5 Tips on What to Do Before Moving in Together

If splitting the cost of rent and utilities with your significant other sounds like a good idea, you're not alone. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 7.5 million unmarried couples are living together, which is a 13% jump from last year. The economy may be playing a role in the increase — both partners have jobs in only 49% of cohabitating couples.

Saving money on rent is obviously not a reason to move in with your boyfriend or girlfriend. But the truth is it can be a nice benefit — if you do it right. Below are five tips to make the financial side of moving in together a smooth experience.

Discussing trivial things like "will we make the bed every morning?" can be a lot easier than talking about money. Start small and work your way up. Actions may speak louder than words, but when you're moving in with a significant other, communication is key.

If one partner wants a significantly nicer apartment than the other and can afford it, great. But that doesn't mean the rent should then be shared equally. Agree on how much you can each afford and how you will split the cost of living before signing on the dotted line. Being in love doesn't mean you can or should put yourself in a stressful financial situation.

Both partners share the emotional risk of combining lives by living together, but sometimes the financial risk is skewed in one direction. Creating some sort of cohabitation agreement can help neutralize this risk. If you were to break up, who would move out? How would the finances be handled during that process? These may not be fun questions to ask, but if you don't discuss it up front you may be dealing with financial stress on top of emotional stress if the relationship comes to an end.

While you need a strategy for paying various bills, combining accounts is not a good solution. Signing up for a joint checking account or credit card is a big decision, and not one that makes sense for couples who are cohabitating. If your partner goes on a shopping spree, you could be on the line for 100% of the cost. Be smart — keep your accounts separate for now.

Set aside time for fun — whether that means cooking dinner together or going to see a movie, make sure you're still enjoying your partner after moving in together. While you're at it, make a date to talk about your finances too. Communicating about bills or any other money-related topics should be intentional. If some sort of tension does arise, it'll be easier to bring it up within the context of a planned meeting rather than out of the blue.

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Gymboree And UPS Worked Together To Make My Life Incredibly Awkward

Caitlin has a bit of advice: if you plan to order from Gymboree and have some items shipped to you and other items shipped to a friend as a gift, don't order all of the items in the same transaction. Maybe not on the same day. She writes that the company messed up her order in every way short of losing it or sending the wrong items, and has put her in the awkward position of having to ask her friend to send what appeared to be a gift, but was actually Caitlin's order, to Caitlin. Gymboree, for its part, blames UPS.

I am writing this to express my dissatisfaction with a recent transaction with Gymboree. While I have ordered gifts for many of my girlfriends over the last several years, my most recent order has left a bitter taste in my mouth, and I do not think I will be ordering again.

On September 1st, I placed an order of two packages to two separate addresses; one for a gift for my friend's baby, and one for my own. The online system would not process my order, and asked that I call customer service to complete it.

I called the number and reviewed my order step-by step with the agent. A gift box and message to be sent with the package to my friend was ordered; I had asked that the Gymboree "rewards dollars" be mailed with my own package to my home address along with both receipts. The representative said that everything went through and not to check the order confirmation page because it would be very confusing.

Later that day, I opened my email and saw that the order was completely incorrect. The addresses were listed incorrectly and there was no mention of a gift box or message. I called Gymboree again, and was told that this situation would have to be escalated. I was called back 90 minutes later and the manager explained that the order had been corrected.

The shipping order status then said that both orders were shipped; one on 9/2, one on 9/3, to the correct addresses.

Today, when I checked the tracking numbers, it shows that both of the packages were delivered to my friend's house.

I called customer service; the representative now stated that the shipment debacle is not Gymboree's fault, since they had been appropriately addressed when they left the warehouse. She recommended that I should call UPS to try to have my friend bring back one of the packages to a UPS store. I asked to speak with a manager to get this resolved, but she said that no one could help me due to "phone issues". Gymboree has essentially messed up every aspect of this order and has left me to try to pick up the pieces.

So now, I am left with both packages at the same address, the boxes are including the receipts (which I specifically asked not to be sent to the receiving party), and Gymboree's best advice is for me to ask my friend to send the package back to me. This is an extremely frustrating (and embarrassing) situation!

Having the friend bring the box back might be the most expedient solution, but is still incredibly awkward. Also, something doesn't add up. How can two different boxes ship on different days, but arrive at the same place if they were addressed correctly?

The question Caitlin needs to ask herself is: how would she rather the company handle the situation? Once she decides on the resolution she wants, it's time to go through the steps in The Ultimate Consumerist Guide To Fighting Back and, well, fight back.

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