Pics? It completely depends on your cabinets. Refacing is usually cheaper though.

We have no experience with refacing as some of our local kitchen cabinet companies have said that customers are generally not happy with the final outcome and it ends up being a lose-lose situation. We have therefore tried to stay away from it. If you go that route, you might request that you see some actual work done by the company bidding the refacing. I do know that locally refacing is more expensive than one would think and is only slightly cheaper than replacement - assuming replacing with average product, not top of the line.

I have done refacing before and it indeed often turns out to be more expensive, and you are locked in in the existing floor plan, which is seldom ideal, besides there could be damage to the boxes and they will have to be replaced regardless. Unless the cabinets are very high quality, I wouldn't bother with refacing.

Are the doors in good condition and a style you don't mind living with? Can you just paint them and add new knobs for now until budget allows for a complete overhaul? Painting them yourself isn't as bad as it seems. If a whole new kitchen is in the budget and needed...go for it. Otherwise, go as inexpensive as you can for now until you can do it all...at once.

My son just refaced a large sink in BR and we have as well. I would check with a custom maker of cabinet doors (more than one and get estimates) and also doors are sold online. You can get new hardware at Lowes, Home Depot etc. If it is possible, it would be less mess too.