Should Couples Live Together Before Getting Married

Couples start knowing each other on a closer, more personal level when they live together, which prepares them for a married lifestyle. For starters, you learn what your partner likes and dislikes, although this isn't always easy. There is a lot to discover about your partner and from your partner; the only way to do this successfully is to move in together. For example, does he like broccoli, female mud wrestling, sleeping with the windows open? Maybe he likes to spend the whole weekend on the couch watching basketball! Believe it or not, it's little details like these that can often make or break a relationship. Second, you learn what kind of bad habits you and your partner have and whether or not you can get rid of them. I really don't like it when my husband forgets to fill the ice trays, forgets to replace the empty toilet paper holder, or leaves the toilet seat up; I, on the other hand, tend to forget to put perishables in the refrigerator after I take them out for cooking, and I leave the clothes in a pile, all wrinkled, when they come out of the dryer. Moreover, you can see how much fun you have with each other and realize how much you would miss by not getting married. Try to plan a vacation in advance, have a dinner date in town after work, or go to the movies on a Wednesday night when you know you have to get up for work the next morning. In other words, find out how romantic and imaginative your partner can be. Life can be tough and boring; it takes two creative and motivated people to keep a relationship alive. I think that couples can make a wiser decision about the lifelong compatibility of their future spouse if they live together. To begin, you can learn if you or your partner is ready for marriage by seeing his or her reaction to the "m" word-marriage. You need to ask yourself if you are ready to have children with your partner, and if you are ready to stay with this person for the rest of your life through thick and thin. It is also beneficial to learn if you and your partner are both suited for monogamy; some people find it hard to be sexually faithful to one person. In addition, you can see how your partner reacts to real-life situations. If something dramatic happens to one of you, like a car accident or a major illness, what is his reaction going to be and how will he behave differently in private or in public? Perhaps he is the type of guy who talks big, but can't handle life's difficult moments or be a good caretaker. Finally, living together you won't have the pressure of a marriage certificate hanging over your head, especially when some people have a real phobia about that little piece of paper. Living together means that the taxes are easier, you do not have expenses in case of a messy divorce, and you can make a lot of decisions before you enter into a relationship that is bad for your health, physically and emotionally. Being free of the pressures of marriage, you stand a better chance of knowing your partner as a real person. Having gone through two situations where living together proved to be the best choice, I'd have to say definitely YES. By living together, you can learn a lot about a person before being bound by marriage. Should you decide to live together first, you could possibly avoid a long term relationship with someone who has what I call the “JEKYLL & HYDE SYNDROME". Although, living together neither first nor, marriage is ever a guarantee. Learning ones habits and mannerisms before tying the knot can save you a world of headaches and, heartache down the road. Once you walk down the aisle and, say your " I DO'S ", it can be harder to get out of a relationship which is sometimes, physically, emotionally and or, verbally abusive which can be detrimental to your health. A lot of grown-ups now and, back in the day believe that, living together before marriage is a sin. But, I think that people’s outlook on that has changed tremendously and, it is no longer frowned upon as much as it used to be. Although, older some folks still believe that you should just go ahead and, tie the knot. I guess, they strongly believe in, “Till Death Do Us Part " and, whatever happens within the marriage should be dealt with and, worked out. Plus, to the older folks, divorce is totally out of the question so; I would definitely live together before getting married. Let me first start by saying that I HIGHLY recommends living together before you get married. I know this does not really follow your old-fashioned type rules, but I think it's really important! You don't really know someone until you live together. Even couples in the healthiest of relationships get a little nervous about the concept of living together. Making the decision to merge lives -- and residences -- into one is a significant change. You should always evaluate your motives for moving in together and ask yourself if you're doing it because you are truly ready to merge your lives and because you've had experiences together that urge you to take that next step? Or is it a matter of convenience, economy, or what you feel is expected of you? If it's any of the latter, you should proceed carefully. Cohabiting should only happen when both parties are confident and comfortable that they are ready to commit to a long-term partnership, when they know each other's lifestyles well enough to assume they're compatible, and when they can make the transition without significant reservations or a feeling of being compromised.