If you have had a roomate before...TIPS please :)

Well, its a good chance that we may have a roomate soon.
Its a friend that is about my age. She has 3 kids. Were moving in the end of this month/beginning of next & she would be moving with us & staying for a while.

For those that have had roomates before, what issues did you run into? What tips would you have for someone planning it?

The best thing I could tell you is to set boundaries. Particularly with food. Sure, it's no problem for them to have a banana of yours every now and then. But, trust me, resentment will build up if your food is always being eaten by someone else.

I would live in a box before having another roommate. Some issues we had were communication issues. Her thinking that things applied to the rest of us but not her. Never cleaning up after herself.

Our food being eaten, house cleaning not being done, not picking up after themselves, destroying furniture, throwing garbage in the garage, not taking care of their own animals, just things like that.

Cleaning and paying bills equally.. He was dirty and never picked up after himself and he thought because he worked 10hr days he shouldn't have to pay as much towards bills (he stayed up all night playing xbox)

Like the previous poster said, set boundaries. Seriously. Food, cleaning things like that. It sucks when one doesn't have the same view of a "clean" house than the other. It leads to the neater one feeling like they do all the cleaning.

The best advice is don't do. More often than not it ruins friendships. But if its a half to situation set exact boundaries. Especially for the kids

I have lived with a bunch of roommates, lived with a few roommates, and lived with just one roommate and its always the same problem. I always ended up cleaning up after everyone else. I know it sounds childish but it honestly got to the point to where we had to put up chore charts and what not. I have OCD so there were certain things I didn't mind doing all the time like cleaning the bathroom on a damn near daily basis, but I refused to clean their dishes and pick up their garbage after a point. I would basically make it clear from the start who is responsible for what and that she is responsible for cleaning up her and her children's messes.

have a serious yalk about the things that bother you and the things that dont. because u guys have kids, talk about the kids toys and rules for ur kids that u expect thier friends to follow (toy rules)

food
cleaning
clothes
bathroom rules
and kitchen rules. and of course "alone time" rules. every one neds some alone time

Quoting Novelidea:" The best thing I could tell you is to set boundaries. Particularly with food. Sure, it's no problem for ... [snip!] ... banana of yours every now and then. But, trust me, resentment will build up if your food is always being eaten by someone else."

Along with the food that we will be buying (my husband & I), she will be getting assistance most likely to help contribute..But I totally see what you mean

Quoting Addi's Momma:" I would live in a box before having another roommate. Some issues we had were communication issues. Her thinking that things applied to the rest of us but not her. Never cleaning up after herself."

She is a clean freak   I dont see that one happening...

What kind of things did she think applied to yall but not her?

Quoting amor♥:" She is a clean freak   I dont see that one happening... What kind of things did she think applied to yall but not her?"

Like she bought energy efficient light bulbs so she assumed she could leave her lights on 24/7 but would turn ours off if we left the room because we were wasting electricity. My other roommate and I weren't allowed to eat in the living room because we could spill things but she would all the time. One time she got drunk and ate nachos on the couch. Those are just a couple examples.

Food Im not too worried about.
I think cleaning would be a good thing to discuss...I work all day. She would be home all day and have more time to do things like that. I dont want her to think of me as the lazy one lmao.
Bills, she wont be working...But she would be watching our kids for us for my husband to work or go to school during the day...So that works out.

Quoting Addi's Momma:" Like she bought energy efficient light bulbs so she assumed she could leave her lights on 24/7 but would ... [snip!] ... spill things but she would all the time. One time she got drunk and ate nachos on the couch. Those are just a couple examples."

Oh so just being a hypocrit...Got it. Thats silly lol

Noise... No vacuuming at 8am, loud music... Ect.

Guests over rules

Pet rules

Dishes and trash rules

Make sure you have a legal document about payment, rules, lease length