Do you live with your partner?

I have never lived with a boyfriend, believe it or not! I have had serious relationships, but I have personal issues for not doing so. He stays several nights/week, but he has his own place also. I just have never been to the point where I could trust anyone enough for that; I've come a long way, but I'm not there yet. I've worked too hard to buy my house and everything in it, and I am just afraid of losing it because of poor judgement. How long have you and your partner been together? It's a shame if the laws there prevent you from living together and making a home together- a place of your own! It would be a lot of adjustment, I'm sure. Just having someone here several days/week is an adjustment. You have to learn to "pick your battles" and let the small things go. Bills are always an issue with any couple, and I would say that these are things that you should discuss at length before you make any decisions. Like any couple, one of the major causes for arguments and breakups is over financial issues. I would want to be sure that we agreed on financial matters before the mortgage papers were signed! Good luck!

A joint account will only work when the two partners share the same financial values and work towards the same goal financially. It is quite a shock when you realize that your partner lacks financial responsibility. Household chores can also become a minefield. If one partner is neat and the other one is not, there will be resentment. Living together is difficult and you will have to negotiate on many terms. My partner is a smoker, and I refused to have him smoking inside of the house. So, to compensate, I don't complain too much about about the fact that he doesn't clean up after himself.