How to Stay Safe When Your Roommates Aren’t Social Distancing

August 21, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

When it comes to COVID-19 safety, not everyone is on the same page about taking the necessary precautions. You could even be dealing with this concern at home if your roommate disagrees with wearing face masks, social distancing, or not inviting guests over. If you’re facing this roommate challenge, here are some tips on how…

Three Ways to Make Space for Your Roommates’ Privacy

February 28, 2020 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

When you live with roommates, you have to put in a bit of work to maintain your privacy. In apartments with thin walls, shared bathrooms and other common spaces, and frequent guest visits, it can be challenging to carve out a sacred space where you can feel totally, blissfully alone. You can become so focused…

Taking Care of Chores When Living With a Roommate

December 3, 2018 | By Nat AuthorMy First Apartment

Living with a roommate can be a tricky business. Do you know them already? If not, do you try to be friends with them? Either way, communication is essential to making sure you live in the most harmonious apartment possible. Otherwise- chaos. One of the biggest issues between new and old roommates is chores. Ideally,…

Get to Know Your New Roommate!

October 5, 2018 | By Sarah AuthorMy First Apartment

Most of the time, moving into your first apartment means moving in with a roommate or two to share the expense (and have some fun!). But, finding the roommate can just be the beginning! If your new roommate is a new friend, acquaintance, or someone you didn’t know prior to the apartment, you should find some…

Help, My Roommate’s a Vegetarian!

July 5, 2018 | By Taylor AuthorMy First Apartment

So, you’ve found the perfect roommate, and you’re super excited. You’ve got the same taste in music, you’re both neat-freaks, and you’ve already made plans for a weekly girl’s night out. Except, when you were talking last night, she mentioned that, oh, by the way, she’s a vegetarian. Suddenly, you’re freaking out, because for some…

Roommate Intervention: What to Do When Landlord-Designated “Tenant in Charge” Fails Duties

October 20, 2016 | By Anna R. AuthorMy First Apartment

In almost every group housing situation I’ve lived in, there is usually one tenant that handles the majority of the responsibilities. They act as the liaison between tenants and landlords, they handle collecting the rent, and they tell the landlord if there are any issues with the apartment. How the “tenant in charge” decision is…

3 Simple Rules for BF/GF Visits When You Have a Roommate

July 7, 2016 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

This post by Katherine, originally published in May 2012, has saved many roommate relationships from turning into ugly war zones because of BF/GF visits — like the ones described in the comments to “How to Tell Your Roommate His Girlfriend Is a Problem”! There are three issues that can turn a roommate relationship ugly: splitting…

Solving Roommate Conflicts the Smart Way

May 24, 2016 | By Sammie AuthorMy First Apartment

Did you wake up this morning to find a passive-aggressive sticky note waiting for you? Have you been giving your roommate the silent treatment because you are annoyed and she hasn’t even noticed? Maybe you’ve thrown a few passive-aggressive comments into your conversations lately? Roommate conflicts arise quite often. They are almost inevitable, but there…

20 “Roommate-Night” Ideas

May 21, 2016 | By Sarah AuthorMy First Apartment

One of the best things about having roommates is the chance to become great friends with them! While it’s definitely possible to have challenges when living with another person, it’s important to do your best to get along and have fun together. Doing so can often make both of your living experiences much better! For…

9 Things to Thank Your First Roommate For

February 14, 2016 | By Sarah AuthorMy First Apartment

Not all of us are perfect, and I know I’m far from it! When I moved out of my parents’ house and into my first apartment, I didn’t really know what to expect. I’ll be the first to say that I wasn’t a perfect roommate in that year! I’m sure we all have faced that…