You and your partner might have a strong connection.
You may have even gotten to the point where you’re considering moving in together.
However, if you’ve only been dating for a few weeks, months, or even years, you may wonder if the time is right.
Moving in with someone is a big step, and you may be unsure if it’s the right time to take that step.
Knowing when the right time to move in with someone is and recognizing the signs that your relationship is ready for it can help ensure your relationship survives the big step.
How Soon Is Too Soon To Move In?
Anything less than a year together is too soon to move in together.
You should spend at least a year together as a couple before you start talking about moving in together.
Moving in is a big step, and couples aren’t always initially aware of how much their lives will change when they take that step.
Moving in together too quickly can even ruin a relationship.
Because you didn’t give your relationship the time it needs to build a firm foundation, you might find it difficult to deal with certain issues with your partner.
As a result, you might choose to end the relationship.
Since moving can be a hassle, it only complicates the breakup even more.
That’s why choosing to wait at least a year with your partner is ideal before you move in together.
5 Signs It’s Too Soon To Move In With Someone
While a year is the very least amount of time you should wait to move in with your partner, even that might be too soon for some couples.
It’s worth determining whether you and your partner are in a good place to start talking about moving in with each other.
To do that, you’ll want to keep an eye out for certain signs that your relationship is not ready for that big step.
1. Communication Problems
One of the signs that indicate that you and your partner aren’t ready to move in yet is communication problems.
This means that you and your partner fail to have effective conversations.
This isn’t an uncommon problem.
A lot of couples have problems communicating.
In particular, it’s very easy to take things personally even when the problem doesn’t directly concern you.
Your partner might be complaining about work, for example, and you might believe that they’re actually complaining about you.
Perhaps you might feel that they’re blaming you for not earning enough money.
That isn’t the case, but you might feel that way.
You then take their words personally which can escalate into a fight.
Knowing how to communicate effectively with your partner is a sign you’re ready to move in together.
It can help ensure that you’re both on the same page when it comes to discussing things about your life together.
2. Financial Troubles Or Different Financial Mindsets
Financial troubles are a big killer in relationships.
The stress of figuring out how to feed two mouths instead of one can cause your relationship to end.
If neither of you is in a place to financially support the other, you should consider waiting to move in together.
Some couples will choose to move in together specifically because it makes financial sense to do so.
However, another problem they fail to discuss is their financial mindsets.
One person might be focused on building wealth, investing, or even saving money.
The other person might have a more relaxed approach to finances and enjoy spending money.
That can cause some friction in the relationship.
Since you’re living together, you’re also sharing expenses.
It might be too soon to move in together if you’re not on the same page when it comes to finances.
3. Different Lifestyles
It might also be too soon to live together if you both have very different lifestyles.
One might be a night owl and work the graveyard shift while the other is a morning bird with a traditional nine-to-five.
While those schedules might work on their own, they don’t gel together very well.
You might find you keep stepping on each other’s toes and cramping each other’s lifestyle.
Until you discuss how to handle your different lifestyles, you shouldn’t move in together.
4. Moving In Is A Result Of An Insecure Relationship
Some couples may rush to move in together because they don’t feel secure in their relationship.
They might feel that they’ll be happier when they move in together because they can keep an eye on their partner.
This is problematic for a lot of reasons.
If you’re feeling insecure in your relationship, you should take the necessary steps to become secure in your relationship before you move in with them.
Otherwise, you’ll find that your insecurities persist despite living together.
Your insecurity might cause an increased number of fights.
Since it’s difficult to have your own space when you’re living together, it can be difficult to recover from those fights.
As such, you shouldn’t move in together if there are feelings of insecurity in your relationship.
5. Co-Dependency
If you or your partner knowingly or unknowingly suffer from relationship addiction or co-dependency, it’s also too soon to move in together.
Co-dependency can lead to a toxic relationship.
Since it’s very difficult to leave a toxic relationship, particularly an abusive one, moving in together should be the last thing you do.
It can make leaving a toxic relationship virtually impossible.
The problem with co-dependent relationships is that those involved in them may not always be aware that they’re in one.
It’s worth examining your relationship closely to determine if you’re in a healthy relationship or a co-dependent one.
What To Consider Before Moving In With Your Partner
If you believe that you and your partner are ready to move in together, there are still a few things to consider and discuss.
