Though the notion may seem a touch outdated, a decent portion of our world doesn't believe in living with someone before marriage. I think it is a great idea, and I think it is beneficial for a relationship that you want to last. You cannot fully know a person until you live with them every day.
Personally, I do not want to promise forever to someone unless I know them inside and out. Living together before you get married can prepare you for the twists and turns that come with marriage. So why should you live together before you get married?
1. Bad Habits
They could do anything; leave the cap off the toothpaste, chew with their mouthful or maybe they bite their fingers. When you live with someone, you quickly learn who you're living with. The good, bad and ugly.
2. Dirty?
When you are a naturally dirty person the tendency is to subdue this quality until deep into a relationship, mostly because you rationally know dirty is no bueno. Their nature will reveal itself again, and they will be messy. Learn this early on, and set boundaries. Together, you can battle the filth and have one less thing to stress about when you do get married.
3. Sleeping
Sleep is important, and when you move in with someone you might lose some in the process of learning each other's sleep patterns. Until we moved in together, I don't think my boyfriend really understood how much I sleep. For some people that is a deal breaker and that wouldn't be a fun honeymoon.
4. The to-do-list
Cleaning can be tedious but made tolerable by dividing and conquering based off of abilities. My boyfriend cannot fold. It is as gross as his handwriting. So he washes the clothes, and I fold. We have made ourselves a little cleaning "routine" that we can use to jump right into married life.
5. Learn the day-to-day
I thought I knew what it would be like to live with my partner, but it is so much more. Our lives are almost fully intertwined now. We learned how to work with our free time, making sure that everyone was satisfied. I like knowing what I am getting into and living with someone is just that.
6. Know each other
We all have ticks, things we hate and qualities that begin to show the more you know someone. What if you hate when your partner corrects you and while you get plenty of separate time, he doesn't, but when you move in together this changes and he starts correcting you more and more. I wouldn't like it either.
7. Even the little things
The little things are just as important. We have a side of the bed and a seat in the living room. Some of us have morning routines or a way we talk on the phone, even a special way we separate our medicines. Knowing these things will make the experience of marrying better because you will be spending less time worrying and more time enjoying.
9. Honeymoon phase
The honeymoon phase can last as long as you want if you have your life together. Have your life settled so that after the honeymoon you can still live in bliss because all of the concerns affecting traditional newlyweds won't be on your mind. You will already have a place to live, furniture, and a steady support system.
10. Prepare for the future
Some people have kids once they get married, and if they do that, then they won't have the time to learn from each other, unless they were already living together. Teach your partner how you want everything handled that way there is only one baby in the house.
