Things to consider before moving in together

Though it can be one of those awkward conversations, the who-pays-for-what chat needs to happen before you co-sign a lease.

"As your personal lives become intertwined, so do your financial lives," says Trix O'Callaghan, counselling psychologist at the Bella Vida Centre in Joburg. Disclose your respective salaries and debts, then make a plan for splitting the bills.

"Avoid the myth of 'love conquers all' and make sure there's enough transparency and commitment to share living expenses, based on a realistic assessment of what each partner earns," advises O'Callaghan. Adriane Berg, author of Financial Planning For Couples, suggests using a proportional system (for example, if you earn 30 percent more than your man, you pay 30 percent more of the rent) rather than trying to split everything down the middle.