Choosing to live together before marriage is a tough decision to make. While it makes sense to try it out before the wedding, moving in together comes with several challenges. Even though you aren’t married, you are dealing with many of the same issues that married couples face.
Before moving in together, you should consider the pros and cons of living together before marriage. Once you move in together, it is not easy to separate later. Sometimes, relatives are not open to the idea. But, many couples who do live together before marriage find it rewarding.
If living together is something you and your partner decide to do, it can be helpful to create a shared list of pros and cons of living together before marriage. Doing so can help you figure out whether or not it’s the best choice for your relationship. It can also help you work on communication from the start.
Statistics on Cohabitation
Cohabitation, living together before marriage, is on the rise. According to the US Census, fewer people between the ages of 18-24 are living with a spouse. Instead, they are living with a partner. In the 1960s, only 0.1 percent of couples lived together before marriage. In 2018, 9.4 percent of young couples lived together before marriage.
In the 1960s, 39.2 percent of couples who lived together were married. In 2018, that number was down to 7.3 percent. The percentage of married couples living together is nearly the same as those who are not.
The pros and cons of living together before marriage are apparent to couples between the ages of 25 and 34. In the 1960s, 81.5 percent of couples living together were married. In 2018, that number is 40.3 percent. At the same time, unwed couples living together jumped from 0.2 percent to 14.8 percent.
Cohabitation was rare, and marriage was commonplace. Of the younger group, more unmarried couples live together than married couples. And, of the older group, the number of married couples has dropped by half, while the number of unmarried couples living together has grown. The trend is clear.
Pros of Living Together Before Marriage
With the growth of unmarried couples living together, it is clear that couples see the advantages. There are several reasons why it is helpful for peo