For many people, that perfect apartment is a little more than they can afford. This is especially true when you’re finding your first apartment. A limited budget can greatly affect the size and location of apartment you get. One way to afford a better apartment is by taking on a roommate or two. While this will go a long way towards stretching your budget, it can lead to hassles and headaches of its own. Here are a few tips to remember when getting a roommate into the act.Rent and utilities- Make sure your roommate knows exactly how much of the rent and utilities they are expected to pay and that it is due on a certain day each month. Allowing them to pay on different days every month will send the signal that they can pay their share whenever they feel like it and this will end up making you shoulder the burden alone.

Chores- Apartments, like every other type of living accommodation, get dirty. Dishes pile up, the floor needs to be vacuumed and dusting needs to be done. No one likes cleaning, but it’s part of life. Set up a rotating set of chores or clearly define who has to clean what. This will help keep the apartment liveable and avoid one person having to do everything.

Groceries- You’ll need to define who has access to which foods. The best option is usually to decide that your roommate can only eat what they have purchased. This will help cut down on “empty fridge” syndrome and save you some cash on groceries, as well.