Anyone who has ever had a room mate will tell you, that even in the best of circumstances, it is never as simple as just being room mates. Human beings are involved here, and something as minor as a dirty dish left in the sink can trigger some seriously raw emotions! When the cohabitation is combined with romance, these minor nuances can be magnified tenfold, and living together can really make or break a relationship.

There are a lot more factors to consider:

Do your living habits compliment each other?
If he's a bit of a neat freak and you're more of the free-spirited type, perhaps you can set some kind of agreement that you will do all of the cooking in exchange for him keeping a tidy home. Likewise, perhaps you can help her with budgeting the monthly bills while she makes the apartment less Spartan.

Will you two become too used to each other too fast?
If your work schedules are on opposite ends, then this might actually help you two to really get to know each other. Just be sure to retain your regular schedule with your friends and family, just to help counteract that dread of isolation.

What will Aunt Maggie think about an unmarried couple "shacking up"?
Yes, it's the 21st century, but many peoples' moral convictions are still very much against this sort of behavior. You need to consider if potentially souring your relationship with family members is worth saving on the bills.

Do you already have children involved and how will this affect them?
The kids came first, and you need to remember that. If they already have a good relationship with your partner, then this might just work out. Just remember that there will be someone else in the house correcting your children, so you need to set boundaries on what is and is not acceptable.

If, after you have answered these basic questions in the positive, then I say go for it! Just remember to do this when the lease is up for renewal, so you don't have to worry about subletting! The only question remains:

What are you going to do with two sets of can openers?

As the word love rolls off of your tongue you wonder for a brief moment if your relationship is moving too fast, and you quickly turn to thoughts of your wedding gown, potential bridesmaids, and wonder what your engagement ring will look like.

You may even realize that things are moving quickly, but there is a part of you that doesn't want to slow down. You love excitement and adventure and since the past few months have been a blast, your sure the rest of your life will be perfect, right?

Wrong! Too many people have made the mistake of rushing into a relationship and subsequently marriage before giving their relationship chance to truly blossom. If you are planning your bridal shower before you've had your first real fight, then you are moving way to fast and it is time to slow down.

The trouble with a relationship is that there are two people in it. This means that there are two different time schedules and two lives that are intersecting at the same point in time. Whether or not those two lives will continue traveling down the same road and at the same time is questionable. What is inevitable, however is that at some point, the two of you will head in different directions. It may not be at the same time, but it will occur. Whether it is a difference of opinion, different tastes, or different life choices, moving too fast may mean serious conflict when it is time to make serious decisions as a team.

If you are planning any type of long term relationship or commitment, yet haven't discovered how to handle your first life crises or difference of opinion, then it is time to slow down.

Let your relationship take the time it needs to grow. This is often accomplished inadvertently, when you face life's many challenges together. Every couple finds that the beginning months of a relationship are full of love and happiness. Its what happens in the later months, when you aren't feeling so wonderfully attracted to each other that you can truly begin to gauge where a relationship stands.

If your relationship is built to last you won't find out until you endure some trials and hardships. Everyone wants to be in a relationship for the long haul. No one intentionally enters into a relationship thinking that it will be over in a few months. However, it is much easier to end a relationship when you have been dating for several months then to file for divorce several years later. Move slowly and let nature take its course. Wait until you have a few real fights (the kind where you think you never want to see each other again) and then see where your relationship stands. Other than that, you are moving too fast.

Once you move in together, you can be sure that the blinders will soon come off and you'll see your significant other for who they are…in all their glory. You may not like what you see and you'll be burdened with a problem – what do you do now that you are living together. This is a very common occurance. In fact, simply turn on any of the "Judge Shows" and look at how many couples find themselves before a judge because they moved in together, too soon

Here is a word of warning, no matter how much you're in love, no matter how sure you are that it will last forever, if you are going to move in together, you need to put things in writing. Protecting yourself now legally can save a lot of pain later. Especially if you find that you have a broken heart, the last thing you will want to deal with are issues such as rent, utilities, and worse, trying to find a place to live. If you do decide to move in together, you need to discuss all of these issues first. You will need to determine whose name is on the lease, how much rent will be paid, which utilities will go in whose name, etc. You should put all of this in writing and have it signed. Having it notorized is even better. Although this may all seem a bit extreme, there's nothing extreme about safeguarding your future.

Issues arise all of the time. For instance, one person's source of income can suddenly change and the brunt of responsibility for the cost of living will fall onto the other person. You'll need to determine before hand how you will prepare for this. At first, the thought of living together may look great on the surface. Cheaper rent, someone to help with the bills, and constantly being with the one you love. However, it doesn't take long for circumstances to change. Protect yourself and your future and plan ahead. Put all of your details and agreements in writing. Verbal agreements are very difficult to prove in a court of law, and if worse comes to worse, you may find that you need a written agreement to prove your case. So, if you want to move in together, go for it. But be wise, use caution, and protect yourself with good judgment and get everything in writing.

First, you need to ask yourself if your partner is your number one priority in life. Do you find that you think constantly about your relationship and make plans for both you and your partner? If you are only thinking about yourself, then you may not be ready for a commitment. However, if you find that any time you need to make a major decision you wonder how your partner would feel about it, then you may be on the road to a monogamous future.

Another area to consider is how you handle troublesome times in your relationship. When arguments or difficulties arise, do you and your partner tend to work things out in a calm manner? Or do you secretly just wish you could end the relationship. If you don’t feel that you have the desire to work through issues now, it is unlikely that will change if you become a committed couple. Working through difficulties together is a vital component of a committed relationship.

What is the overall tone of your relationship? Would you consider your relationship to be rocky, stable, up and down, exciting, or boring? Do you and your partner communicate well? Do you feel that he listens and understands what you have to say and vice versa? Communication is extremely vital to the future of any relationship and if you have communication issues now, you can only expect them to get worse over time.

Also, how do you react when you see an attractive guy or girl? Does your eye immediately wander? Do you wonder if you would be better suited with them? Or do you instantly think of your partner and reflect on how satisfied you are with him or her. If you find that you are content with your partner, you may be ready to commit.

Another question to ask yourself is this, “What does your gut instinct say?” Does your heart tell you that this is the one for you? Do you believe that you could spend the rest of your life with this person? Trusting your gut instinct is a great way to determine if you are ready for the big C. Your mind may play games on you, logic may interfere, but what is your heart telling you. If you believe that you could love this person forever, then why not give it a shot. Don’t let a fear of commitment rob you from the future joy you could have with your partner.