If you’re reading this, you’re probably on the fence about having a roommate. Maybe you’re moving out of the house for the first time and don’t know what it’s like to live with other people that aren’t your flesh and blood. Maybe you’re still scarred from that college roommate that never cleaned, stumbled in loud and late every night, and hit on your sister when she came to visit. Or maybe you’re just a loner who doesn’t like people and considers your cat the only roommate you need. 

Well, it’s my job to convince you why you should have a roommate, and as someone who has spent the last 8 years living with roommates or staying in hostels with anywhere from 3 to 11 other people, I can tell you that it’s not that bad. It’s definitely not always perfect, but I’ll save my horror stories for another time. The advantages far outweigh the bad, and if you read on you’ll find out why. 

Having a Roommate Saves You Hella Money

I’m sure you’re aware that having a roommate makes rent cheaper (it’s probably why you’re here) but the money-saving aspects of having a roommate go far beyond rent. You can share the load on groceries, household items, and beer runs. For an in-depth look at all the ways having a roommate saves you money read Ballin' on a Budget: How Having Roommates Can Save You Money. 

Having a Roommate Helps With Adjusting to a New City

People move to a new city for a variety of reasons, but more often than not it’s for work or school. This means that there’s a good chance that you’re moving to a new city without any friends by your side. That shit is scary. 

Having a roommate can help with that adjustment. If they’ve already been living in the city, you have someone to show you around, suggest places to go, and introduce you to potential friends. If they’re new to the city as well, you have someone to explore with.

When I moved to Portland I knew one person in the whole city. The roommates that I moved in with not only became some of my closest friends, but also helped me get a job and showed me some of my favorite places in the city.

Having a Roommate is Fun

Sure sometimes a roommate can be annoying, but more often than not it’s really fun having someone else around. Whether or not you hang out with your roomie all the time, human interaction is important, and if you can experience that without leaving the house, more power to you. 

It’s nice having someone to small talk with in the morning and have a drink with before bed. Somebody to hang out with on the front porch or go for a bike ride with.

Roommates can expand your friend group by introducing you to their friends. You can throw parties with them and share the responsibility of planning and cleaning it up. 

Having a roommate is (hopefully) like having another friend, and one that’s always around to hang out and talk. 

Having a Roommate Makes Life Easier

When it all comes down to it, having a roommate just makes your life better. You save money, you learn about the city, you make new friends. 

It’s the little day to day things that you don’t think about that make all the difference. Roommates can switch your laundry from washer to the dryer if you’re out of the house. They can grab you something to drink if they’re going on a beer run. 

If you’re going out of the house, your roommate can watch your pet, water your plants, or simply watch over your non-living possessions. 

You can cook with your roommate, or simply share leftovers. You can share responsibilities such as cleaning the house or doing yard work. 

No matter how you look at it, having a roommate increases your quality of life. So do yourself a favor, use our website, and find yourself a roommate today.