Rent and other annoyances
Rent is almost always due on the first, so I like to pay all other bills on the 15th. This is a pretty good rule of thumb to even out the money for the month. This will also let everyone know what’s due when so you can all plan accordingly.

It is also a good idea if you or one of your roommates is a phone hog to go the cell phone route. It means you’ll never get stuck with someone else’s $500 phone bill that goes unpaid and a potential mark on your credit. So get a phone line for your DSL and have everyone go wireless and split the cost.

If you’re renting an apartment or house with different sized bedrooms it’s a good idea to charge (or pay) a bit more for the bigger bedrooms or ones with an attached bath. This way no one feels cheated.

Make sure you keep accurate records of all your bills and who paid what. Money is the number one cause for disagreements and accurate records can easily help in the dispute.

Cleaning
Nothing comes between roomies like a wall of dishes or trash, which also doubles as an all you can eat buffet for rats and roaches. The best rule of thumb is to clean the kitchen before you leave the kitchen. Unfortunately, school, work and dating schedules might preclude you from doing the dishes each and every time you eat, so get to them when you return or at least before you go to bed. If you wait, the dishes will pile up and may go unwashed for days or weeks. If you or your roomies never seem to get them done maybe a class in time management should be on next semesters schedule. Germs are not your friends.

If you’re a neat-nik and your roomie is a huge slob, talk to him/her right away and find a middle ground that works for everyone. Surely you can both find some ways to compromise. And when the trash is full, take it out next time you’re leaving the apartment. It’s not that difficult.

Everyone is a slob in the bathroom. It’s the smallest and busiest room in the house. Ladies keep your make-up and toiletries organized and not all over the place and clean up the make-up spills. It’s gross. Guys put the seat down and clean the sink after you shave. Also, if you’ve got bad aim clean up the mess, nobody likes the smell of urine. Everyone, put a matt down next to the tub or shower to keep the floor from being a wading pool and hang up your towels.

As for the living room, bathroom and other shared spaces try setting aside an hour a week where everyone is together, breakup the chores, crank up the tunes and get the apartment clean enough to get you through the week. Mom may send a care package but you can bet your school loans a maid isn’t part of the package.