Why Living Together Might Be the Answer

When you hear the word “commune” or the term “social life,” you might immediately think of 1960s counterculture radicals living somewhere on a farm, or a cult that ended in dramatic brutality back in the 1970s. But in the modern era, this concept takes on a new look.

A community life is a group of people who decide to pool resources and live in close proximity, sharing the costs and labor associated with everyday life. Traditionally, living together has been based on shared ideologies or lifestyles, but living together is increasingly being redefined as ” conscious communities “. The focus is on cohabitation, where community members enjoy private living spaces while sharing the amenities, maintenance, and management of the community as a whole. Intentional communities can still be large rural settlements, but increasingly they are also located in urban areas and can be quite small – in fact, the term ” household ” describes groups of people living together in the same house, usually a house with ample space and infrastructure to feed a large group of people, but nowhere near as big as an old-school farming community.

Most of us still consider owning our own private home a goal, but as many of us struggle to cope with a challenging economy, growing feelings of loneliness , and a housing market that seems impossible to break into , it’s time to rethink utilities. life.

Financial benefits of living together

If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, you’re probably horrified at how fragile your financial life is. Living together can offer a solution for two simple reasons:

• General costs. In a community environment, all costs are borne by all members of the community . Utilities, groceries, maintenance costs are all segregated, greatly reducing each individual share and making housing overall more affordable. One study found that people living in shared housing saved between $200 and $2,000 a month.
• General services. In addition to direct cost savings, targeted communities also offer many common community-based services. Things like caring for children and the elderly are often part of living together. With the average weekly cost of kindergarten approaching $300 , this represents a significant financial benefit.

For this reason, the commune-style community is often a short-term solution for those who are struggling financially. Sharing living expenses and cutting your expenses in exchange for shared responsibility for the property and community can leave more money for debt reduction and give you breathing room to financially recover. Some public accommodations will consider accepting barter instead of rent or other financial contributions, making them even more financially beneficial for those who cannot afford more traditional accommodations.

To be honest, creating intentional communities often requires a significant upfront investment. For example, you will need to buy property in many established communities, and the initial cost of a house or apartment in a purpose-built community can be the same (or more) than a similar house in a traditional community. However, in the long run, these initial costs will pay off with the lower cost of living that these communities offer. And joining with other families or individuals to form a purposeful community can also allow you to live and own properties that offer more amenities than you could get on your own—people created these communities in order to acquire luxury properties that would be, for example, far away. beyond their financial reach individually.

The Emotional Benefits of Living Together

Just as important as the potential financial benefits of creating a purposeful community are the potential emotional and psychological benefits. In a world where remote work and an increasingly online lifestyle can make people feel isolated, research has shown that living together can provide a sense of camaraderie and community while reducing anxiety .

Writer and urban policy expert Diane Lind has noted that in the recent past, houses were much larger because they were designed to be multi-generational, while modern homes are more suited to living apart from the family. This has led to a more isolated lifestyle, exacerbated by our modern car-based world where homes are far from other communities and resources, making our lives more and more lonely. Lind argues that a more community-based approach to housing will reduce these negative impacts.

It’s not just psychological. Stronger social ties have been shown to reduce health risks, reduce recovery time, and extend life expectancy. And there is no easier way to instantly gain a stronger sense of community than to join a shared housing or commune.

Not everyone finds the idea of ​​living together appealing, and for some, the greatest advantage of private property is isolation and the fact that you don’t have to share it with anyone. But if you are experiencing financial or spiritual difficulties in today’s world, consider if your life could be better if you shared at least some aspects of your living conditions with others.