On your own: Living with roommates

Date published 31 January 2024

Date modified 8 October 2024

In our new blog series "On your own," we address the matters you will encounter as a new student when you move out on your own for the first time. We begin the series with advice on living together with other students.

Cleaning

After years of living with your parents, you're accustomed to knowing what you should and shouldn't do. Perhaps you're used to only keeping your room clean while your parents take care of the rest. In a student house, this will be different. You'll have various communal areas that need to be kept clean. To avoid one person always being responsible for this, it's wise to create a cleaning schedule.

Sharing costs

The cleaning schedule won't be the only challenge you'll face. To clean, you also need cleaning supplies. Sometimes a landlord takes care of this, but often it falls on you as residents. In this case, a household fund is a good solution. Everyone contributes a fixed amount weekly, and with this money, someone buys the cleaning supplies and other household items.

There. is also an online solution for those who never have cash on hand: "Wie betaalt wat" (Who pays what). This website and app are online calculators where you can settle your purchases with fellow residents. A significant advantage of this tool is that you can choose whether you want to split expenses with everyone or specific people. This is useful if you often eat together, and not everyone eats every time. No need to compare receipts and send payment requests every time you buy something together. You enter you receipts in the tool and settle up once at the end of the month.

Making Common Areas Comfortable

Maintaining the furniture and facilities in the communal areas is usually the responsibility of the landlord. They will ensure that the house is equipped with all essential amenities, and that's usually where it ends. Deciding to buy some extra items for the living room can make it a cozy space to gather. For example, purchasing a nice large TV and connecting a device for streaming Netflix can lead to movie nights. If you're not big on watching movies, you can also buy a game console with some fun group games to make the living room a pleasant space to come together. Of course, you can do both.

Creating a Welcoming Atmosphere

If you're lucky, you'll find a house with your friends, and you'll already have a connection with your housemates. However, it's more likely that you'll end up living with new people. You may be living with these people for years, so it's essential to get to know and understand each other. For instance, agree to have a communal meal once a week. We've already given tips above on making your communal space more enjoyable. When a living room is cozy and offers opportunities to do things together, you'll naturally come together more often and get to know each other better.

Additionally, you can engage in activities with your housemates outside the house. Going out together, grabbing a drink at a terrace, or going on a day trip ensures that you see each other in a new light. This way, you truly get to know people and form friendships for life.

Consideration for Each Other

You're dependent on each other for the coming years, and there will be irritations. Make sure to give each other space when needed. Is your housemate stressed? Help them and offer to cook for them or take over their cleaning duty for the week. They will appreciate this and will understand you better, wanting to help you when you're in a stressful period with your studies.

The key to handling irritations quickly is to communicate well and consider each other. Annoyances and arguments often arise from a buildup of small irritations, so make sure to address issues on time before they escalate into a bigger problem than necessary. When you can share the good and bad times with each other, your bond with your housemates will only get stronger.

No Money Conflicts

A significant cause of problems always remains money. Ensure that you're not the person who is always late with payments or unwilling to participate in enjoyable activities because you're short on money. You can do this by borrowing the maximum, but if this is your only income, it will quickly run out. Recruit a Student is a student employment agency that can offer you a tailor-made part-time job. We have flexible (side) jobs you can take on alongside your studies, as well as many individual tasks where you can decide per task whether or not to take it on.

Sign up now and see which job vacancies are available in your city. From that moment on, you'll also be informed of all new (side) jobs and tasks that come up. Contact the branch where the vacancy is posted and apply directly!

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