Finding a Roommate to Help Your Recession Budget

The cost of housing is one of the largest expenses for most people. During the recession, a roommate might be the answer to help with a cost saving budget. With many people becoming unemployed or underemployed, sharing housing costs with another person, or even more than one other person, can be the difference between keeping your current home and having to move to cut costs in the time of a recession. Most adults have not had a roommate since college, so it can be challenging to share your space with a stranger. By following a few simple suggestions however, finding a roommate may be easier than you think.

Before you place an ad or invite someone to move in, consider personality traits, habits and other lifestyles that you can and cannot live with. During a recession many people are dealing with stress, this can manifest itself in many ways. There are a variety of little things that can drive a person crazy when sharing a space with another, so make sure you take these into consideration.

Once you find your potential roommate it is important to sit down together and discuss the details. Setting rules for visitors for instance, coming to an agreement regarding housekeeping and how the bills and grocery shopping will be divided are important factors in sharing a home. Unemployment is a fact of life during a recession and either you or your new roommate could become unemployed at any time, which could put either individual into a bind. Both parties should be comfortable with any agreements that are set up.

Trust your instincts about a potential roommate. If you have a bad feeling about someone or you are unable to agree on some issues, don't ignore it. If your potential roommate is out of work, you may wish to rethink having that person move in, a recession can keep a person unemployed for a longer period of time than normal. Keep looking; the right match will come along.

If you are moving into someone else's home, make sure that you will have the space that you need for your furniture and other items. If someone will be moving into your home, be sure that you know what their expectations are and how much space they will need.

If someone will be moving into your home, you become the landlord. Before the other person moves in be sure to let them know when the rent is due and any other rules or expectations. With a high unemployment rate in a recession, verifying employment and, getting references from previous landlords, and checking them, is recommended

With a little bit of thinking ahead, planning and communication you have the potential to cut your housing costs in half, or even more. During a recession everyone is looking to cut costs and save money as much as possible, and having a roommate might be just the solution you're looking for.

Source:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5096381_college-roommates.html

http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Good-Roommate