From the little info you've provided this is what I gather about your "relationship" with this man:
He uses his mother as an excuse to not be with you. He uses the excuse that he gives his mother most of his paycheck so he doesn't have to be with you. Your relationship is "on and off" because he doesn't want to be with you. He doesn't put in any effort because he really doesn't want to be with you and he doesn't have to put in any effort because YOU put all the effort into this "thing" you call a relationship. Why don't you just dump him and find someone who wants to be in a relationship with you and shows you he does through his actions? This man is showing you through his actions that he can take you or leave you. If you stop making all the effort, it will end again.
“The willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life is the source from which self-respect springs.” ~Joan Didion