Yesterday, we had a letter from a young woman who had some concerns — mostly financial — about moving in with her boyfriend of a year. For those of you who are also considering a similar move forward in your relationship and hope to avoid some common pitfalls and a potentially disastrous living situation (and even a breakup), here is a list of 15 things you and your significant other should do before shacking up together, after the jump.
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After I received the following letter, I reached out again to prolific commenter, “Addie Pray,” our resident legal expert who has given some great law-related advice in the past. She was nice enough to extend some of her superstar legal expertise again to answer the following letter:
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Today’s guest column was written by Samantha Garrison who writes the budget lifestyle blog PoorGoop.com, parodying Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop newsletter.
That night in the hotel room with my parents – they were visiting from out of town – I started fidgeting as they directed the conversation toward the question I knew they’d never ask directly. They asked if my boyfriend was still rooming with his college friend in their shared North Hollywood apartment. I took a breath, willing back tears into my eyes: “Actually, their lease was up, and Paul and I talked about it, and he’s staying with me. We haven’t decided if it’s temporary or not.”
Communicating to my very Baptist parents that I was cohabiting with my significant other – a man that they do not “approve of” because he and I don’t share the same religious beliefs – was honestly one of the most difficult conversations I’ve ever had. That moment took months of preparation — with my therapist, with my significant other, and with help from my friends. Perhaps because it’s regarded as such a taboo, cohabitation is rarely talked about in religious circles. It’s such a big decision, and with lack of support or even outright opposition, it can become a minefield for a couple from religious families. I’ve compiled a list of five key things I learned on this journey of “coming out” to my parents – things that helped me through this time, and have helped me to maintain a good relationship with my family, my church, my God and my significant other:
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Today’s guest column is written by Lauren Dupuis-Perez who blogs at I’m Better In Real Life.
My husband and I often spend some of our weekend wrapped around each other in bed, listening to back-to-back episodes of “This American Life.” Recently, their Valentine’s Day special – all about the things we do for love – got me thinking. While listening to different people’s experiences and the crazy (albeit endearing) things they did, I couldn’t help but cringe — spoiler alert: the majority of the stories on the show don’t end well — and by the time it was over, I was throwing my hands up in frustration because, “Ugh! Didn’t they know it was over WAY before then?!”
I have gained a copious amount of knowledge and wisdom about when to let go because I am, in fact, that biggest hanger-on-until-my-hands-are-bloody person. If you tell me, out loud, that the relationship isn’t working, I’ll do my best to fix all of the “holes” and drag it out another six months. Is distance making us both completely insane? That’s just a small challenge that any real romance can withstand! You make me cry more than you make me laugh? It’s probably my fault for being so emotional.
I’ve learned so much about what not to do, I figure it’s my feminist duty to give it to you straight and save you from making similar mistakes. To that end, here are my 10 Signs It’s Totally Over:
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Today’s guest post comes from Elaina Osteen who muses about the trials, tribulations and “first-world problems” in the life of a single young professional on her blog Quarter Life Confused.
I’ve spent the last seven years of my life in what I somewhat affectionately call “The Decade of Weddings.” As my friends and I have traversed this love and lace-filled minefield, I have seen, heard and experienced the many trials of the ever-loyal, always-a-bridesmaid. Trust me brides, there is no one more qualified to tell you how to clean out your friendship closet as you enter into your marriage than a bridesmaid spurned. After the jump, 10 ways you can ensure your bridesmaids will never speak to you again after your wedding.
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