Sigh, new to this

[SwimminUpStream]

I guess I have to wait and see the final paperwork from what I wrote were our actual expenses and what the atty. has said would be allowed. All of the above figures were given to me over the phone.

Not sure what this talk is about schedules I, J etc...I just had to fill out some expense forms the atty gave me.

[TiredandWeary]

We will be filing in the Orlando BK court area.

Welcome, SwimminUpStream! My family and I also reside and filed Ch13 in the Orlando area almost two years ago. We are a family of five and were able to get approved for $1000 a month for grocery expenses (@ $250 p/week)...this also includes things like you mentioned such as paper products, toiletry items, animal food, cleaning supplies, etc. It is not hard at all for me to understand why you would need $600 a month for the two of you for your grocery budget. That seems totally normal, if not a bit low, in our area of town.

P.S.- I HATE the trustee's office in our area! They don't care one iota about your predicament and they always keep every year's tax refund...100% of it! We wrote them a letter explaining why we needed our refund back last year ($950) and they never even bothered to respond to the letter, like they said they would. At least an acknowledgement would have been nice and maybe an official letter stating their reasons for denying our request...nope, not so much as a word from them! But, of course, they were "johnny-on-the-spot" to deposit the IRS refund into our account for unsecured creditors that same week!

[MajorMike]

I guess you are not the one to grocery shop Mike. When was the last time you bought a dozen eggs or a gallon of milk? Not sure where you live, but food prices do vary from state to state. That also includes, cleaning supplies, tp, etc along with dog and cat food. There are some weeks I do not spend that...then others when I do. Depends on what I have to buy during that time. Also, I have food allergies and can only eat certain foods and that makes it VERY difficult.

I guess one should not judge until they have walked in your shoes.

Umm I'm in New York State, highest taxed state in the freeworld. We get by on $75/week in groceries, trust me. The cat had his own expense seperate on our paperwork of $15/mo for food and litter. We eat a lot of hamburger helper and pancakes for dinner. It can be done. I'm not judging, I just thought that was very high for 2 people to eat $150/week in food. You now explained that was including cleaning expenses etc but I think we had put that in another part of our plan paperwork. All I know is, we have $300 for food. If you have allergies, there are inexpensive alternatives as well. I know because my sister has them. I'm sorry to hear about your allergies, though as it is very inconvenient.

[MajorMike]

Makes sense. You got $250 for five people which is $200/mo for each of you which breaks down to $400/mo if there were 2 of you. This is what I'm talking about. $600/mo for 2 people is high to me....and yes, I shop for groceries, but we don't eat alot I guess. I love peanut butter and jelly 2x a week, not because we can't afford it but I love it!

Welcome, SwimminUpStream! My family and I also reside and filed Ch13 in the Orlando area almost two years ago. We are a family of five and were able to get approved for $1000 a month for grocery expenses (@ $250 p/week)...this also includes things like you mentioned such as paper products, toiletry items, animal food, cleaning supplies, etc. It is not hard at all for me to understand why you would need $600 a month for the two of you for your grocery budget. That seems totally normal, if not a bit low, in our area of town.

P.S.- I HATE the trustee's office in our area! They don't care one iota about your predicament and they always keep every year's tax refund...100% of it! We wrote them a letter explaining why we needed our refund back last year ($950) and they never even bothered to respond to the letter, like they said they would. At least an acknowledgement would have been nice and maybe an official letter stating their reasons for denying our request...nope, not so much as a word from them! But, of course, they were "johnny-on-the-spot" to deposit the IRS refund into our account for unsecured creditors that same week!

[SwimminUpStream]

Well we have 4 cats and 3 dogs and 2 birds..>All pretty darn old and I personally would go without food in order to feed them, and their vet bills are pretty hefty at times. Although, in this area they did not look at that. I guess animals are considered a "luxury".

It is just not food allergies that I have, it is a pretty complicated medical case, there again, even with proof, that did not matter either. We have great health ins. thank god, but it only covers so much. Lasy year alone we spent $ 24K out of pocket for Dr.'s and Rx's...that is a TON of money and I am not sure how we will deal with that in BK...but we will get thru it all somehow.

Tired - What % of payback are you at?? Our attorney told us our refund (not that I normally get one, try to arrange it so we pay about $ 200- in) would not be touched as we are at 100% plan.

I have looked at this 7 ways till Sunday, and sure wish I could come up with another way...just does not appear to be one. I even looked at Chap 7 since most of the unsecured credit is mine, lawyer said nope, they would still take my husband's income into account, as well as the RV loan is joint. AARRGGHH. I sit and wonder how we truly let it get this deep without seeing the need to put the hip boots on!!

[MajorMike]

Wow, that is a lot of animals...
We have a cat, and he is an indoor pet which is a lot of work and we have to change the litter 2x a day just so the house doesn't smell. I would go without food before my cat too, lol.
It's not fair that someone with a medical case, can't get the relief they need. This gov't is so messed up!

