Having a roommate can drastically reduce the “frightening” element of being out on your own. Having someone live with you alleviates a lot of burdens that you don’t fully realize while living at home with your parents.  Probably the biggest burden young adults find themselves facing is money and the cost of living. When you’re living at home, your parents take care of all the bills and buy the groceries.  Roommates can share the cost of these expenses. By splitting the rent, groceries, and utilities, it is easier for young adults to maintain their independence and their own place, rather than moving back in with their parents.

Roommates also share the day-to-day household chores, which is another burden that can come as a surprise. Before moving out of your parent’s home, you may have only had to tidy your room and do a handful of chores, such as laundry or the dishes. Living in your own place you can be overwhelmed with the number of housecleaning chores that need to be done. By having a roommate, the chores can be shared and it won’t seem so overwhelming.

There are also several benefits to having a roommate that have nothing to do with sharing chores or splitting the bills. Having a roommate to come home to at the end of the day is a lot

nicer than coming home to an empty apartment. A roommate gives you the chance to talk to someone about your day and share meals with. A roommate also helps to keep a form of “order” in place. You don’t have to put rules and curfews out for your roommate, but it’s nice to be courteous to them and let them know when and where you are going. It’s not the same form of rules as what you had in your parent’s home, but by adhering to them with your roommate, you can maintain a form of stability and structure like you had at home.

When you first move out of your parent’s home, you may be worried and a little scared about being out on your own for the first time. But by living with a roommate and working together, you’ll find that it can be a lot of fun and a very rewarding experience.  And after a few months, you will probably find yourself wondering why you were so nervous in the beginning.

About the Author:
Zack Fair currently writes for Rental Markets Inc. The company manages a Roommate Finder community website Getaroomie.com that serves as a roommate search engine as well as a community for people finding a room or roommates.