Sometimes, roommates argue over the silliest things. Anyone with common sense knows that things like taking the bigger bedroom in an apartment or taking the only parking space and not sharing it can cause serious problems that will likely result in one person moving out angrily and the other person being stuck with all the rent and expenses to pay on their own. While one person does have to sleep in the larger bedroom, there are diplomatic ways to solve this issue. Let’s look at some.

If one roommate has been in the apartment longer than the other, they will likely have the right to stay in the larger bedroom. However, other concessions should be made to compensate for this advantage. That roommate should pay a larger chunk of rent or a larger chunk of utilities so that the roommate in the smaller space doesn’t feel taken advantage of.

If both roommates move into the apartment at the same time, then a genuine problem can arise from the bedroom size disparity, and it can lay the groundwork for a breakup before the two of you have even moved in. Make sure that there are no hurt feelings or resentment about the situation before either of you move a single item in. As long as the disparity is made up in other parts of your living arrangement, the difference should not cause problems, but if they do, than both parties should try to find a unit that has bedrooms of essentially the same size.

While studies have shown that just about everyone experiments with drugs at some point in their life, there is a difference between experimentation and abuse. If you feel that your roommate in your home has a dangerous substance abuse problem, you need to take action quickly, not just for your own safety but for the well being of your roommate, as well. Here are a few things you can do.

First, try talking to them about their problem and see what they say. As is the case with alcoholics and other similar addictions, many people believe that they can stop if they want to and that they aren’t really “addicted.” Make sure you express how you feel and don’t frame it as you are concerned about your safety, tell your roommate that you are concerned about them and see what they say. If you feel that you aren’t making any progress here, you can try something more drastic.

Depending on how well you know your roommate and your roommates’ friends, you can try for an intervention. Simply gather your roommate’s friends one evening and wait for your roommate to get home. Once he or she arrives, have everyone in the room talk about how the addiction is changing how they feel about your roommate. For many, an intervention is a life changing experience that can lead to real recovery down the road.

As a last resort if you feel an intervention is not working, try calling the police if you feel that their addition is to an illegal substance that is in the apartment with you at that moment. This will likely force them into rehab, but it will also give them a criminal record. However, you don’t have to live in an unsafe environment, and no one will blame you for what you did if you gave your roommate several changes to fix things on their own.

Every year, a new word or two makes its way into the English language. This year, staycation, or a stay at home vacation, has been a popular term thanks to the fact that fewer and fewer of us can afford to leave home and travel this summer or this holiday season. Just because you can’t afford to jet off to your favorite destination doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your hard earned vacation. Let’s take a look at some common sense staycation options when you have to share your home with a roommate.

Unless the two of you are very close, you probably won’t be enjoying your staycation with your roommate, which means you are going to have to be considerate of the fact that your roommate is still going to have to get up for work while you are relaxing at home. This doesn’t mean that you can’t kick back and enjoy yourself, however. Try doing things only when you have the place to yourself, such as moving furniture around or having a theme day where all you do is watch your favorite movies.

One of the best parts of going on vacation is eating at new and exciting places. Chances are, no matter how small the town is that you live in, there are a few places you have never tried before, so why not go out to eat several nights in a row to sample some new things. You can even take your roommate or a significant other out with you and pretend that you are far away from home.

Going on vacation is a state of mind. If you set your mind to it, you can have a wonderful time away from work anywhere, even if that means having a staycation this year instead of a real vacation. The only thing holding you back is your imagination.