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Readers: What are your tips for living with a roommate?
Not all roommate stories are full of horror.
Boston’s real estate market is tough. Does having a roommate make it better or worse?
The state ranked as the second highest cost of living in the country in a 2024 Forbes Advisor analysis. Boston is especially tough, ranking among the top costs of living globally, according to NerdWallet’s Cost of Living Calculator.
Every year, Boston seems to get a little bit more expensive. But city dwellers don’t give up.
To cope with the skyrocketing prices, almost a third of Boston renters have roommates, according to the Mayor’s Office of Housing. This does not account for the more than 150,000 students of Boston, many of whom live together in on-campus housing units or off-campus alternatives.
But living with roommates can be difficult. It can be a struggle to communicate with someone you know and even harder to be flexible with someone that you do not. There are two main types of conflict between roommates in an apartment.
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“The first one revolves around sharing space with another human being. You have to find a compromise that leaves both people excited to be in the room,” Boston College psychology professor Mattityahu Zimbler told Boston.com in 2023. “The second group of conflicts deals with mutual respect.”
Not all roommate stories are full of horror. Many roommates make it work, and Boston.com wants to know how you do it.
Tell us: What are your tips and tricks for how to best get along with a roommate in the same space? Do you have any stories about resolving conflict or overcoming challenges with your roommate? Are there rules or established systems that make your household peaceful?
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Share with us by filling out the form below or email [email protected] to tell us your roommate stories.
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