Sharing may seem like an easy task that you have been doing since you were young. However, sharing a pizza with friends is different from sharing the A/C with your roommate. Sometimes it is easy, but it can be tricky to share a space with another person.
So, what should you share or not share with your roommate to ensure all parties involved agree and are comfortable with the decisions?
Well, some of the obvious objects are the furniture and decorations that you or your roommate add to the common areas like the living room, kitchen, and laundry room. These are considered the main areas of the residence and are usually some of the easiest things to share, especially if a loose schedule is created.
Sharing kitchen appliances like a blender or toaster can be done in one of two ways. The person who purchased the item can give permission for the other residences of the house/apartment to use it, and roommates sometimes split the cost if it is a larger item. The second option allows both roommates to have the rights to use it from the beginning. The same can be said for any cleaning supplies and electronics in the main areas of the house/apartment.
In addition to the physical items, roommates share the responsibility of paying the bills and dividing up their duties when it comes to the various house chores.
Some roommates also choose to buy and share groceries, especially if they eat a lot of the same types of food to cut down on cost, clutter, and the trouble of buying double.
This is a lot of items to share with others in your home. So, what are some of the things roommates typically do not share?
One of the main items not commonly shared among roommates is personal hygiene products such as toothbrushes, hairbrushes, razors, and other bathroom supplies. These are also obvious items because you would not share them with others, but some also do not recommend sharing things like headphones and clothes with your roommate either.
You should not feel like you ever have to share items you bought and personally brought into the residence. However, it is always good to consider sharing the item with your roommate if they ask because it makes for a more relaxed and enjoyable home atmosphere.
One of the most important things to remember when deciding what to share and not share with your roommate is if the item has significant or sentimental value to you, it is probably not wise to lend it to someone else. While you may trust them completely and they may be super cautious with it, accidents can happen, so to avoid potential future confrontations, be considerate but weary of what things people lend you.
Lastly, to wrap up this quick post about roommate sharing, one of the most important things to remember is “Sharing is Caring.” This phrase is so powerful and important because when you share something with someone, it means you care about them at least a little bit, and you should be thankful and careful if someone were to share anything with you.
So, thank you for reading if you have made it this far, and Happy Sharing!
Additional Resources:
Asiba, Melanie. “What Should You Share with Roommates?” Apartment ABC, Apartment ABC, 18 Aug. 2019, https://apartmentabc.com/things-to-share-with-roommates/.
Amber, Amber. “10 Things You Should Not Share with Your Roommate & Why Tips.” ForRent, 9 Aug. 2018, https://www.forrent.com/blog/apt_life/10-things-you-should-not-share-with-your-roommate-why/.