When you’ve been on your own for a while, the idea of having a roommate seems crazy. Isn’t that what being an adult is all about? Getting out of your parents’ house and being able to afford a place all on your own.

But even if you can afford an apartment or house without a struggle, sharing housing with a roommate can be a good idea. Dropping housing expenses can make it much easier to save money and — no matter whether you’re romantically involved with your prospective roommate, two can live cheaper than one. When your household is made up of more than just you, you can save money on food, utilities and more.

Getting Used to the Idea

Most people like the benefits of having a roommate — it’s putting the situation into practice that’s harder. First, you have to find a roommate that you’re comfortable living with. Then, if you don’t have to go looking for a place, you have to rearrange all of your stuff to make room for the new resident of your spare room (or wherever else you plan to put your roommate). And that’s just logistics!

There’s definitely an emotional component to adjusting to a new roommate, no matter how little or how much of a personal relationship you already have with your roommate. You’ll both have to find new boundaries and find a way to live together comfortably. In some cases, it may be a relatively easy adjustment: you agree on certain boundaries and get on with your life. In other cases, you may find yourself or your roommate testing boundaries or struggling to come to terms. While all of this may sound like a drawback to living with a roommate, it’s just the simple facts of sharing space with another person. You probably went through the same scenario with your parents; you may even have to go through the same process in the office.

The Financial Boundaries

If you can set out the terms of your agreement with your roommate on paper, you’ll likely have fewer problems down the road. It may not always be an option — like if your new roommate is also your significant other — but try to set down the numbers for rent, utilities and even food if you’re willing to share costs. You may also want to make mention of any other boundaries you might want to set: expected quiet time, how long of notice each person is expected to give if they plan on moving out.

Unfortunately, not every roommate will be perfect. But if you’re both clear on the terms of the agreement most potential roommates will be reasonable. If you find yourself in a position where you have to end your agreement with a roommate — no matter why — you’ll be on firmer ground if you have some clear expectations in place. And if you find yourself needing to enforce your agreement, you’ll have some clear grounds to do so.

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