Grandma to the rescue (even if I don't want her to be).

When we were making a lot less money, and both not so smart abt financial decisions - there were a lot of times my parents had to bail us out. The last several years, we have been financial independent from them!

They used to pay for my kids' birthday parties (which can be anywhere from $150-$250 each). I vowed a few years ago that I would never let that happen again.

Well, her birthday is Friday, the 18th (oops - her being Isabel, my daughter). And I have no money budgeted for it - especially since I do owe a little to the IRS. I told my mom, we would have them over for dinner and a cake.

She grew silent.

Dunt dunt dunnnnn.

She asked if we could revisit my decision. That the rest of the family would love to see Isa on her 9th birthday. I told her that it wouldn't always be this way, just this year. It's budgeted within my Escrow account for next year. I told her that I was making a huge effort for her not to have to pay those things.

She said "Jaime, I am the grandma, I want to, and enjoy doing, these types of things."

So - Isa may get a party after all - but I will try and keep it small, and budget friendly (for my mom's sake - even though they are financially set).

Start as we mean to continue...