living together before marriage: opinions?

[33girl]

There's a big difference between before you're engaged, and after you're engaged.

A friend of mine sold her car - gave up her apartment - bought expensive furniture - bought pets - because she was under the impression that she and the guy would be together forever (they were not engaged). To make a long story short, he turned out to be the most worthless sack of shit in the history of worthless sacks of shit and dumped her. She ended up HAVING to buy a house and getting way in over her head monetarily because she couldn't find an apartment that would accomodate her dogs. I know he could have still done the same thing had they been engaged, but maybe at least then she'd have had a ring she could sell.

With my ex, we went on vacation together and stayed over at each others' houses enough that I think we knew how the other liked to live. I know he stays up till 4, he knows I leave my shoes all over the house. We both knew and understood the importance of having alone time (this is something some guys/girls just do not get) and being respectful of the other person you live with, even if you ARE exchanging bodily fluids w/ them. It's all a moot point now, of course, but it taught me a lot.

I don't think saving money is a good enough excuse to do it. You can know how someone handles his/her money without living with them.