Live-in relationship is not a new concept anymore. Many countries have made changes in their laws according to the situations that arise in live-in relationships. It is a general expectation that eventually live-in relationships will turn into marriages, and many believe that it is not wrong. However, not all such relationships turn into marriages. The coin always has another side too and this aspect, which is making inroads into the society fast, is no exceptions. In the following lines, we have discussed the effects – bad or good – of cohabitation before marriage.
Cons:
The number one negative effect that cohabitation can have on a marriage is divorce. For few years, many studies have suggested that marriages after cohabitation will lead to early divorce. This means that if you thought getting into a live-in relation will lead to a lifetime bliss, then maybe it is time to rethink. There is no need to say how a divorce can be devastating for both men and women.
Some people jump into a live in relationships without even pondering over the viability of the relationship. With time, both partners become comfortable with each other and due to social pressure or guilt may get married. Social pressure is usually from parents and relatives who will ask them questions like”When are you getting married?” Parents of this young generation, who want to stay in live-in might not be that modern yet. This situation can rush the couple into marriage and later in life regretting their decision.
Sometimes either of the partners opts for live-in due to economic reasons. Let us face it; living together will help the couple save money on meeting in restaurants, hotels or the fare it takes to meet each other. If one of them is spending their entire time in the other’s flat, it will seem useless to spend money on the rent of another flat. By doing so, a couple might just find an easy way out and get married. In this condition too, the possibility of live-in relationship leading to tensions, fights and eventually divorce remains as high as ever.
Usually, either of partners may start believing that marriage is not important at all. He/she may wish to break the conventional norms and the big proposal or the expense on a wedding may seem just a useless tradition for them. This may end in the other getting hurt and resentment building over the time to take it a breakup finally.
If we think practically, in case everything falls apart before marriage, one of partners will have to shift which might lead to the breaking and loosing of personal belongings.
Pros:
A recent study has suggested that the couple who “lives-in” might not end up in a divorce early as compared to the couple who moves in together after marriage. The early divorce rate in marriages is because the younger generation is settling down early in their lives. This leads to a premature marriage and then an early divorce. If a couple wants to cohabitate to plan a future together and both are on the same page about moving their relationship ahead, it might be a good idea.
It might make the partners realize their compatibility. This makes a couple realize whether they are made to live as partners. This can lead to a breakup also but a break up is any day better than a divorce.
In live-in relationships, both bear the rents and use utilities. On the top of this, money spent on lavish dates and fares to meet each other comes to a nil.
If the couple is meant to be, they will realize it during this time, or they will know what to do about their relationships. Some couples may realize the feasibility of a deeper commitment and this can eventually lead to a happy marriage.
Couples will already know what there is to know about each other like the time they wake up, their favorite food, and things that matter to them. Therefore, this may form fundamentals of a relationship suitable to spend a lifetime together and will help them adjust their lives around each other.
Summary:
After reading the above pros and cons, it will be easier for you to make a decision about taking the step to move into your partner’s flat. All in all the most basic fact is that both the partners should be hundred percent sure about what they really want. There should be no doubts in either of their minds and there should be no communication gap.
