| We asked readers to channel their inner Carolyn Hax and answer this question. Some of the best responses are below. Dear Carolyn: My boyfriend and I met about nine months ago and have been dating since. He’s a great guy, very kind, hardworking, and while he’s not doing well career-wise, I love him and see a future with him. He is 24, and I’m 26, and we’re both in transitional phases of life. I have a great job, but it’s not in my desired field. He has a survival job while he’s been applying for anything better for a couple of years with no real luck. I grew up very poor, and financial stability is very important to me. When we first met, he told me he owns his home (a modest two-bedroom, one-bath condo in our city). A few weeks later, he corrected himself and admitted his grandparents are on the deed with him but do not live there. I was not shocked, as nearly all of my friends who bought property in their 20s did so with the help of family — but he had told me he’s on the deed. Two months ago, I went away for an extended work trip. He had agreed to watch my cats while I was away but acted strangely about it the closer the date came. The day before, when the cats were already dropped off, he admitted his grandparents were against the idea, and when I pressed the issue, I questioned whether he was on the deed. It was then he said he didn’t actually know if he was. I suggested looking it up, as it’s a matter of public record, and then he admitted he was not and had been lying to me out of embarrassment. I make significantly more than he does and am completely financially independent, while he has been unable to get a job above retail since graduating.  |  | | | We had a huge fight, and while we worked it out, my friends and family are split on whether I should have ended things with him then and there. If I hadn’t been traveling, I likely would have, and I still don’t trust him completely. Is this issue severe enough to warrant a breakup, or should I chalk this up to a strange attempt to impress me? — Lie |
