What Does It Mean To Have a Roommate?

Senior AdvisoryMarch 2014

After High School…

Most Seniors will say that they are going to move out after graduation.

Some will leave home for college, move into a dorm, and share a room with a complete stranger.

Others will attend college and share an apartment or rental house with one, two, or three friends.

Others may leave home to find work and find a roommate to share expenses.

Many may find themselves living at home until they can save enough money to move out.

Preparing For A Roommate

If you get to choose a roommate, be sure the person you choose is financially reliable. Will they pay their share of the bills on time? Do they have a steady source of income so that you’re not

stuck with the rent? Do they have a back-up plan if they come up short one month?

Do you prefer certain qualities you’d like your roommate to have? Clean? Tidy? Punctual? Laid-back? Fun? Responsible? Party-

er? Carefree?

You should really spend some time thinking about the kind of person you could share a home or an apartment with. Once you sign a lease, it’s not so easy to move out.

Preparing For A Roommate

Whether you get to choose your roommate or not, you may want to consider establishing some ground rules PRIOR to moving in.

Consider the shared space in your living situation.Do you each get a shelf in the cupboard to store

your own stuff?Do you get your own shelf in the refrigerator for

your own food?How will you agree to use the shared living

space so that each of you respects the other?

Preparing For A Roommate

When you move away from home, you will be responsible for feeding, clothing, and taking care of yourself.

Will you and your roommate share food?

Will you share cleaning supplies?

Will you share appliances?

Will you share toiletries?

What would you consider community or personal property?

Preparing For A Roommate

When you move into an apartment or rental house, the lease and utilities will need to be in someone’s name. Whose name?

Who will be in charge of the PG&E bill?

Do you get a phone or do you use your cell phones only?

Do you get cable TV?

Do you get internet?

How do you determine how bills are paid each month?

These are all things that need to be addressed before you move away from home.

Roommate Stories

Let’s look at some typical roommate stories together.

Consider how you would address the situation.

Remember, you are an adult now, so you have to figure out how to handle situations without your adult family.

Roommate Story #1: The Milk

You come home from school or work after a rough day. You are looking forward to a bowl of cereal and watching your favorite show on TV.

You open the refrigerator and find that your new quart of milk is gone.

You ask your roommate, “Where’s my milk?”

Your roommate responds, “I was really hungry and needed milk for my cereal so I used the last of the milk. I’ll buy you another quart when I go to the store tomorrow.”

Roommate Story #1: The Milk (cont.)

Ask anyone who has ever had a roommate. “The Milk” story has happened to them in some way, shape, or form.

How do you respond to your roommate without getting into an argument?

Roommate Story #2: The Return Home

You come home from a weekend visit in Fort Bragg and find your living quarters in a complete mess.

Your roommate had a few friends over while you were gone and the kitchen, bathroom, and living room are in shambles.

Do you help your roommate clean up?

Are you okay with the situation?

Do you even address this?

Roommate Story #2: The Return Home

When you move out, you will need to figure out what is going to bug you when it comes to your shared space.

Like it or not, you and your roommate(s) will have times when you step on each other toes. How will you address those uncomfortable moments?

We are all human. Even you will make a mistake as a roommate. You will need to have a respectful way to approach each other so that you resolve issues or else, living under the same roof will be miserable.

Roommate Story #3: The Bathroom

If you are lucky enough to have your own bathroom, then this story is not for you! However, if you do have to share a bathroom, consider this story.

You wake up late for school one morning only to find your roommate in the shower.

You pound on the door asking how much longer before you can get a turn.

When you finally get in the bathroom, the hot water is gone; the shower, toilet and sink are filthy; and there’s no toilet paper.

Roommate Story #3: The Bathroom (cont.)

Sharing a bathroom is pretty common when you have roommates.

How do you decide who cleans what and when it is cleaned?

What do you share?

Who cleans your bathroom right now?

Ask An Adult

Before the next advisory period, ask an adult you trust to share some roommate success stories and some roommate horror stories with you.

Find an adult who has experienced the type of situation you plan to begin after graduation. (dorm, apartment, etc.) Invite that person to share some of his/her roommate wisdom with you.

If you are planning to move away from home, for any reason, consider how you will adjust to a roommate.

Next Advisory Period

Share some school appropriate advice your adult offered.

Share a school appropriate story your adult shared with you.

Make a list of all the important roommate qualities you hope to find in your future roommate.

Make a list of some of the ground rules you hope to establish with your new roommate prior to moving in.

Good Luck!!