3 DATING TIPS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE FLATMATES
Look, let’s get right down to it. A lot of us have flatmates. It’s the times we’re living in, aside from the people who can afford to live alone (when I grow up, can I be like you guys?!) There are definitely pros and cons to living with flatmates. Whether you were friends before or you saw that there was a room to rent on a Facebook group, your flatmates get some of the most intimate looks at how you live. I mean, you likely share a bathroom, they know a lot. One thing that they’ll definitely know is whether you’re getting some. If it’s a one-night stand or if you’re seeing someone, they’ll either have heard you (always fun, said no one) or at least seen an unfamiliar pair of shoes repeatedly making an appearance in your home. You always want to make sure that everyone you live with is comfortable with the people coming in and out of your shared home, right? So, here are 3 dating tips for people who have flatmates…
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Talk about boundaries
Presumably, you and your flatmates will (hopefully) have found a way to coexist happily together, but that can all change when you factor in each other’s partners or people that you may be seeing. When you have guests coming to stay, it’s important to know what is and isn’t acceptable. For example, maybe you can only have them stay over a few times a week. You may have to negotiate times to use the shower. Nothing worse than needing to get ready, but someone who doesn’t even live there is finishing all your hot water. You may even discuss beforehand who uses the communal spaces of the house on certain days. It can be super awkward to feel like you’re third wheeling, because your flatmate and their date are cuddling on the sofa. It’s all about being respectful of each other’s spaces.
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One of the best dating tips for people who have
flatmates is to give ‘recurring guests’ the chance to
meet your flatmates.
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Take the time to make introductions
It is weird as hell not knowing who is or has been in your home, especially if they’re making regular visits. One of the best dating tips for people who have flatmates is to give ‘recurring guests’ the chance to meet your flatmates. Not only will it make all parties in the home (hopefully) feel more at ease, but they may even become friends! It’s also just the respectful thing to do on the part of whoever you’re seeing. They’re the visitor entering a shared space, the least they can do is try with the other people who live there. If you want to see how potential partners feel about such things, check out CLiKD!
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Be honest if you have any worries
It’s good to have a chat with your flatmates early on if you’re having people coming to stay. It’s completely normal to feel a bit unsettled at the idea of having a stranger in your home, especially if they’re staying over. It can feel awkward to share your concerns, after all you don’t want to make your flatmate feel like they can’t date. However, once things get to the stage of them coming into your home, it’s important to have these talks. There are all sorts of things that could be causing worries that you shouldn’t feel ashamed of discussing. An example, if they’re staying over a lot, what does that mean for your bills etc. Remember that you’re all living there, so it’s about compromise and working together to create a safe space for all of you. This is your home after all.
So, there you have it! 3 dating tips for people who have flatmates. These tips are especially important during the pandemic, because you want to make sure everyone is staying safe and no one’s health is at risk. It’s already a stressful time for all of us, no need to unnecessarily add to it, right?
