Carmina, can you rent your other house? since it is not selling? to lift the burden.    

Does your son want a separate birthday party with friends or just a party because you can just do a family party with a couple of friends added. My son hasn't wanted a separate party for the last couple of years so we have a family party.  invite the grandparents, aunts etc  a pack of dollar store balloons, a dollar store happy birthday banner (been using for years) and a homemade cake from nana and he is happy. 

My mil makes cutup cakes where is one sheet cake you cut and rearrange into butterflies, cars etc. She has a couple of books on this that she has used for years. did it for her kids.  just a cake mix, frosting and decorations.

for the grandkids she has made a train (I think), a bear, giraffe, butterfly, doll cake. blues clues cake. probably more but I can't remember.

Pamelaw:

I understand how to set up a budget, it's just that these days prices vary (or rather increase) from week to week so it's hard to plan and impossible to see what even next week's financial needs will be.

I understand. The $300 I budgeted for gas for June is gone because we now spend $65 at the pump instead of $50. Those extra $15 3-4 times a month add up. But my grocery budget is holding strong (even $10 to $15 less a week) and we have cut some personal items and entertainment (I have not had a haircut since April and I trimmed the boys hair at home, for example). Not eating out except a $9 pizza helped save $40 which we used for gas for the cars. With another $30 saved from foregoing haircuts, we were able to keep our cars filled.

I would increase your gas budget (try increasing by 10 cents per gallon over what you are paying now as a start) and see if you can tighten in other areas to build a cushion. Or since your kids are home for the summer, can they help out at all with their paychecks (if working while they are home for the summer)? Even $10 a week would be extra grocery money or a cushion.

Dear Carmina, I forgot to say what might be obvious, thjat you should shop at a dollar store for the trinkets for your son's friend & the toy for your son.  When I have trinkets to give to children, I make a "snowball".  I take thin strips of crepe paper.  I roll some up for the center.  Then I add a trinket.  Then I cover it completely, all around with the ribbon.  Ditto.  Ditto.  Ditto.  for all of the trinkets that I have.  Just a word of caution:  make one for your son, too, or he'll be jealous of his friend.  Yours in Him, Deb

mamasjob:

I would increase your gas budget (try increasing by 10 cents per gallon over what you are paying now as a start) and see if you can tighten in other areas to build a cushion. Or since your kids are home for the summer, can they help out at all with their paychecks (if working while they are home for the summer)? Even $10 a week would be extra grocery money or a cushion.

thanks so much. I just let the kids' income be used for their entertainment and about half their gas needs - I don't mind paying for gas to work, but they pay for gas to friends and the beach, etc. That helps us out a lot - because they like to go get subs with friends and that saves our food budget when they pay for it if they really want it.

The gas cushion is a great idea and we'll do that. thanks so much! I almost feel like I can get a handle on it with all your helping hands here! thanks again. P