Would you do this?

[rachelMcK]

DH and I just found out that we have an opportunity to save $300 a month on rent. Our best friend has a line on a house to rent. Its a 5 bedroom (3 downstairs, 2 upstairs) in a good neighbourhood. He suggested that we move in with him, he would take the mainfloor bedrooms and we could take the upstairs for more privacy (since we're married and he's single.) Its a great plan, we'd be saving more money, my only concern is the roommate thing. I've had 3 roommates (2 while living with DH) and they've been hell. I mean HELL. But we didn't really know any of them and we all shared a small space, which was tough. Now with him, we'd be sharing a kitchen and a bathroom, but its not as if we don't know him, he's at our apartment everyday anyway. Also, the other thing I like about the plan is that, he also told us that if we plan to have a baby in the next few years, and we were living together, that he didn't mind, he loves babies, but we would have much more room than the small one bedroom we have now.
So I'm kinda torn. Do we save $300 a month and get a roommate, or do I stick to my guns when I said I'd never live with another roommate again???

What would you do?

[freebs]

I guess i would go with saving the money. You could work up a large down payment on a house in no time saving that money. If he is at your appt all the time anyway this wouldnt be any different.

[emily_hope]

That would be a tough decision for me, because I've NEVER had a roommate. Sometimes it's hard to live with your own family, LOL! However, $300 a month is a good chunk of money and like freebs said, you could save up for a good down payment on a house.

[Lady_V]

5 bedrooms... and just the 3 of you? Does he have any plans on moving more people in later?? Are you only paying 2/5 the total rent?

How will utilities be handled?

Friends are great... friends are wonderful... add money to the mix and things get more difficult...

I'm all in favor of saving money... BUT... I'd work out all the details... as ROOMIES first, I've seen what happens when 'friends' move in together

[rachelMcK]

Ahh, yes, we're definetly going to be ironing out all financials BEFORE we decide to do this. I'm not making that mistake again. No one else will be moving in with us (unless he gets a serious girlfriend, but I don't see that happening, he's a bachelor...lol). Whats planned for the bedrooms is that we would take the larger 2 upstairs, one as a bedroom, one as a living room/office. He would take the 3 downstairs, one as bedroom, one as office, one as living room. The house itself, doesn't have a living room. The utilities are all included, we'd just split internet and phone. No forseeable problems there. Also, he wants to split the rent in half, 50/50. So, rent is 1200/mnth, DH and I pay 600, he pays 600. That was his idea because he said if he did get a girlfriend or if he wanted someone to stay for a while, he didn't want to do the math to figure out each month. He said he doesn't mind paying more, since he'll be getting more room and also that he makes alot more than we do, that we should use the savings for a downpayment on our own house. We've also been best friends with him since public school.

[dancar3]

This is a really tough question! It sounds like a good plan but I guess my only concern is renting w/ a best friend. If things start to get sticky, you might lose a friend.

Also...........how sound proof are the floors and bedrooms?

You would have to decide about food costs and maintenance around the house.

Last thing, how comfortable is dh w/ male best friend seeing and always being around his wife in the house? Please don't think I'm insinuating here, I like to look at all aspects of a situation before making a decision!

[rachelMcK]

No problem, dancar, people think things like that. See, he's at our apartment even when DH is at work. Some people think its taboo, like our families. Some people get the wrong idea, but we see it differently. I don't think there is a problem with a married woman being friends with a guy. Neither does DH. He trusts both of us, and there really isn't a problem there. Now, if DH were to express any kind of concern in that area, the idea is off the table. We're not doing it if he's not comfortable. Food and maintainence still needs to be ironed out, but we got ideas that we're throwing around. As for soundproof walls and floors, I don't know, I haven't seen the place yet...lol

[tbs727]

I think if I were in your position I would move in. As long as you are comfortable with the way the financial aspects work out, I don't see a problem. We have a couple of guy friends who, if we had a house with a room to rent, I would be comfortable asking them to move in (as long as we had our privacy, of course). It would be a win-win situation. Good luck to you!

[danimarie0820]

I would do it to save the money. If you are already such close friends I really don't see any difference if you decided to all three live together. I like the idea of seperating the bedrooms too. If you get tired of each other you can go to your own area. lol

[kmsinsa]

I would also do it because it would give you a great opportunity to save money towards a down payment on a house. I've had roommates and have had both good and bad experiences. As long as everyone knows the "rules" beforehand, I think it would be ok.

[ravenmaniac]

From your post it sounds like you would like to do this. If so then go ahead. I think here in the USA we are so independent. Everyone has their own house along with all the stuff. This is a minor example but my husband and his two good friends bought a log splitter together. They were able to buy a good model and split the cost three ways. All the details were worked out before the purchase was made. I think the key to sharing is finding people who are of the mind set as you and have the details worked out before hand.

[ladykemma2]

i wouldn't do it. married people need their space

[Drgnfly423]

DH and I have had roommates 2 times since we've been married 1 girl and 1 guy. Guy worked out great girl not so great. I think it depends on the relationship you have with them, too. If it works for you then I say go for it. It's not like you can never move out either. So why not give it a shot?

[MomToTwoBoys]

I say that if you know him and he's always with you guys anyways, then you already know how it would be living with him to an extent. I've never been one for roommates unless I had to have them (like in boot camp and college) but I don't think I could have one now. It was hard enough getting used to living with DH that I think having a roommate would drive me nuts.

You could always do a trial thing and stay there for a week, see how you two feel with it. Be open to everything and anything that can happen. Decide from there but it sounds like you'd like to do it anyways.

[Katybird]

I don't think I would do it. I enjoy my privacy too much.