Hey, I cohabited and guess what? She, yes she, proposed to me and we're very happily married (coming up to 12 years). Was she the first girl I lived with? No. But only by spending serious amounts of time with another person can you make the life changing decision about marriage.

Mike, Epworth, UK

Molly said "Some [women] ... advocated engineering an 'accidental' pregnancy to move things along". The girl that I was with tried that with me. I left two weeks later. I cannot imagine wanting to marry someone who would treat me so awfully. I pay, but my ex-girl now raises our child on her own.

Douglas , London, UK

Wake up girls, men don't think of THE ONE, they have an idea of what sort of girl they'd like to marry and if they meet one that fits the bill, they marry her. The reason men are reluctant to marry in general is not the commitment, it's the fact that they are stuffed if it ever goes to divorce.

Doug Bates , St. Albans,

I don't know a single person in any capacity - family, friends, friends of friends, who ever married the person they were cohabiting with. It's simple: If you want to get married, don't cohabit.

Liz, Chicago, USA

Girls, look at it this way - when you meet your dream man (they do exist - I am one myself), would you rather that he had lived with a few girlfriends, or that he had been married 3 times? The 'try before you buy' approach can work well and benefit both parties.

Don Bricks, London, England

Moving in together is very different from marriage. It's very common for relationships which have lasted happily for years to fall apart within a year of marriage.

Some people (men and women) think that by getting married there will be a sea change - e.g suddenly the other will want children...

Chris, Cheltenham,

if the 50s were so terrible why do we harken back so often.... we're wearing their clothes, baking their cookies, cath kidstoning the house with flowers....

racheal, london, UK

Hope all is well back there in the 1950s "Molly". Feel free pop to the 21st century for a visit sometime.

kate, cardiff,

Sounds like some bitter hags have met some wretched men. Ever considered that living together gives the woman all the privileges of marriage? Some men also consider it a test period. If you can't last 6 months together, why get married? Perhaps some of these commentators have synched their hormones.

James Cullup, Oxford,

The revealing aspect of this article is how many women think they are the milk, or the cake, or whatever. Something precious not to be given away. Gender equality? If I think I'm precious and valuable how equal am I ever going to want to be with you?

Rob, Reading, UK

As the UK divorce laws stand they make it foolish for a man to marry. If the precious little darling does manage to snag a man what has she caught? A fool.

Rob, Reading, UK

Moving in is the first step onto Less Sex More Nagging Highway.

Marriage is the second.

Dave Smith, London,

Don't Marry 'Em!

When she was gone, I held the key;
and understood I'd been in chains.
I cried at first, to be so free;
and wondered at the broken reins.

But now, I laugh and welcome change.
I wake each day and never sigh.
I run through life like choo-choo trains!
How glad I am she said goodbye!

victor compton, Cherbourg, France

A mans got to do what a mans got to do; woo her, spoil her a little (don't over do it); keep her laughing (or smiling at least) and she will let you partake of her pleasures and even suffer the burden because she doesn't really like it....OR DOES SHE?
I am 'into' my sixteenth relationship - boom!

Derek Clifton, Andover, Hampshire, England

Reading this piece and most of the frankly bizarre comments I seem to have gone back in time to when people assumed women weren't interested in sex and it was all men were after! I honestly can't believe you people think all women are only interested in marriage and men only in sex. Amazing.

Reg Varney, Sheepy Magna, UK

Anita's comment re "free sex" says it all really.-
A mature view is both people get balanced needs satisfied in a relationship emotionally and physically. Moving in is not entirely about the latter. In fact the way psyches work, surely the male would prefer to follow the hunt mentality

rob, Manchester,

The article and responses all seem a bit odd.
They assume and assert that only men like sex and women get nothing from it.
Marriage does tend to lead to a more certain commitment. Or so the statistics say.

john cramer, strathfield, australia

Other countries have facilitated cohabitation between couples of same sex or not. Haven't you heard of PACS. It provides similar rights to married couple regarding tax and inheritance, and can be broken easily by one of the conjoint without the need of scavenger lawyers. Uk stays in the middle age.

Lauren, London, uk

Agree with that article - girls in your mid-20s, don't move in with your boyfriend, it doesn't mean they're serious, they're just splitting the rent and getting regular free sex. It doesn't mean they intend on doing the decent thing and marrying you - they're already having their cake and eating it.

anita, cambridge , uk

What is living together, then, if not the same as marriage but without the blessings of the government or any church (or your mother)? Or do you move in with someone but don't bother to share your life, just the space you live? Or are Molly and Tad 12 year olds?

Rachel, sao paulo, Brasil

I have to say that with my ex i agreed to move in as it gave me time to wange out.
My current girlfriend - i have no intention of moving in with her as I am planning to ask her to marry me. IMO you only move in to avoid marriage. If you want them marry them.

rich , belfast,

What a load of old rubbish! Not all women think getting married is the pinacle of their achievements! Molly, really, talking about THE ONE is for 10 year olds. Grow up. And really, what benefits are there for independent women to marriage?

Marie Borard, Chelmsford, UK

Oh. My. God. OK, repeat after me, very slowly:
Marriage. Is. Not. Necessary.

Caroline , The Netherlands,

What responsibilities does a man have in marriage that he does not have when living together?
At that level of commitment you would expect marriage-like fidelity. A mortgage is probably more binding then marriage is anyway!
What is the diiference apart from a name change?

Sarah, London, UK

I am always surprised at the number of women who co-habit but have never had a conversation about the 'M' word with their partner even though they admit that it's top of their life plan agenda.

Paul Compton, London, UK

Both views are based on the assumption that marriage lasts forever - and we're seeing more and more that it doesn't. In which case, the divorce laws are heavily skewed towards the woman - any sane man who places sense before emotions knows not to marry in this social climate.

Richer woman? No probs

Howard, Manchester,

Co-habiting gives a man all the privileges of marriage, but not the responsibilities.

Martha, Bristol, England

Couldn't agree more. Seriously girls - don't co-habitate until you've had an offer of marriage, a ring and the venue is booked, THEN move in.

Men generally don't see living together as a prelude to getting hitched - its seen as an alternative to it.

don't let them have their cake & eat it too, London,

What does marriage give anyone. In an age when divorce is so easily attainable.

Richard, London, UK

Modern time = modern methods. Why can't women ask the man to marry her? Or would it be that really they know that he is not a man just a boy?

Peter, Swindon, UK