By having these discussions, you can ensure that both partners know their obligations and expectations in the relationship.
You’ll be able to kick off the next step in your life together on a strong foot.
1. State Of Your Finances And Financial Planning
One of the things you need to discuss with your partner is the state of your finances.
It’s not a sexy conversation, but it is a vital one.
Since you’re going to be sharing expenses, it’s worth doing a bit of financial planning.
You can determine how much income you’re both bringing into the relationship.
Then you can determine how that matches up with your expenses.
You might need to do a bit of budgeting to make it all work.
However, by taking the time to financially plan your future before you move in together, you can avoid problems with your finances down the line.
2. Discuss Living Habits
Another topic you should discuss before moving in together is your living habits.
You likely already know some of each other’s habits, but there are also likely habits that you have that your partner doesn’t know about.
It’s worth discussing those to determine how and when you should perform those habits.
For example, if you’re someone who likes a clean and tidy kitchen, and your partner isn’t, you can discuss a cleaning schedule that benefits you both.
When you’re both on the same page about your living habits, you can avoid needless fights and arguments.
3. Determine Personal Space And Time
Perhaps an important conversation that few couples have when deciding to live together is to figure out when each partner can enjoy their personal space and time.
Personal space and time are essential for a happy relationship.
It gives each partner the time they need to rejuvenate their energy and get a few things done that they need to do on their own.
Some people might need more personal time than others.
It’s worth determining when that time is and where each person can have that time.
4. Determine The Level Of Commitment And Future Plans Together
While moving in together is usually a step toward marriage, that might not be the case for your relationship.
It’s worth discussing with your partner what your future plans are for the relationship.
Is there marriage in the future?
How does your partner feel about children?
Do you want to adopt pets?
These are all questions to ask since they affect the level of commitment that you both have to one another.
You might find that your partner has certain ideas about marriage, children, and pets.
They might not agree with yours.
As such, you might need to reconsider moving in together until you’re on the same page.
5. Challenges Related To Friends And Family
When you’re living on your own, you have complete control over when friends and family come over.
You don’t have to worry about anyone else’s opinion.
When you’re living with your partner, however, you do have to consider another person’s opinion.
You might want to have friends or family over, but they might not want to entertain them.
It’s worth discussing with your partner how you’re going to handle entertaining and family visits when you live together.
6. Make A Conflict Resolution Plan
A final thing to discuss with your partner before moving in together is a conflict resolution plan.
This isn’t a sexy conversation either, but it can help you both resolve your differences when they arise.
It should be a foolproof plan that can adapt to any kind of conflict that arises.
By agreeing to and following the plan, you and your partner will be able to resolve problems amicably when you live together.
3 Pros Of Moving In With Your Partner
As long as it isn’t too soon to move in with your partner, there are plenty of benefits to enjoy.
Here are some positives that you can look forward to when you and your partner take that step.
1. Relationship Becomes Closer
One of the best benefits of living together is that you grow closer as a couple.
You’re with each other far more often than when you were living separately.
While that might come with its share of problems, you are essentially becoming closer in the process, too.
Your partner is going to know you in ways that you really only know yourself.
Many consider moving in together to be the final test before determining whether they’re going to marry each other or not.
When you share the same living space as someone else, it’s only inevitable that you’re going to become closer than you were before.
2. Increases Conveniences
Moving in with your partner also makes things more convenient.
For one, you likely have at least one car between you.
You can now carpool to different places and remove some expenses.
You can also go shopping with them, go to the movies, or attend other events.
While you could do this before, living with your partner makes it more convenient to go to those events together.
Spending time together is also more convenient.
You’re right there in the same home.
You can relax together, eat at home, play games, or perform other activities together a lot more easily.
No one has to drive from one place to the other anymore.
Living with your partner makes certain things far more convenient.
3. Shared Expenses
A final benefit of moving in with your partner is that you can share your expenses with them.
While this shouldn’t be a reason to move in with your partner, it can be a benefit of doing so.
You might find it’s a lot easier to rent an apartment or pay a mortgage when you have an extra income coming into the household.
It’s easier to afford bills, groceries, and other expenses.
You might be able to save up for retirement with your partner.
It’s also easier to save up for vacations or other trips.
You might find that you have a bit more money to spend once you’re living with your partner.
NEXT: Does Panera Serve Lunch All Day? (Updated 2023)