10 Telltale Signs You're Finally Ready To Move In With Your Partner

As we get older, many of us meet someone we like, get our hopes up we've found The One, and bam, we're all over it like white on rice.

That's a classic example of a bad reason to move in together: moving far too fast. When you decide to share an apartment, you want it to be for the right reasons.

Here are 10 ways to know it’s time to take the next step and move in together:

1. It was his/her idea.

While we do live in a modern society where women are equal to men, sharing a home should probably be the man’s idea.

Taking into consideration how women are generally more open about their feelings and emotions than men, if the man suggests moving in together, the woman is less likely to question whether they're moving in together simply because her partner feels pressured.

Frankly, however, this idea can go both ways. The woman might be super elusive in the relationship, in which case, if her partner finds himself always unsure of how she's feeling, it's best for him to wait for her to make the suggestion.

The bottomline is, it's nice to know for sure that moving in together is what your partner wants, too. It's best to make sure you're both 100 percent certain this is the right move before making the plunge.

2. You feel like you’re almost living together already.

Do you spend most nights together already? Do you have a key to each other's place? Do you have a toothbrush in his or her cabinet? If you spend more nights together than apart, the transition will be easy.

You see her before her weekly Dry Bar appointment; you’ve made sure he showers on a daily basis, and you've both experienced stinky morning breath. You’re super comfortable with one another.

You’ve cooked together, cleaned together, gone to Whole Foods together, and it’s all been (thankfully) drama free.

The more time you spend together, the more adjusted you become to each other's little nuances. The insignificant things, like if he forgets to put the toilet seat down one morning, or if she leaves her used teabags on the counter, are less likely to drive you nuts this way.

3. You’re on the same relationship page.

It’s a necessity to make sure you both have the same goals for the relationship. If your partner isn't sure how he or she feels about marriage and you’re super pumped to walk down the aisle one day, it’s time to reconsider this bond.

Many people assume living together will eventually result in marriage. Until you’ve had a conversation about what you’re looking for in the future, don’t make any assumptions.

Moving in together isn’t a shoo-in to getting married.

4. You’ve fought — and made up.

You don’t know how strong your relationship is until you’ve had a fight or two. Fighting, although it isn’t fun, tests a relationship. You can learn a lot about someone by how he or she argues.

Does your man fight fair? Does your girlfriend storm away, avoiding any confrontation? Do you both make sure your disagreement is resolved? Do you show enough concern about each other's feelings?

In a long-term relationship, you can’t agree on absolutely everything. It’s natural to fight and then make up.

After all, how else would we have make-up sex?

5. You’ve talked about money.

Some people say money is the root of all evil. I don’t agree, but it can be an uncomfortable, awkward subject.

Living together means talking about money, even if you don’t want to do so. It’s important to make sure you and your partner are on the same financial page, and agree on how you will tackle any financial decisions once moving in together.

Will you split household expenses? Will you have a joint account? Will both of your names be on the lease? How will you split the rent?

6. You can discuss your ideal relationship.

Communication is one of the most important things in a relationship. Before you decide to live together, talk about your expectations.

Do you plan to spend every evening at home together? Is a cleaning service a necessity for you? Who will be responsible for the groceries? Your partner isn’t a mind reader, so talk about everything you possibly can!

7. You’ve enjoyed a vacation together.

An easy way to test out living together in a wonderful, stress-free setting is to go on a vacation. It gives you a look into life together.

If you can enjoy each other's company for a week around the clock, you’ll most likely enjoy living together, too.

8. Your routines mesh.

Maybe your partner is a night owl who stays up moving about late into the night. Maybe your partner loves the morning and wakes up at 5 am every day, or maybe, your partner is a twisted combination of both.

In any case, you need eight hours of sleep, and your partner's contrasting sleeping habits are setting you both up for unnecessary stress. Before you move in together, make sure your lifestyles are compatible.

9. You can be 100 percent honest with each other.

Honesty is key. You must be able to share your hopes, dreams, fears and concerns about the relationship with each other.

If you can’t be open with your partner, it’ll be pretty impossible to be roomies.

10. The honeymoon phase is over.

Nothing beats the I-can’t-keep-my-hands-off-you-and-am-so-obsessed-with-you honeymoon phase.

It’s extraordinary when the only thing you can focus on is your partner; you want to spend every single second together. As awesome as it is, wait to move in together until the honeymoon phase is over.