How shared housing can save money is not just a question about rent. On the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely talks with Annamarie Pluhar about how having a housemate can reduce expenses, create more comfort, and help adults rethink what independence really means.
Shared housing can save money by helping adults share the ongoing costs of home, from housing payments to utilities, household help, maintenance, and everyday tasks. But the bigger question is this: What if living with someone is not a step backward? What if it is a smart way to create more financial stability, companionship, and ease?
Linda Grizely and Annamarie discuss why many adults feel afraid to invite someone into their home, how privacy can still be protected, why compatibility matters more than simply finding someone who can pay, and how the idea of a "home-mate" can change the way we think about shared housing.
You'll hear how housemates can become home-mates, how to think through cost sharing without nickel-and-diming, and why the emotional benefits of informal social connection matter too.
Real Money, Real Life™ is about real life, not perfect decisions. This conversation is for adults who feel the pressure of rising housing costs, people living alone, older singles, and anyone wondering whether there may be another way to live with more financial confidence, comfort, and connection.
💡 We talk about:
· How shared housing can save money without giving up privacy · Why adults may feel embarrassed about having a housemate · How to know if someone is compatible enough to live with · What costs to consider before renting a room in your home
Timestamps
(00:00) Why shared housing can be a smart financial choice (01:00) How housemates can support cost, company, cooperation, and comfort (02:00) Annamarie Pluhar's personal story with shared housing (07:00) Why people feel afraid to have a stranger live with them (08:00) How shared housing starts with cost savings (10:00) Why adults need housemates, not roommates (12:00) How to figure out housemate compatibility (14:00) What routines, tasks, guests, noise, and bills reveal (15:00) Different ways adults can share housing (16:00) What living with a housemate looks like in real life (18:00) Hidden financial benefits of having a housemate (20:00) How to price rent without getting greedy (22:00) How to compare shared housing costs to the rental market (24:00) How privacy can still work with a housemate (26:00) Why loneliness and social connection matter (30:00) How living alone connects to social isolation (31:00) Why pride can get in the way of shared housing (34:00) Questions to ask before considering a housemate (35:00) Who should consider shared housing (36:00) Where to find Annamarie Pluhar and Sharing Housing (37:00) A closing reframe on independence and community
👤 About Annamarie Pluhar
Annamarie Pluhar, M.Div. advocates for adults, especially older singles, to have a "home-mate," someone with whom they can share a home with other(s) for the benefits of cost, company, cooperation, and comfort. She is the founder of the nonprofit, Sharing Housing, Inc. and the author of Sharing Housing, A Guidebook for Finding and Keeping Good Housemates. She has 30 years of experience in corporate and non-profit consulting, group facilitation, training development, and delivery. She is a graduate of Vassar College and The Episcopal Divinity School. She lives in Dummerston, Vermont with one housemate.
🔗 Connect with Annamarie
Website: https://www.sharinghousing.com Website: https://sharinghousing.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SharingHousing Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharinghousingcommunity/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sharing-housing-inc
🤝 Free Resource from Annamarie
Sharing Housing Worksheets: https://sharinghousing.com/worksheets/
👤 About Linda
Linda Grizely, CFP®, is a financial wellness speaker and personal finance expert and educator. She is the creator of the MeMoney® Method, and host of the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast. Bridging financial strategy with behavioral insight, she helps people build confidence and clarity with their money and teaches individuals and organizations how to replace financial overwhelm with empowerment and real-world results.
🔗 Connect with Linda
Website: https://www.LindaGriz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindagrizely Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelindagrizely LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grizely YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaGrizely TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindagrizely X: https://twitter.com/LindaGrizely
🤝 Resources
Useful Personal Finance Quizzes, Checklists, and Flowcharts: www.lindagriz.com/resources
ℹ️ Disclosures
Real Money, Real Life™ is hosted and produced by Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC.
Linda Grizely, CFP®, is an Investment Adviser Representative of Nectarine, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC is separate from and unaffiliated with Nectarine.
The views expressed on this podcast are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Linda Grizely, Linda Grizely Ventures, LLC, or Nectarine. Guests on the podcast may express opinions or discuss financial strategies that are their own and should not be considered recommendations or personalized financial advice.
This podcast is provided for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products.
Listeners should consult their own financial, legal, or tax professionals regarding their specific situation.
For additional disclosures, please visit: https://hellonectarine.com https://www.lindagriz.com/disclaimers
