Living together before marriage: Good or bad idea?

It might be hard for some to believe, but the debate on whether to move in with your partner before marriage is one that is still raging on in 2017. 

While it is still considered taboo, many couples are living together before getting hitched, with statistics showing that cohabitation has increased by a whopping 900% in the past 50 years. 

While some studies show that living together before marriage increases a couple's chances of getting divorced early on in their marriage, others have found that cohabiting can actually be beneficial in the long run.

Not everyone who moves in with their partner does so because they want to get married. In fact, many have no desire to get married at all.

But if you are considering living with your partner before walking down the aisle,  it's best to consider the pros and cons.

The Pros

1. Learn each other's habits: One of the main reasons people move in together before marriage is so that they can learn or get used to their partner's habits - good or bad. It's good to know about your partner's spending habits beforehand. 

2. It can make or break your relationship: Moving in together can help you determine if you are ready for a lifelong commitment with your partner. Is he/she really the person you want to spend the rest of your life with? 

3. Gives you an idea of what married life will be like: While you never truly know a person until you get married to them, living together can give you a good indication of what it would be like married to them. 

4. You get to split the chores: Splitting responsibilities like doing chores helps couples with their problem-solving skills, according to some experts. It also gives you an idea of expectations in the marriage. Both men and women work, but some still consider it a woman's responsibility to do all the chores! 

5. It makes sense financially: Not only will you be able to split your bills, but couples will also be able to save for their weddings. And if you don't plan on walking down the aisle anytime soon, you can use the extra money to explore the world with your partner. 

The Cons

1. Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? Many women see living with their partner as the next step towards getting married. They see it as a sign of how committed their significant other is to the relationship. But some couples end up getting too comfortable with the living arrangement, and then don't see point of getting married. It feels like they already are! 

2. Less likely to get married: Studies show that only 50% of people who move in together actually end up getting married. 

3. You have a higher chance of becoming a divorce statistic: While living together can give you an idea of what it will be like to live with your partner, it does not guarantee success. Studies have shown that people who live together before marriage are more likely to get divorced than those who don't. 

4. You miss out on the newlywed feeling: Because you lived together before getting married, you don't really get to experience that newlywed feeling. 

5. No real commitment: If you are looking for a long-term commitment then living together might not be the best idea. While married couples tend to work harder at their problems, it is sometimes easier for people who are just living together to walk away for the smallest of issues. 

In conclusion, there are no guarantees that living together before marriage will ensure a successful relationship, but the same can also be said for people who decide not to live together. Recent studies show that the age you get married, and the age you start living together can determine whether your relationship will last. The older the better apparently. 

Would you consider living with your partner before marriage? Share your views below. 

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