Rent Expense - I'm confused!

[Scoutitout]

My monthly rent is $1600. What happens if I take on a roommate during my Chapter 13 plan and my rent is reduced? I'm confused because the exemption for my rent in my county is substantially higher (about $2300 I think) than my actual rent. My attorney has said if my rent goes down because I get a roommate then I must report this as a lowered expense. I'm guess I'm confused about what purpose the exemption amount serves - is this just to calculate disposable income? It seemed like a great solution for me to get a roommate but now I'm thinking it would actually hurt me.

Also, as an aside, after a plan is confirmed, can I spend my leftover money how I want? Do I have to provide an accounting for everything I spend to the court outside my plan payment?

[CH33 Paralegal]

You should revisit your budget any time something substantially changes. If you're receving a whole lot more income than what was reported orginially, you should amend. If you just happened to spend 375 on food instead of 450 though and you want to buy a video game or go to the bar, that's fine and you don't need to account for every single dollar. the budget shows just how much it takes for you to get by. You're not locked down into having to spend not a penny more or less on each item.

Now with the roommate...more than likely, it will show as a "roommate contribution" on your income side. Your utilities are going to go up, but you're probably splitting those as well. See if some of that money can be spent on food and gas/car repairs instead. Was there anything you were going without since you had such a large rent expense prior to getting a roommate? Now the money will be spent on that instead....as long as its a necessity and not a luxury, it should be fine to go on the budget when you tweak the the other variables that are changing. If for some reason, you can't find anywhere on the budget to put that money, then technically, you're creating a pool that could go to the unsecured creditors.