SpaceSplitter gave me a challenge: track how many rolls of toilet paper and paper towels you use in a week. The Results I enlisted the help of my two roommates who happily agreed to see how much we were all cleaning and wiping. At the wrap up of three weeks (we were having so much fun we forgot to count … Continue reading →

Rise and shine! It is 6:30am as your alarm clock goes off, and you open your eyes to begin your day. The morning routine you have is pretty standard: eat breakfast, pack any work materials you need for the day, and wait for your roommate to be done with their bathroom routine. Your bowl of Cheerios is drained of the … Continue reading →

To talk about money is almost as taboo as talking about religion or politics. It’s uncomfortable to think that you will have to divulge financial information to someone you just met. It may be a subconscious feeling that your salary will make your roommate look at your differently or possibly open the door to being taken advantage of. It is … Continue reading →

It’s time for the rent check and you realize that you are going to be $20 (or so) short. You always pay on time and you don’t know how to repay your roommate. It’s time to get creative. Does you roommate despise walking your jointly-owned dog in the morning. Offer to walk the pooch for the week. Are they scheduled … Continue reading →

It’s Pretty Much Like Dating. Compatibility that is. We’re not talking about if your printer is compatible with your computer, or if your new doggie gate will fit in the kitchen door frame. We are asking you to dig deep and be honest with yourself about your negotiables and nonnegotiables because you and your future roommate(s) are going to have … Continue reading →

Cohabitation just sounds scary, but actually sharing a common space with initial strangers, or even best friends, can bring up a lot of surprising, and sometimes not in a good way, attributes about everyone involved. Don’t think you are immune to the inevitable assumptions that cause tension and fights if not addressed. What is a roommate agreement? A roommate agreement … Continue reading →

The phrase “collaborative consumption” has been heard quite a bit recently in reference car sharing, home sharing, even clothes swapping, but what about in terms of common use items such as electricity, cable, even toilet paper when living with roommates? Miscommunication in common consumption is a normal cause of roommate disputes. What if one roommate is afraid of the dark and needs to … Continue reading →