Finding a date or being a relationship can be easy. But finding someone you are actually compatible with and fulfills your needs isn’t so easy. How do you sort out someone who is just fun to hang out with from someone who you are truly compatible with for the long term?

A lot of people enter relationships with the notion that if you two are enjoying yourselves and share some common interests its sure to grow into something more. They also may jump in with both feet because of the attraction factor. This can lead to the belief that the relationship can go further, without ever really taking the time to get to know each other. Rather than finding out who someone really is they float along on a fantasy that this will lead to love. If you find yourself falling in to this trap you can be setting yourself up for a lot of hurt and disappointment. Just enjoying your date’s company is fine in the beginning but before you fall head over heels here are a few things you need to remember:

Lifestyle – If the relationship is going to enter a deeper stage of commitment you need to find out if your lifestyles are compatible. If your date is a slob and you are a neat freak, at first you may enjoy "playing house" and straightening up after them, but will you really be happy with that for a lifetime? If you’re a homebody and they live for spontaneous adventure filled outings, while you might find it exciting at first how much compromise will you each be willing to make later. Know what you like and who you are and how much compromise each of you is willing to make. You will never be fulfilled watching movies at home every night while they’re out mountain climbing.

Moral Values – This may seem old fashioned but it can become important as a relationship enters later stages. Feeling like you have to do something that you are morally uncomfortable with can create a lot of stress and cause you to step away from who you really are.

Goals – Do you share similar goals for the future? If not again one of you may be asked to compromise more that you are willing to.

Style of Communicating – If one of you is closed off while the other is an open communicator one of you may feel nagged while the other feels like they are being closed off. This can create a never ending battle while nothing ever feels resolved.

Spending Style – One of the most important things you need to figure out is what each of your spending styles are. One of the biggest things couples fight about is money. If one of you is a live for the moment type and the other is packing away for the future you’re just looking to feel unsatisfied. Without agreeing on your finances it can be difficult for couples to create effective long-term financial plans.

What are you looking fore and what will make you happy? – This is the most important of all. Pick a time in your like when you are not dating anyone and note what makes you happy and what your personal goals are, anything that is important to you. As you meet people never forget and don’t flip flop to appease someone else. If you do eventually you will feel unfulfilled.

Remember these few points will help you understand your relationship goals and will help you understand what it is you need to look for in a person when trying to find a romantic partner to share your life with.