[TiredandWeary]

Well we have 4 cats and 3 dogs and 2 birds..>All pretty darn old and I personally would go without food in order to feed them, and their vet bills are pretty hefty at times. Although, in this area they did not look at that. I guess animals are considered a "luxury".

It is just not food allergies that I have, it is a pretty complicated medical case, there again, even with proof, that did not matter either. We have great health ins. thank god, but it only covers so much. Lasy year alone we spent $ 24K out of pocket for Dr.'s and Rx's...that is a TON of money and I am not sure how we will deal with that in BK...but we will get thru it all somehow.

Tired - What % of payback are you at?? Our attorney told us our refund (not that I normally get one, try to arrange it so we pay about $ 200- in) would not be touched as we are at 100% plan.

I have looked at this 7 ways till Sunday, and sure wish I could come up with another way...just does not appear to be one. I even looked at Chap 7 since most of the unsecured credit is mine, lawyer said nope, they would still take my husband's income into account, as well as the RV loan is joint. AARRGGHH. I sit and wonder how we truly let it get this deep without seeing the need to put the hip boots on!!

SwimminUpStream, we are at 16% payback. If you are already at 100% payback, then that is why you are able to keep your tax refunds. Good for you!!!

~TiredandWeary

[SwimminUpStream]

Yup, that is alot of pets. The cats are now outdoor (thank god, that would be alot of litterbox scoopin') and my dogs are indoor outdoor. But like I said, 2 dogs are 9 & 10, the other is 7. So I would not even consider finding them new homes, had them since they were babies. Cats were all adopted from shelters and are now adults, you can barely give kittens away, so who would want adult cats.

You are right about the Gov't being messed up. Yes, we messed up to get in this place, made some very poor choices...BUT we did not have a clue I was going to get sick and for this long...The Gov't gives trillions upon trillions away to other countries, yet we do not want to take care of our own here....very sad.

[MajorMike]

SwimminUpStream, we are at 16% payback. If you are already at 100% payback, then that is why you are able to keep your tax refunds. Good for you!!!

~TiredandWeary

Has NOTHING to do with it! we're at 5% payback and can keep ours.

[TiredandWeary]

Has NOTHING to do with it! we're at 5% payback and can keep ours.

True, I forgot that a LOT of it also has to do with the trustee overseeing each BK case, too. But, I was also assuming that there would be no reason for trustee to keep tax refunds if one is already scheduled to pay 100% back...isn't that also true? Just curious. Also, I figured that since SwimmingUpStream has already indicated he/she is in Orlando, then I know first-hand that the Orlando district trustee does not allow anyone to keep tax refunds. They make you sign these pink slips of paper acknowledging this fact at the initial 341 hearing meeting. Like I said, I can only assume that in this particular case, it must be due to the fact that SwimminUpStream is at 100% payback as to why they can keep their tax refunds. It's amazing how truly each person's scenario can differ completely from another's!

[SANRA308]

We keep ours but it was averaged in to our income, I imagine thats why.

[krielly]

Just looking really quickly at your expenses, it seems like you may be missing some stuff.. I don't see that you have budgeted for items like auto repairs, maintenance, tires, household repairs, etc...... What if your water heater breaks, your roof springs a leak, so on and so forth.
do you pay for water/sewer for your home? Try to think of as many things as possible...............
I know there are some posts around listing different items. Take a look around a bit!!!!!!!!

K

[SwimminUpStream]

I did have all those types of repairs in there KR, however, the good ole lawyer thru them out the window...I do not know why. Seems like he is really pushing for this 100% payback business. I just "assumed" and god I hate that word, that we had to do the 100% payback since "technically" we can afford it. If you call leaving $ 121- over at the end of the month affording it.

I do not know how to get them to do anything different than what they have done. I really need some HELP here. I feel like a lost sheep...I thought by having an attorney I would not feel this way.

[SwimminUpStream]

My lawyer told us that if we had the $$ we had to pay at 100%, as long as BASICS only were covered. I too wondered what happened when the septic pump went out or the well or.....

But, as long as I am at 100%, aren't we basically left alone as long as we pay on time? And don't the CC not give you a hassle when the time comes since they are getting all their money back, 'cept for interest?

LOST and CONFUSED...and for this I have paid the lawyer $ 1674-, plus the $ 2500- he is throwing into the BK.

[SANRA308]

The lawyer is supposed to be on your side, not the trustees, true if you have the money you have to pay, but it has to be reasonable or its not worth signing. If you feel like the you wont be able to make the paymnets. 5 years is a long time and alot can go wrong in that time frame. Did you get any other consults before this attorney. It might be worth while to talk to another attorney. Even though you paid hime the 1600 or so if he has not filled a plan you might be able to get some refunded. Our paperwork stated he had to pay $500 for the proposed plan, if we changed our minds. The first attorney was doing nothing for us. His plan had us paying 1700 a month and he would not budge. We ended up going with a different attorney, We lost $500 but saved $600 a month. You have to have comfidence in the attorney you choose.