Surviving Multiple Housemates

By the dawn of my senior year in college I had just about had it with dorm life and the scalding showers and disagreeable decibel levels that came with it. It was time to strike out on my own. Well, almost.

Outstanding college loans and a minimum-wage paying job left me with few options: get a bunch of roommates or get acquainted with the streets. In the end, I found a reasonably priced home with four (that's right - four) female housemates. No matter how big the house is, living with that many people can be a challenge to say the least. But there are a few simple ways to create a comfortable and pleasant living arrangement for everyone.

1. Get to know your roommates. This is big. Housemates don't necessarily need to become best friends, but you will be spending some significant amounts of time together so it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with others' personalities, sleep patterns, and cleaning habits. Ask yourself: am I living with introverts or extraverts? Are they neat freaks, or will they welcome my stray Doritos strewn on the carpet? Can I bring over noisy guests, or should I give my roomies more space?

2. ALWAYS ask before using something that does not belong to you (especially food). Generally, the old sharpied name on your Tupperware gets the message across. Don't worry about appearing stingy. This is not a tightfisted offense, but rather a polite "I-don't-want-this-dish-to-be-missing-after-my-grueling-night-class-thank-you-very-much."

On the flipside of this equation, be willing to share. You'll understand this the next time you're down on your luck, and your generous roomie is the only one stocked with cold beer.

3. Designate one (responsible) person to collect money from everyone and pay the bills. Or split them up among yourselves: one person for heat, one person for the internet, etc. Just be consistent and make sure you pay whoever's in charge on time.

4. Get out of the house. Everyone deserves a little alone time. Let your roommate have the house to himself every now and then. It's a simple favor that yields tremendous payback.

5. Shhhh. Keep it quiet. We all know how you dig on John Mayer, but your roommates may not want a reminder of your affection at 6:30 in the morning. Use the ear buds once in a while. Keep the TV volume down. Hush your shower solos to a tranquil whisper.

6. Do your dishes!!!! Really, this was a big issue in my apartment. One girl in particular baked on a regular basis, and she never cleaned up after herself. Resentments swelled while the mold multiplied. Just do them. Please.

7. Alternate the responsibility of buying shared necessities such as toilet paper, hand soap, and dish detergent. You can only hold out on zero toilet paper for so long.

Likewise, take turns with other duties such as taking out the trash, cleaning the bathroom, and vacuuming. No one enjoys holding the sole responsibility for such tedious duties.

8. Bear in mind that you're splitting the bill with others. That said, be sensible when it comes to using the utilities. Long showers are nice, sure, but don't make them a habit. Don't leave the lights on in your room. Don't run the laundry for a single pair of jeans.

I lived with one girl who would walk around in December with a sports bra and shorts - and she would always turn up the heat! Needless to say, this drove me and my roomies up the wall. Grab a sweater - it will save on sore tempers and astronomical utility bills.

9. Be flexible. You are one of many now, and your housemates are not going to have identical routines or opinions. One of my housemates was a lighthearted flower child. Another was a tidy, ambitious athlete. Another was a pink-haired loud-music kind of gal. This can (and did) raise issues ranging from décor to preferred TV programs to political stances. You will win some battles, you will lose some. Just go with the flow and try to be as accommodating as possible.

The bottom line is if you're looking for multiple housemates (or even just one roommate) please be respectful, courteous, friendly, and helpful. Trust me, it will save you from oodles of frustration in the end.