would house sharing be unpleasant?

LegacyUser

i currently rent an apartment alone and eventhough sometimes i miss some company i do like having my own space and privacy.

however i do have some credit card debt (12k) and i'm thinking that it would be a good idea to share a house with someone and pay the money that i'd save off my credit card (which would be around 400euro per month). the only thing is i've heard some nightmare stories of house sharing (and read many here!!) and i would hate to have awful inconsiderate house mates.

i'd love to hear if others have had apprehensions about this and actually it worked out.

LCFin.yay

I would definitely try house sharing. It is a worth while experience even if they are messy and loud or annoying.

I have had the messiest house-mates you could imagine, talking plates of food left on the floor for a full week! (I went home early for a mid-term and came back to AAAH)

But it is fun. You learn to cope with mental situations that really shouldn't happen in the first place.

Just think, they might act like spoil little kids but you might have your own someday so the practice couldn't hurt haha.

LegacyUser

I've shared with so many different people at this stage, good and bad experiences. I think you should share and ease your financial woes, you might end up glad of the company. Plus if its just one other person it won't be too bad, chances are you won't even see each other that much.
Like the other poster said even if you do have problems you learn to deal with them. You could say its only temporary just in case it doesn't work out. But you'll have an idea whether you'll get on with them or not when they come to view

LegacyUser

well this is it...i was thinking that i'd even do it for a year and get a head start on the debt and really get the head down and pay a chunk of it off.

i wouldn't mind small issues but if there were big problems....mmm....might be a bit much

i've heard owner occupiers aren't the best??

Miss Fluff

A house share may be a little overhwhelming after having space to yourself. What age are you? I think sharing with one other person is good as chances are you will have a lot of alone time too. Sharing with 3/4 other people means you will never have the place to yourself. Suits some people, it would (and has in the past!) drive me round the twist.

Monkey61

You might as well give it a go for a while.

The main disadvantages as I see it...

- Lack of privacy if you are in a relationship as you don't get any alone time together, to cook dinner or whatever, outside of your own room.
- Not great if you play a musical instrument and want to practice.
- If you have friends over, you either have to all hang out together or hang out in your room.
- End up feeling guilty if, like me, you want a lot of alone time and everyone else is very sociable.
- Can be lots of fights about cleaning and the bigger the number of people you live with, the more likely that factions form within the group when it comes to arguments.

But you get around these things.

The main advantages....

-Can be quite nice to know that if you have had a rough day and need some company there will always be someone about to have a cup of tea with.
- Can end up meeting all sorts of people through flatmates friends. A girl I live with is now going out with the friend of another flatmate.
- You don't have sole responsibility for dealing with the landlord, bills, repairs etc.
- It's cheaper....a lot cheaper.

If you hate it you can always move out. It isn't a final decision. But to be honest, I think with such a big debt it really is the most sensible option for you and in a few years time you will be really glad that you bit the bullet and did it.

LegacyUser

thats great advice Monkey61 so thanks for that.

I'm 30 and have only lived with family and partners before so it would be a big change for me.

I think only living with one would be the way to go if I do this.

I'm single and always meet friends out so bringing people home wouldn't be an issue really.

I really do miss simple chatting at home with someone you live with but would hate if someone was inconsiderate as i would be very considerate re noise or cleanliness, stuff like that.

Sharing bills would be awesome again !!!!

Eve_Dublin

Hi OP. I´ve shared since I was 20 and I´m 30 tomorrow. I´m hoping I´ll earn enough money next year to finally rent my own place but that´s only because I´ve been there, done that and the novelty has worn off. I have to say, I´ve had very few terrible experiences and like someone else said, you meet all kinds of people and I´ve made life-long friends out of it and my current boyfriend is my ex housemate. You hear all kinds of terrible stories but they´re usually from people who didn´t have the choice to choose who they lived with (landlord chose the person for them) or didn´t take the time to find someone suitable or are just very intolerant people generally. You need to be prepared for the fact that the person you live with might not be as tidy or untidy as you are and deal with that. Maybe set down the rules before they move in. If you´re in no major rush, start putting up ads and get the interview process going now and just go with your gut instinct. I´ve never picked a bad house mate this way. Best of luck.

LegacyUser

Make sure you let the landlord/lady know that you intend to sublet a room , and ok it first.
Maybe ask him/her to help you find a suitible person.