Q: I am graduating soon, and thinking about moving in with my boyfriend of almost a year. Is this too soon? How do you know when to take such a major step?
A: So you’ve been with this guy almost a year? What is making you want to move in with him? Is it for financial reasons or just because you can’t get enough of him?
I think it’s a little too soon. Call me crazy, but why not just wait to move in with someone when you get married? What’s the big rush? I think you should live on your own as long as you can and just enjoy dating this guy.
There is a new study that suggests that couples who live together before marriage may be less likely to eventually marry.
Studies also show that couples who cohabit are 50 percent more likely to divorce after marriage than those who don’t.
So another question is, do you have marriage in mind? I know you might be head over heels in love with this guy, and want to spend your every waking moment with him, but just be patient.
Living alone is fun. You get to do what you want and lounge around in those comfy pajamas with no make-up on. You can’t do that when you live with a guy.
I know some might say that you can find out if you want to marry someone by living with them, but I don’t think that’s true. I think you can find out if you want to marry someone by spending quality time with them.
Take this time to get to know yourself and concentrate on finding out what your career is going to be. Don’t complicate things by moving in with a guy.
If you’re having problems financially, get a girlfriend to move in with you. You’ll have someone to talk about boyfriend issues and someone to watch chick flicks with on the nights you don’t hang out with your boyfriend.
Trust me, you’ll like being roomies with a girl much more than a guy. You’ll never have to put the toilet seat down and the whole house will be much more tidier.
So just enjoy dating this guy and don’t try to play house yet. If you’re one of those people that just hate to live alone and don’t want to live with one of your friends, then consider getting a dog or cat. There are plenty of animals at the local animal shelter that would love to be adopted.
And if you’re boyfriend is persistent that you move in together, tell him to get on the Internet and look at the statistics of cohabitation.
I’m not just giving you this advice because I’m a prude; I just think it makes more sense. Ask around at the couples who have been married 50 to 60 years and see if they lived together before they got married. More than likely, they didn’t.
So best of luck, girl, and just remember, be patient.
Send your questions in to eteditor@etsu.edu with the subject of “Blab to Beth.

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