You share ice-cream cones, friends and bodily fluids, so sharing an address is no biggie, right? After all, according to the Australian Institute of Family Studies, 72 per cent of couples live with their partner before marriage these days. Before you make the move, consider that those who cohabit before marriage are at greater risk of divorcing. To give your relationship a better chance at longevity, consider this expert advice on the four Fs of shacking up…

Finances

The who-pays-for-what convo needs to happen before you co-sign a lease, says Adriane Berg, author of Financial Planning for Couples (amazon.com). Disclose your respective salaries and debts, then make a plan for sharing bills. Berg suggests using a proportional system (eg, if you earn 30 per cent more, you pay 30 per cent more rent).

Fights

Don’t be afraid to end the honeymoon phase by hammering out your differences. It’ll help you gain a deeper understanding of each other, Berg says, and build a stronger relationship. Jot down when you fought, what it was about, and the outcome. It’ll help you recognise patterns and identify issues. Trust us, it helps.

Fun (and romance)

You may discover that cohabitating results in less quality time together. An easy fix, says Dr Yvonne Fulbright, author of Sultry Sex Talk to Seduce Any Lover, is scheduling romance from the get-go.

“Decide on a weekly date night before you finish unpacking your boxes,” she says. And don’t stop trying brand-new seduction techniques. Surprise him.

(Becoming his) fiancée

Don’t assume that merging your worldly possessions will make sending out wedding invites happen any sooner. After all, the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, which studied relationships from 2002 to 2007, found that just 26 per cent of de facto relationships moved to marriage in that five-year period. So if putting a ring on it is – or isn’t – on your agenda, talk about it.