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first time I had a roommate, I was 19 years old and a college student. I was one of his four children living in a dilapidated house where eating in the bedroom was the norm and stacks of stodgy plates were just part of the decor.
Although moving was considered a rite of passage into adulthood, it was a relief to return to my parents’ comfortable five-bedroom home in the suburbs.
But having a long-term relationship break up and being back in my mid-30s didn’t seem so cute. I felt like a failure in life, having no tangible assets to my name, no descendants.
When I returned to my parents, I felt like an overgrown teenager.
I found that when I returned home, I naturally reverted back to my teenage state. I spent a lot of time in my bedroom, answering questions about where I was going, and was disappointed when my millennial TV preferences were greeted with sighs.
Of course, I was grateful to receive a large family discount on my rent, but I also felt like I had lost some of my independence.
by Rising cost of living In the UK, renting alone was out of the question for me as a single freelancer.
After all, according to National Bureau of Statistics (ONS) says average rental prices in England rose by nearly 9% in the year to February 2024, the highest annual rise since records began in 2015.
Eventually, I started considering house sharing as an option.
One day, while scrolling through Facebook, I came across a post from a 39-year-old woman looking for a roommate.
In her post, she described her lifestyle and interests to improve her chances of marriage. I wasn’t quite ready for this kind of dating app approach to house hunting, but I learned that there are other older singles who are stuck in the current housing market for a variety of reasons. I was pleasantly surprised to find out.
So, at the ripe old age of 36, I started thinking about the idea of sharing a house or finding a roommate.
They researched several locations where homeowners ranging in age from early 30s to late 50s were looking for guests, and finally settled on a residence in a bustling Birmingham suburb.
Living with a roommate was one of the best decisions I made
In a sense, we have created an unlikely trio.
kat thompson
My landlord is a 37 year old man from Romania who also provides a room to a 29 year old Ukrainian refugee. In some ways we are an unlikely trio, but we always talk and laugh about our differences.
Having a roommate as an adult is a little different than when you were younger. As an adult, I refuse to leave passive-aggressive post-it notes claiming my food. Instead, I prefer to write down a message offering leftovers.
Now that I’m halfway through my six-month contract, I know that house sharing is the best decision given my situation.
Of course, since it’s a shared house, you don’t have to worry about paying the full rent. According to the ONS In the UK, the average monthly income is around £1,300.
Yes, it’s still more expensive than living with your parents. But I got more than just a room.
I can choose to embrace moments of independence and solitude while still having the option to be sociable or sociable. Intersperse a boring work week with movie nights, low-key dinner parties, and even indulge in newfound love For board games.
My roommate and I love having game nights.
kat thompson
Since moving to a house share, I have been opened to new social circles. I learned that I am not good at chess, and after eating the dish, I started liking red borscht. Introduction to Eastern European cuisine.
It’s in these humbling moments that house-sharing feels more like a path forward than a gap filler — even though I don’t have any plans to move yet.