5 Signs It’s Time to Take Your Relationship to the Next Level

As your relationship starts to progress, it’s natural to start thinking about taking things to the next level. Whether you’re considering giving your loved one a key to your apartment, buying a home together or getting married, you’ll want to make sure your relationship is rock solid. If you think you’re ready to make things more serious, look out for these sure-fire signs…

1. You trust your partner

Every relationship is based on trust, so if you still have doubts about your partner’s faithfulness or loyalty, it’s important not to rush things. People sometimes assume that getting married will eradicate these niggling worries, but it rarely does. Instead, it’s best to work through any issues and build trust between you and your partner. That way, you can move forward in your relationship without any underlying concerns about your future. 

2. You can overcome conflict

No matter how much you love your partner, you won’t agree on everything. Before you start perusing a broad catalog of stunningly beautiful engagement rings, be sure you can overcome inevitable points of conflict in your relationship. While arguing all the time is never a great sign, being able to deal with disagreements healthily is a good sign you’re ready to take your relationship to the next level. 

3. You support one another

Being someone’s partner means being there when the chips are down. If you only see your boyfriend or girlfriend when life’s good, they may not be the long-term life partner you’re really looking for. It’s natural to want to celebrate life’s triumphs with your beloved but being their rock in more difficult times is equally important. If you can rely on your partner to show up when you need them most and you do the same for them, you could be on to a winning combo. 

4. You’re compatible

Loving someone doesn’t necessarily mean you’re well-suited to living together or building a life with one another. As hard as it can be to come to terms with, determining whether you and your partner are compatible is essential if you’re thinking about taking the next step in your relationship. If you share the same approach to life, enjoying living at the same pace and share complementing goals, it’s a good indication that you’ll be happy in the long run.

5. You’re financially responsible

Many married couples choose to pool their finances, so you need to be able to trust your partner when it comes to money matters. Of course, this goes both ways, so you’ll want to assess your own approach to savings and budgeting too. If you both value the same things and prioritize the same expenses, there’s a good chance you’ll be on the same page when it comes to your finances.

Taking a Leap of Faith

Moving your relationship forward always involves taking a leap of faith, to some extent. However, you can increase your chance of long-term happiness by looking out for signs you’re ready to take the next step and auditing your relationship on a regular basis.

Next up, Thinking Of Living With Your Partner For The First Time? Here's Some Tips