The relationship you have with college roommates can be as tumultuous as any other relationship and, if not handled with care, can end ugly. After four years at UC Berkeley and 12 roommates, here’s what I did to avoid becoming a roommate horror story…

I hid the sweet stuff.

Being hangry is a real thing.  So stashing my Mazapanes, paletas de chile y chicles, kept my roommates and me from next level fights – the number 1 reason college roommates brawl.

I labeled the essentials.

Cause what’s mine is mine.

My roommates and I gave each other a heads up when we had guests staying over.

We agreed how long boyfriends were allowed to stay, who’s stuff they were allowed to use and that they had to clean up after themselves…I’m the roommate, not the house maid.

And, when stays were unplanned, we subtly indicated the room was occupied.

…OR made it clear the room was occupied.

This avoided awkward, humiliating encounters. But really, it’s about having respect for one another ?.

When roommates needed cash, I pretended I didn’t have any.

I fell victim to people pretending they forgot they owed me money. You live and you learn.

Living with three other girls, I also made sure our favorite room had rules.

It’s called knocking.

READ: Stressed Out? Reasons You Should Have Chilled in College

I joined a “study group.”

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I loved my roommates, but sometimes I needed a break. Bye!

…And made other friends.

For those days I really needed to get away from the clingy roommate.

I invested in headphones.

Excuse me? Were you talking to me?

We opened a Netflix account.

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To binge watch Grey’s Anatomy, OITNB and Breaking Bad together. It’s called bonding.

READ: Things I Wish I’d Known Before College

I made sure to show how much I appreciated them with thoughtful gifts.

Like Breathe Right nasal strips when snoring kept me from sleeping ☺️.

…And this is why I’ve been everyone’s favorite roommate.

What did you do to bond with your college roommates? mitú wants to know. Let us know in the comments below. 

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