Why do young people share an apartment with housemates?
By Shavkat
@Shavkat (139933)
Philippines
March 31, 2024 10:59pm CST
When I was a university student, I did not need to rent an apartment or have a housemate for this matter. But I sometimes envy my classmates because they are living independently. Unlike me, I need to be with my family. They do have housemates to save money and, of course, to make new friends.
Did you experience this before?
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13 people like this
14 responses
@wolfgirl569 (106226)
• Marion, Ohio
1 Apr
Living with family can be great. I never lived with friends but that could be good for everyone.
4 people like this
@capirani (2840)
• United States
2 Apr
When I was in college, my roommates were not friends when we all started out. The college had a book of lists of people who wanted roommates. We would browse through the books and choose people who seemed well matched with each of us. So we ended up with roommates who were from all around the country and sometimes outside the country. We became friends through the time living together.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (87806)
• Bangalore, India
1 Apr
I did not have that experience. I went to the best university in the country and it was commutable from my home. So, I was not given any hostel on campus ( there is a huge demand for that from students coming from other cities). I did one year course after my post graduation and that campus was very far. I was given hostel accommodation and then I shared a hostel room with one of my batchmate. It was fun. And she became a very good friend.
4 people like this
@Shavkat (139933)
• Philippines
2 Apr
When I had my chance to work in another city for the very first time, I needed to have housemates at that time. The sad part is that the relationship with them turned sour. So I decided to volunteer in another country, and I have no regrets about leaving them behind.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (87806)
• Bangalore, India
4 Apr
@Shavkat Oh! Sorry about that. Fortunately, I had good ones and they became friends forever. But yes, I have seen cases like yours too.. having a good flatmate is so important.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (139933)
• Philippines
5 Apr
@arunima25 It is fine. At least, I do not need to have friendship with these people.
1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8763)
• United Kingdom
1 Apr
I studied with Open University so I didn't have the whole university experience. My eldest son did, though. He got into the university he wanted. It was too far to commute so he had to move nearer to it.
He started off in dorms for the first year. He had his own bedroom but everything else (bathroom, kitchen, communal rooms) was shared with other students. He spent his second year sharing a house with one friend he had made. Third year, he had a student flat that I think was a similar set-up to the university dorms but with his own bathroom and only sharing the kitchen. Finally, he spent his fourth sharing a house with three other people.
He didn't mind the dorms. I don't think he was really keen on the last shared house. He definitely seemed happiest when he was sharing a house with his friend.
My son didn't have a great deal of choice as he had to take what was available, affordable, and practical at the time. He made friends more with people from his courses and shared interest groups than he did with the people he shared accommodation with.
3 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8763)
• United Kingdom
3 Apr
@Shavkat I wanted my son to have the whole university experience. Unfortunately, covid started while he was in his 2nd year so he didn't quite get the experience he should have! I'm glad he had that independence, though, even though I did worry about it being the first time he was away from family.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (139933)
• Philippines
3 Apr
@pumpkinjam I can relate to you on this matter. Most of the students here experienced this thing, too. It took more than 3 years before they could go back to school physically.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (139933)
• Philippines
2 Apr
I think your son is lucky to have parents like you. I am pretty sure I would be glad to experience the chance to live independently with housemates. When I reached my first year at the university, my parents and siblings went to another city to closely work on their business. I was left behind in our home. It is kind of independent in the sense that our relatives check me out from time to time.
The real experience of being independent came when I had my final year of school. I need to take the 10-month internship program. I move from one hospital to another in different places in my country. It was my first time not being checked and monitored.
1 person likes this
@mayka123 (16605)
• India
3 Apr
@Shavkat This was nearly 40 years ago, and I was not comfortable leaving the hostel and living in an apartment. I was worried that if all the girls later went to their homes and I did not get a roommate, how would I manage? I was always afraid of living alone. I did not know at that time that a day would come when I would have to live all alone.
1 person likes this
@capirani (2840)
• United States
2 Apr
When I was in college, I shared a two-bedroom apartment with 3 other roommates. It was fun and made it affordable to stay near the campus. It was not a commune. We had the choice of living in the dorms on campus or getting apartments if we were not close enough to drive from home. We were just all roommates who split the total rent and utilities 4 ways.
2 people like this
@capirani (2840)
• United States
2 Apr
@Shavkat My town has small branches of two or three different colleges for people who live in this area so they don't have to drive far to the main campuses. So those who live here do not have dorms because they all live at their homes. But the dorms are there at the main campuses.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (139933)
• Philippines
2 Apr
I think it is a good idea to save money by having housemates. I can tell that you had a great time with them. I had seen some of my friends before. They were not living in my city before. We do not have a school dormitory. That is why it is not one of the options.
1 person likes this
@besweet (9859)
• Ireland
1 Apr
I had flatmates when I was studying abroad. Student accomodation was shared and I had my own bedroom and bathroom. Kitchen and living room were shared spaces. Nowadays even young professionals live in shared houses because it's very difficult and very expensive to find an apartment.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (89882)
• Arvada, Colorado
1 Apr
Coz they like to have friends around..they are young.
2 people like this
@zainkhan121 (859)
• Pakistan
1 Apr
Yes, I can definitely relate to that feeling! While there's a sense of comfort being with family, there's also the allure of independence and the camaraderie of living with friends. It's a unique experience for everyone, and each choice comes with its own set of pros and cons.
2 people like this
