Shared Base Established

How to complete Shared Base Established

Moving in together collapses two separate lives into one space and one budget: the first real test of daily compatibility rather than date-night compatibility. Sharing rent, chores, and square footage surfaces habits you never noticed across two addresses.

1. Settle money first: how you split rent, utilities, and groceries, and what counts as shared versus personal spending.
2. Edit duplicate furniture and belongings before moving day instead of cramming both sets in.
3. Put both names on the lease, or write down a clear agreement, so responsibility is explicit.
4. Divide recurring chores on purpose rather than defaulting to whoever notices the mess first.
5. Give each person a room or corner that is unambiguously theirs.

Tips

• A joint account just for shared bills, kept apart from personal money, prevents most cohabitation fights.
• Agree early on guests and alone-time so expectations don't collide later.
• If you can, do a full week of staying over before signing anything.

What counts as done

You're both living at the same address under a lease or written agreement, with a working split of bills and chores.