What Does It Mean To
Have a Roommate?
Senior Advisory
March 2014
After High School…
 Most Seniors will say that they are going to move out
after graduation.
 Some will leave home for college, move into a dorm,
and share a room with a complete stranger.
 Others will attend college and share an apartment or
rental house with one, two, or three friends.
 Others may leave home to find work and find a
roommate to share expenses.
 Many may find themselves living at home until they can
save enough money to move out.
Preparing For A Roommate
 If you get to choose a roommate, be sure the person you choose is
financially reliable.
 Will they pay their share of the bills on time?
 Do they have a steady source of income so that you’re not stuck
with the rent?
 Do they have a back-up plan if they come up short one month?
 Do you prefer certain qualities you’d like your roommate to have?
 Clean? Tidy? Punctual? Laid-back? Fun? Responsible? Party-er?
Carefree?
 You should really spend some time thinking about the kind of
person you could share a home or an apartment with. Once you
sign a lease, it’s not so easy to move out.
Preparing For A Roommate
 Whether you get to choose your roommate or not, you
may want to consider establishing some ground rules
PRIOR to moving in.
 Consider the shared space in your living situation.
 Do you each get a shelf in the cupboard to store your
own stuff?
 Do you get your own shelf in the refrigerator for your
own food?
 How will you agree to use the shared living space so
that each of you respects the other?
Preparing For A Roommate
 When you move away from home, you will be responsible
for feeding, clothing, and taking care of yourself.
 Will you and your roommate share food?
 Will you share cleaning supplies?
 Will you share appliances?
 Will you share toiletries?
 What would you consider community or personal property?
Preparing For A Roommate
 When you move into an apartment or rental house, the lease
and utilities will need to be in someone’s name. Whose name?
 Who will be in charge of the PG&E bill?
 Do you get a phone or do you use your cell phones only?
 Do you get cable TV?
 Do you get internet?
 How do you determine how bills are paid each month?
 These are all things that need to be addressed before you move
away from home.
Roommate Stories
 Let’s look at some typical roommate stories together.
 Consider how you would address the situation.
 Remember, you are an adult now, so you have to figure
out how to handle situations without your adult family.
Roommate Story #1: The Milk
 You come home from school or work after a rough day. You
are looking forward to a bowl of cereal and watching your
favorite show on TV.
 You open the refrigerator and find that your new quart of
milk is gone.
 You ask your roommate, “Where’s my milk?”
 Your roommate responds, “I was really hungry and needed
milk for my cereal so I used the last of the milk. I’ll buy
you another quart when I go to the store tomorrow.”
Roommate Story #1: The Milk
(cont.)
 Ask anyone who has ever had a roommate. “The Milk”
story has happened to them in some way, shape, or form.
 How do you respond to your roommate without getting
into an argument?
Roommate Story #2: The Return Home
 You come home from a weekend visit in Fort Bragg and
find your living quarters in a complete mess.
 Your roommate had a few friends over while you were
gone and the kitchen, bathroom, and living room are in
shambles.
 Do you help your roommate clean up?
 Are you okay with the situation?
 Do you even address this?
Roommate Story #2: The Return Home
 When you move out, you will need to figure out what is
going to bug you when it comes to your shared space.
 Like it or not, you and your roommate(s) will have times
when you step on each other toes. How will you address
those uncomfortable moments?
 We are all human. Even you will make a mistake as a
roommate. You will need to have a respectful way to
approach each other so that you resolve issues or else,
living under the same roof will be miserable.
Roommate Story #3: The Bathroom
 If you are lucky enough to have your own bathroom, then
this story is not for you! However, if you do have to share
a bathroom, consider this story.
 You wake up late for school one morning only to find your
roommate in the shower.
 You pound on the door asking how much longer before you
can get a turn.
 When you finally get in the bathroom, the hot water is
gone; the shower, toilet and sink are filthy; and there’s no
toilet paper.
Roommate Story #3: The Bathroom (cont.)
 Sharing a bathroom is pretty common when you have
roommates.
 How do you decide who cleans what and when it is
cleaned?
 What do you share?
 Who cleans your bathroom right now?
Ask An Adult
 Before the next advisory period, ask an adult you trust to
share some roommate success stories and some roommate
horror stories with you.
 Find an adult who has experienced the type of situation
you plan to begin after graduation. (dorm, apartment,
etc.) Invite that person to share some of his/her
roommate wisdom with you.
 If you are planning to move away from home, for any
reason, consider how you will adjust to a roommate.
Next Advisory Period
 Share some school appropriate advice your adult offered.
 Share a school appropriate story your adult shared with
you.
 Make a list of all the important roommate qualities you
hope to find in your future roommate.
 Make a list of some of the ground rules you hope to
establish with your new roommate prior to moving in.
 Good Luck!!