First thing’s first—congratulations on your marriage! We’re so happy you’ve found the perfect person to share your life with, and we’re excited to help you tackle moving in together. Living with your spouse means you get to come home to your best friend every day, and managing a home as a team is so much easier than doing it alone.
As wonderful as moving in with your spouse will be, there are a few tips you should keep in mind to help you make the process as positive and joyful as possible.
Read on for the top 4 tips to make your newlywed move go smoothly!
#1 Communication is Key
As newlyweds, you aren’t strangers to making important decisions together. You already know how valuable communication is when it comes to handling significant life changes. Moving in together requires some give and take on both ends, so be sure to get clear on important issues upfront. Discussing your hopes, fears, and must-haves when it comes to combing your households will help you avoid any misunderstandings.
To make moving in together as exciting and enjoyable as it should be, you and your spouse should take time to ask each other the following questions:
- What’s your ideal living situation?
- How much personal space do you need?
- How do you want to handle dividing household responsibilities?
- Are you open to pets?
- How much home maintenance are you willing to take on?
#2 Lay Out the Logistics
Now that you have the broad, ideological questions out of the way, it’s time to get technical. Finances can be a tough subject to discuss with your spouse, but being straightforward and honest will help the two of you figure out how to navigate sharing the financial responsibility of a home.
Every couple is different, and you should always base your financial decisions on what’s best for you and your spouse’s circumstances. Whether you decide to split the cost of living together down the middle, divide expenses proportionally to your salaries, or work out a system where one person is responsible for handling certain costs, there’s no right or wrong way to manage your money as a couple.
#3 Moving in Together is the Perfect Time for a Fresh Start
No matter what state your finances are in before you make the big move, there’s always room for improvement. Using moving in together as an incentive to clean up your finances will make your shared life easier down the line.
Consider prioritizing things like paying off credit card debt, getting organized about your monthly bills, and making a plan for your retirement. If you’re going to spend your first years of marriage in a home one of you already owns, consider looking into refinancing options like switching to a fixed-rate mortgage or applying for a VA cash out refinance loan.
#4 Don’t Forget the Fun Parts
Regardless of what your living situation was like before getting married, moving in with your spouse represents a whole new chapter in your life. We know that change can be nerve-wracking, but it’s also incredibly exciting. Don’t let the stress of planning a wedding or sorting out how you’re going to handle your money as a couple detract from the fun aspects of moving in with the love of your life.
If you start to feel stressed, you may want to try:
- Making a vision board together
- Turning shopping for furniture into a fun date night activity
- Binge-watching home improvement shows
- Bookmarking recipes to test out in your new kitchen
Bonus Tip: If the moving in process isn’t perfect, don’t worry. It’s totally normal for couples to disagree about issues like what color to paint the living room. Moving in together is going to be a lot of fun, but on the rare occasions when it isn’t, just remember that sporadic disagreements are part of any healthy marriage!
It’s Time to Get Moving
Now that you have a few handy tips under your belt, you’re ready to make the big move. You and your spouse have so many things to look forward to together, and we couldn’t be happier for you!
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