Learning to Live with Roommates

Let’s face it. You grew up with your brothers and sisters and that…Well, let’s just say it wasn’t exactly easy.

The pushing, the shoving, the forced sharing; you couldn’t wait to get out of there. And now—you’re right back where you started. Wait a minute? What? College roommates are supposed to be your best friends! This has to be some sort of joke. They can’t be this terrible…roommates would never eat your food, use your shampoo or steal your clothes!! What do you do when the only way out leaves you back with pushy brothers and sisters?

Don’t give up hope just yet. You can get your roommates in line and make life a little easier without resorting to dirty tactics, illegal activity or going back to the zoo at home.

Chore charts are king

Although it sounds like a blast from the past, chore charts are actually effective. And they keep you from having to be the maid in your apartment or having to go on strike like the garbage collectors in Rome (seriously…that was disgusting). Of course, you’re thinking, “Chore charts don’t work.” But that’s why they come with punishments and rewards—for every chore you don’t finish on time, you have to put $5 in the chore jar. And the chore jar pays for cleaning supplies and of course, pizza night…but only for the roommates who did their chores. Get your roommates behind this idea and you’ll find yourself living in a clean, well-maintained and fair environment.

Establish boundaries

Let your roommates know from the very beginning exactly how you see things. If you don’t want them borrowing your stuff, make it clear. If your food is your food and nobody else’s, make it known. And remember, if that doesn’t work, the best thing you can do is purchase a small refrigerator and keep everything locked up in your room. Desperate times call for desperate measures, my friend, and nothing will make you more desperate than when your space and your belongings aren’t getting any respect.

Do what must be done

Doing what must be done does not mean you start fighting fire with fire. It means do exactly what you’d do at home: go to somebody with more authority and make the problem known. If you live in a student apartment on university property, chances are you have a Resident Administrator (RA) in your building. Your RA is there to help solve problems and disputes and to stop your roommates from stealing your stuff. If you live off-campus, try taking it to the management company; bug infestations and mold are problems they’ll want handled quickly, too.

Getting along with your roommates isn’t just about playing video games, eating pizza and watching movies when you’re supposed to be doing your homework. Getting along with your roommates is about communication, compromise and knowing when to “cry to Mommy.” After all, happiness isn’t about who has the power, but about who knows how to use the power around them to work things out.