5 basic tips to help you get along with a roommate

With house rent rates spiraling up each year, the most basic way to save money on accommodation is to share it with a roommate. Finding a roommate in the US is easy with sites like Sulekha but putting up with a roommate on the longer run can be tricky. To ensure that you maintain a good relationship with your flat share mate, you need to follow these simple tips.

Compromise

Generally, students and bachelors are the ones sharing rooms and the biggest problems that arise is either party not compromising on issues that they face on a regular basis. Who takes out the garbage? Who does the grocery run? Who picks up the mail? These might sound petty but in reality, these are the ones that you need to compromise to ensure a smooth relationship.

Use the calendar – make plans

Be it day to day chores or something important – plan everything in advance including paying the rent and bills and put it up on the calendar for everyone to see. With the technology available today you can even have a virtual shared sheet on the cloud that ensures you have access to it anywhere anytime.

Set ground rules

Just like how your landlord sets up a lease/rental agreement you should ideally discuss the rules of your roommate agreement beforehand rather than introducing new rules in the middle of a problem. Are you comfortable having friends over? Which of your stuff can they use or not use? How much personal space do you require? Your agreement need not be a written one but can be orally agreed upon. Scout’s honor!

Be considerate

You might have an agreement but if it is exam time or if you roommate is sick then you have to be considerate to ensure that they return the favor when you are in a similar situation. You need not be best friends with your roommate but being a good human will take you a long way down the line.

Sort issues immediately

Never let problems pile up! Solve everything immediately to make sure there are no hard feelings carried over. Piling up on negative thoughts only lead to bigger problems bursting out on a later stage leading to irreparable situations. Confront your roomie about a habit that bothers you, hold interventions, if required.

If all else fails, fret not! Go ahead and post your requirement for a new roommate and find another person to share your joys and worries with.

Student Furniture - What is best for your room?

As a student in the US, finding accommodation is the easy part. There is a lot of help online to help you find a roommate or a cheap rental accommodation. However, the tougher part is to set up the place you move into, a comfy and welcoming space that would help you study and grow in your career.

Most college students spend a majority of their time in the room studying and without the right furniture, it can get tiring real soon! Students who sit on the bed and study are prone to dozing off and those who walk and read get tired too soon. Here is what you should have in your room as a student to help you study to the max potential.

Sturdy Study Desk

A good study desk is indispensable for studying long hours. Writing assignments or taking notes is a lot easier when you sit down at a desk and write. Do not go for a portable fold out desk. These move around a lot and will be a hindrance for your concentration. A sturdy desk that is of ideal dimension should be the key.

*Expert Tip: If your room is tight on space, go for a corner table that will help you liberate more space.

Productive Desk Items

Productivity is the key word here! Yes, you can have a photo of loved ones in your desk or maybe even a parking slot for your phone but try and stack up as much as productive stuff on your desk as possible. A good lamp is indispensable. If you have a roommate and do not want to disturb during your late night marathons, a night lamp should come in handy.

A pen stand that has provisions to store pins, stapler, tags etc. will help you be organized. An alarm clock helps too! If you are running out of steam and need a quick nap, make sure that you set the alarm. There are nifty alarms that buzz during regular intervals. If you have the habit of nodding off midway through a chapter – this could be your life saver!

What else do you have on your desk? Share it with us and get featured here…Lot of fully furnished Apartment for rent in Miami