conversation: User (burning-butthole): "My SO (28) and I (25) have been living together in an apartment for the past 2 years and have split the rent and bills evenly (we have about the same income, give or take a bit)\n\nShe recently bought a small and very affordably priced house that will need some cosmetic updates but is otherwise in great shape.\n\nOur plan right now is for me to contribute half the mortgage and bills, and for her to pay 100% of the cost of upgrades to the house (since it's an investment for her but not me). \n\nI'm hoping for the best but also planning for the worst-- my SO and I already know we can live together and manage money together, and will hope to get married in a couple years. However, in the event that we break up, I don't want to be screwed financially. I'm from out of state, so if that happened I likely wouldn't be staying in this city permanently. \n\nSo I ask what is the smartest and fairest way to go about this?"
  Self: "You're doing it pretty by-the-book here already. Essentially, you're not on the deed - you're just paying rent to your girlfriend, who is then paying the mortgage. Don't think of it as 'contributing half of the mortgage', but rather - "your rent is this fixed amount which, as of now, is equal to half her mortgage payment".\n\nIf she wants to upgrade things, she pays for it out of her pocket (which as you mention she is doing already)\n\nIf you break up, you have zero interest or ownership rights in the house, it's essentially as if your lease ended. "
  