I used to go through this with my oldest daughter when I divorced her dad. He lived with his parents...could do anything he wanted with his pay check...didn't pay child support, and I had a car, an apratment, bills....She never wanted to come home because I worked so much and Daddy was on a two week rotating schedule. She hated being in day care with me, and I worked all the time. It gets better as they get older. I hate doing it...but guilt tends to work not right away, but over years. "Mommy spent a lot of time and money on that gift honey....I did my best....I'm a single mom now, and money is tight." Then leave it there. I just tell my kids the truth about money when they want things etc. They have a respect fo that. "You know...I want to buy that for you, but you need to wait till next time Daddy gets paid, but you also need to clean your room for the next 2 weeks to get it." That's what I do...hope it helps, and I hope things get better. xoxxoo