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Original poster

How old were you you when you first moved in with a partner?

153 replies

MaudeLebowski · 16/02/2015 14:00

Hello all,

DD is 23 and is house hunting with her boyfriend, aged 24.

I hadn't thought twice about it, but a colleague has this morning expressed shock that they are doing it so young.

I don't even think they are young. They are financially independent 20-somthings with good jobs and career prospects.

So... is 23/24 unusual? What did you do?

OP posts:
Finola1step · 16/02/2015 15:42
  1. Moved out into a flat share at 20. Moved in with bf at 23, married him at 31. We've been together for 17 years now. So no, 23 isn't too young in my book.

But if we were talking a 23 year old who is very dependent on parents, not earning, can't do basic household tasks etc.. Different story.

no73 · 16/02/2015 15:44

36 Grin

Did last long despite having a child together and I will never, ever do it again!

no73 · 16/02/2015 15:45

Did NOT last long that should say

babygiraffe86 · 16/02/2015 15:45

i lived on my own when i met dp 4 years ago, i was 24 he was 23.
he 'moved in' after 3 months (he still lived at home so was better to come to mine, then never left)
a year ago we bought a house together, this year ttc - now 28 and 27.
i lived on my own for 3 years before i met him.

think its kind of average age really! most people i know live with partners, or are saving to buy a house together!

heartisaspade · 16/02/2015 15:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Flingmoo · 16/02/2015 15:46

I find this shocked "too young" crap REALLY irritating. Angry I moved into shared student housing with my partner age 19, by 21 we were living in our own rented 1 bed flat and got engaged, by 22 we were married, 23 we got a mortgage and now we're 24 and have a baby together.

At work whenever I announced big news like engagement, marriage and now baby, I am sick of hearing "you're too young" - what would they prefer me to be doing? Shagging different men each weekend and having lots of casual liaisons? Waiting 5 or 10 more years to settle down and have a house and kids rather than doing it now when I have the energy and enthusiasm?

Grrrrr I find it totally disrespectful. I wouldn't tell a couple in their 40s they're too old to be settling down!

GinSoakedBitchyPony · 16/02/2015 15:47

The first time I moved in with someone we were both 22.
However, we knew it wasn't a long-term arrangement because his job was taking him abroad the following year.

MehsMum · 16/02/2015 15:48

25
He's younger than me Grin

Rainicorn · 16/02/2015 15:48

On my 19th birthday. DP (now DH) was the same age.

bloodyteenagers · 16/02/2015 15:49
  1. It was either life with him or live on the streets after I was kicked out of a children's home. He was 29, and a violent criminal.
Hulababy · 16/02/2015 15:50

Moved in with dh when we were both 23. Straight after university. We first got together at sixth form when we were 16 and stayed together throughout despite going to different universities. Dh finished a year before me and loved back at home for that year. We moved in together the summer after I finished. Been together ever since.

thehumanjam · 16/02/2015 15:51

I agree Mamushka. According to lots of people, I was too young when I met dh, too young when we moved in together, too young when we got engaged, too young when we married but too old when we started a family. Confused

Some people have a view that you must do things at the same age that they did them. It's very narrow minded.

middlings · 16/02/2015 15:55

30! Married him just under two years later. Five and half years on, two DDs and a lot more grey.

Didn't meet him until I was 29 though.

I don't think 23/24 is too young! Good for them Smile

Verbena37 · 16/02/2015 15:55

Moved in straight after uni so 20. Bought a house and moved in together. Got married at 23 and had dd at 24.

disneymum3 · 16/02/2015 15:56

I moved in with DH (then BF) when I was 16. 2months before our DS1 was due to be born. We got married when I was 18. We now have 3DC.

LetticeKnollys · 16/02/2015 15:57

19, your colleague is being precious.

TalkinPeace · 16/02/2015 16:01

After Uni, so we were 21. That was a long, long time ago. Still together.

Mulligrubs · 16/02/2015 16:31

Moved out and in with mates at Uni aged 18, moved in with my partner aged 25 and I was pregnant with our son. He was 23.

Kaekae · 16/02/2015 16:32

19

Kaekae · 16/02/2015 16:33

19 and still together. He is 9 years older than me.

m0therofdragons · 16/02/2015 16:35

21 and married at 22. 10 years on and 3dc later we're still very happy. We were the first in our group of friends by a few years though.

ethelb · 16/02/2015 16:38

23

TheSkinnyProject · 16/02/2015 16:39

I was 24. I agree with Mamushka too.

Original poster
MaudeLebowski · 16/02/2015 16:47

Excellent post Mamushka!

I am very happy for DD. She's said on a number of occasions that she sees a long future with her BF. He is a lovely young man, and he makes my daughter very happy.

OP posts:
Jackieharris · 16/02/2015 16:51
  1. We were both renting in shared flats. Wanted privacy and saved money by getting our own 1 bed rather than sharing kitchen etc with strangers.

In retrospect I wish we had been able to find flatmates that hadn't minding us staying over at each other's. We had to keep sneaking about in the dead of night and hiding out in each other's rooms.

We only ended up cohabiting for 6 months before splitting.

I didn't do it again for 9 years even then I was wary.