Yours, mine or ours?

Making the decision to move in with a significant other is already a major deal.

However, the decision of whose place to choose can cause its own set of problems.

A lot of times factors such as costs, size and proximity come into the equation. A couple usually tries to pick the place that is most accommodating for both parties.

However, when moving in as a significant other, you make the transition from permanent guest to permanent fixture. This could mean changes in decor, schedules, grocery shopping habits and the like.

And I've even heard some people who, once their boyfriend/girlfriend has moved in, still manage to use the word "my" on a regular basis. (Ex: "my apartment", "my house", "my bathroom"). They've even gone so far as to tell them to get out in the middle of an heated argument.

That's a lot of changes and a lot of defiance to possibly go through.

I'm a proponent of temporarily living in one person's apartment until the lease is up and selecting an apartment together. This could even be done straight out the gate. This way you will be able to create a home that belongs to the both of you from the start.

For those that decided to share a place with their mate, how was the decision made? How did the transition work for you?