I have found that marriage provides a "little" more protection than shacking-up. Shacking-up provides no protection to you.

I see this fresh faced girl posting this thread and I ache from it. Honey don't take shacking up lightly.

You can get away with it for a number of years if you don't own nice things. But if you own nice things then you have to have an agreement in writing.

Or you could lose it when the break-up happens.

Most relationships break up.

The one who gets the stuff is the one who tells the better story.

OP: Put yourself back in the driverseat. You start calling the shots. He won't like it, but you will get empowered in yourself as a result.

See other people. You are young! Don't settle for a bad relationship where you are sharing him with another. It sounds like this guy was sneaking it up on you.

I've been there. In fact recently. I am breaking out and I ain't taking it no more.