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  • 9 years ago
It's your first apartment! So exciting! But don't let this joy overshadow the fact that you now have to live with another person, pay bills with another person, cook with or for or in between another person's schedule.

Before you jump into a lease with another person, make sure you understand exactly what it takes to be a roommate — it's not all compliments and Game Of Thrones themed watch parties!

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What is the one thing you've ever wondered about? Don't worry we got you covered with '5 Things You Need To Know.'

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TALENT
Follow Asia Feliciano on Instagram: https://instagram.com/continentwithoutacause
Transcript
00:00Hey everyone, I'm Asia and here are the five things you need to know about having a roommate.
00:05Look.
00:08Do not make this complicated.
00:10I can't remember the next line.
00:12Alright, alright, no, I remember it, I remember it.
00:14The first thing you need to know about having a roommate is your roommate.
00:19Take it from someone who has watched a ton of Snapchat stories about sharing a living room with a rando
00:25and absolutely hating each other.
00:27See, it may seem sexy on a show like Friends where you could become a Joey to a Chandler, but
00:33let's be real.
00:34Wouldn't you rather become a Rachel to a Monica?
00:38Hear me out, hear me out.
00:39Your best bet is to live with someone you already know, someone you already know, already knows,
00:45or someone who you've done an extensive background check on.
00:48Listen, my sister has told me stories about rooming with people with scabies and bed bugs.
00:54No, I think I'm good.
00:56The second thing you need to know about having a roommate is responsibility distribution.
01:02This is just a fancy way of saying,
01:03Bih, did you wash the dishes?
01:05Or, didn't I tell you to take out the trash?
01:07Look, this is interesting in my own personal experience, because let's just say I don't contribute that much monetarily,
01:14but I make up for it in cooking and cleaning.
01:16But ideally, you just want to split everything 50-50.
01:19But why not just make this a point of discussion before you sign your life away?
01:23Come up with a chore chart, or just ask these questions.
01:27Are they tidy?
01:28Do they know how to cook?
01:29Are they willing to Venmo you if you order through Postmates?
01:32These are the important questions, people.
01:36Number three, set boundaries.
01:38Ah, boundaries.
01:40Something I do not abide by, considering I live with someone who I've known since I was 11.
01:44See, my roommate can come home to the joy of seeing me naked, or nearly naked, almost every day.
01:49I'm known to flash her when I'm fresh out the shower, or use the bathroom while she's doing her makeup.
01:54You know, cute stuff.
01:55However, I have many friends that if we were to live together, they would not enjoy seeing me in this
02:01light.
02:02So set boundaries before making these decisions.
02:04The last thing you want to do is make someone feel uncomfortable.
02:07The fourth thing you need to know is communication.
02:09How can any union or agreement be successful without the right communication?
02:14And no one likes a passive-aggressive person, right?
02:16You know, that person who leaves a note on the fridge telling you to get more eggs,
02:20then walks right past you instead of just telling you to your face.
02:24This is where your communication skills, plus expert-level pettiness, will shine through.
02:29You, too, can leave notes and have a note war so epic that you put post-its out of business.
02:35You left hair in the sink.
02:36Your feet smell like corn chips.
02:37Go to your room.
02:38Your face bores me.
02:39See, by this point, you're ready to defeat the final level boss of pettiness.
02:43However, you failed to solve the primary issue here.
02:47You only made it worse.
02:49But if you're sharing a space with someone in the long run, always be sure to communicate.
02:53The fifth and final thing you need to know about having a roommate is that it saves you money.
02:56Remember that whole 50-50 thing I said earlier?
02:58That means money, too.
03:00Especially if you live in a place like, oh, I don't know, Los Angeles.
03:03See, in some areas, a studio and a one-bedroom may be priced alike.
03:07And a two-bedroom and a three-bedroom can be priced alike, as well.
03:10Do not make this complicated.
03:12If you're young, hungry, and just need somewhere to rest your head, why not get a roommate?
03:17One last tip before we dip.
03:19Never pull a Ted and Robin.
03:20Never room with your ex.
03:25That has been the five things you need to know about having a roommate.
03:28We'll see you next time.
03:30Deuces.
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