Isitbesttolivewithroommates?Orisitbesttolivealone?

　　There'snorightorwronganswertothisquestion--anddon'tletanyonetellyouotherwise.It'sapersonaldecisionthatallapartmentdwellersareentitledtomake,andyouranswershoulddependonwhatyouwantatthetimeyou'relookingtorent.

　　Ifyouneedhelpdecidingwhethertolivewitharoommate,considerthecommonreasonswhypeoplechooseonerouteovertheother.

　　ReasonstoHaveaRoommate

　　Therearemanygoodreasonstohavearoommate.Seeifanyofthesereasonsappealtoyou:

　　Youwon'tbelonely.Evenifyou'renotclosewithyourroommate,havingaroommatemeanshavingsomeoneelsearound,soyouwon'thavetofeellonely.

　　You'llgainconvenience.Havingaroommateaddsconvenience.Forinstance,ifyouhavedifferentschedules,aroommatecanfeedyourpetorwatertheplantswhenyou'renotathometodoit.Ifyougooutoftown,yourroommatecantellyouaboutanyimportantmailyoureceive.

　　You'llsavemoney.Whenyouhavearoommate,you'llsavemoneyinseveralways.First,youcanrentalargerapartmentthatwouldgiveyoubothmoreroomandmorevalue.You'llalsosplitutilitybillsandthecostofgroceries,amongotherapartmentexpenses.Plus,ifyouoryourroommatecook(evenifyoujustdothebasics),cookingfortwo(orthreeormore)normallysavesmoneyovercookingforjustone.

　　You'llhavehelp.Witharoommate,youcansplitthechoresneededtokeepyourapartmentinshape.So,youwon'thavetobetheonetodogroceryshoppingallthetime.Or,ifyoubecomethedesignatedgroceryshopper,yourroommatecantakeonothererrandsthatyouwouldnormallyhavetodo.Sharingerrandshelpslightentheloadforbothofyou.

　　ReasonsNottoHaveaRoommate

　　Manypeopleappreciatethereasonsinfavorofhavingaroommatebutfeelthatthereasonsforlivingalonepresentamuchstrongercase.

　　Youshouldn'tlivewitharoommateif:

　　Youwantmoreprivacy.Ifyoulivealone,you'llalmostcertainlyhavemoreprivacythanifyoulivewithothers.Simplystated,nothavingroommatesmeansyoucandowhatyouwant,whenyouwantit.Forinstance,youcanhaveguestsoverasyoupleaseorgethomelateandleaveearlywithouthavingtoworryaboutdisturbingaroommate.

　　Youdon'twanttoriskproblems.Althoughhavingaroommatecanbearewardingexperience,therearemanytypesofproblemsthatmayariseinaroommaterelationship.Theserangefromlifestyleconflicts(thinkofaroommatewholikestoplayguitarwhileyouneedpeaceandquiettostudyordowork)tofinancialissues(thinkofaroommatewhohastroublepayinghisshareoftherentandexpenses).Livingaloneistheonlywaytoguaranteethatnoneoftheseproblemseverarises.