaning and tidying, bathroom etiquette, cooking meals, shared budgets for all sorts of things. Good luck and let us know how it goes,

Ballerina x

As said above. The biggest bugbear is usually the other persons cleanliness, so things like always wipe down the worktops after preparing food, can become a major irritation if you do and they don't. So sit down and iron it out before it gets problematical.

Thanks for the tips all. We have both entered a new lease sharing so we make our own rules as opposed to one of us moving into the others house. So far so good with the cleanliness, in fact almost too good. Think we are both trying super hard to do our fair share atm....long may this continue!

Buy lots of sealable tubs and write on labels. Then anything in the fridge can be labelled, use stick on labels for all the other food packets and tins.

Sort out a grocery budget for combined items like spices, cleaning goods, toilet paper etc that you don't need two lots of.

Plus a budget for household and kitchen utensils. Go together to the shops and buy what you think you need like pans, hoovers etc. Total it all up, split it for that payment. Then use that amount, double it, then divide by 52, this is your weekly wear and tear fund. Use it after consulting with each other about new rugs etc. If you get to Christmas 2014 and there is money still left in the pot, take out half and use it to fund a house party.

Don't forget normal household bills like electric, house insurance, water rates, council tax and any community payments if you are in a flat.

Walk through your parents homes and figure out what your parents have that you take for granted, things like a stock of batteries, candles, clothes airer, pens and paper, a small tool kit, scissors, spare light bulbs, corkscrew and bottle opener! etc.

Wow some fantastic advice there thank you. Its amazing the amount of things you take for granted at your parents house!!