That’s a big question to ask yourself. Getting a roommate in New York City will affect your life, finances, sleep cycles, and general state of sanity in every way. Finding a roommate in NYC is make-or-break material, and should be treated with the same level of care you approach a car loan.

Whenever confronted with a massive project with lots of moving parts, it helps to break it down into small, manageable pieces that can be tackled one at a time. This tactic significantly reduces the panic factor when we realize we need to uproot and transplant our entire existence in less than a month. So here is a list of smaller questions you can use to answer the looming issue of “Should I get a roommate in New York City?”

3 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Find A Roommate in NYC

Are you getting a roommate in New York City for the sole purpose of saving money?

That’s probably reason number one on the list for most people. NYC is a wealth of opportunity and excitement and priced to match. If saving money is a goal for you, then you’re probably feeling financial stress like 99.9% of the rest of the world. But keep in mind that saving money is the symptom. The root cause is stress. So be really choosy when finding a roommate in New York City. Make sure this person is going to reduce your stress, and not add to it. If you don’t, then saving money won’t have accomplished your underlying goal, which is to lead a happier, healthier life.

Are there other ways to save money?

Do you write down everything you spend money on? I know. Ick. The mere thought of typing every expense into your phone is enough to instigate a small gag reflex. But, is the inconvenience stopping you? Or are you a leery of what you might find?

There are so many carefree ways to pay. Swipe a card, wave a phone, and pay online through PayPal. It’s easy to lose track of it all. Which is precisely why it’s so important to get every expense written down so you can see where your money is going. Coffee at Starbucks twice a day? Going out for drinks thrice a week? Those little expenses add up faster than we realize with so many convenient ways to pay.

Don’t be surprised if the money you could save by having a roommate could be saved with less stress by getting a studio apartment and dropping, or at least reducing unnecessary expenses. So, factor this in before you go finding a new roommate in New York City.

Are there other ways to reduce stress?

Okay, let’s say you got your budget under control, or you’re one of those rare people who can balance a bank account through secret ninja techniques passed down through your family for generations. (Which qualifies as a superpower, by the way, so props to you.) If stress is still driving you into the arms of a roommate, take a step back before you commit.

Do you hate your job? Some workplaces are just toxic. Long hours, low pay, and enough workplace politics to fuel fifty reality TV shows. If you are losing sleep over your workload, finding a job that pays the same but sucks way less is a logical step to go through before finding a roommate in NYC.

Check other sources of stress. Relationship dragging you down? Maybe it’s time to break it off and move on. Is your apartment really loud? Do you have a better chance of winning the lottery than parking within a mile of your own home? Finding a new apartment first might do more for your stress levels than finding a roommate in New York City.

So, do you really want a roommate in New York City apartment?

Once your affairs are in order, you very well may still want to find a roommate in NYC. With the right tools you can find an excellent roommate who adds to your life, not your stress load.

D’you know what else Roomi does outside of helping its readers figure out if they should have a roommate in New York City? With our ever-increasing lists of rooms and roommates across the world, we help you find your perfect match! Download the app here and hop on the easiest ride home, ever!