11 Friendship-Saving Tips For People Who Live With Their BFFs

Living with your bestie can be complicated. Protect your relationship with these tips and protect your home and belongings with renters insurance from American Family Insurance.

1. Set aside time to talk about your expectations of each other — preferably before you move in!

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These conversations aren't fun. In fact, they kind of suck. But ending a best-friendship over some petty, chore-related resentments sucks more. So do yourself a favor and power through some hard talks. You won't regret it!

2. Consider writing up those ground rules in a physical roommate agreement.

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Paperwork, the foundation of every great friendship!!! JK…sort of. Taking the time to actually write down your roles and responsibilities as roommates can help prevent those messy, friendship-endangering "but you said"-type fights.

3. Don't forget that you and your bestie are friends first, roommates second.

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This may seem obvious, but it's surprisingly easy to slip into "roommate mode" and stay there. So make a point to do all of the things you did with your bestie before you moved in.

4. Embrace the concept of the best friend date.

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Scared of falling into the dreaded roommate rut? Try going on a best friend date. See a movie! Go bowling! Take a walk! It doesn't matter what you do, as long as you don't do it in your apartment.

5. Real talk: If you and your roommate have shows you watch together, don't watch new episodes alone without asking permission.

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Seriously, don't. TV-cheating is real. It's serious. And it can end friendships.

6. Make sure you're spending enough time apart.

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You should both make time to hang out with your other friends! Absence makes the heart grow fonder — and living together a lot easier.

7. Unhappy about something? Skip the silent treatment and passive-aggressive notes.

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Being passive-aggressive doesn't fix anything and can escalate into a friendship-ruining cold war. If you have a problem, try addressing it head-on, like a grown-up.

PS, this is where clear expectations and roommate agreements come in handy.

8. Schedule a semi-regular roommate check-in.

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Just like you need to nurture the friendship part of your relationship with regular best friend dates, you should put time on the calendar to focus on the roommate part. A semi-regular meeting to talk about what’s working and what isn’t will help keep little frustrations from growing into lifelong resentments.

9. Give a spare key to your significant other or another friend.

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Because there will come a time when you’ve locked yourself out and your roommate is busy and unable to bail you out. Plan for this.

10. Little acts of kindness go a long way.

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Pro tip: Randomly bring home your roomie/bestie’s favorite treat every once in a while. If your bestie is mad at you, treats are a great way to say "I'm sorry." And if they aren't, treats are a great way to say "I appreciate you." No relationship was ever harmed by thoughtfulness!

11. Never forget how lucky you are to come home to one of your favorite people in the whole world!

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You live with your best friend! How awesome is that?!

Now that you don't have to worry about friend drama, get additional peace of mind with renters insurance from American Family Insurance.