anyone from San Fran East Bay area?

[scaredy*cat]

My user name pretty much says it all. I'm scared to death over this whole thing! I know we have to do something but I'm so scared of the unknown. I've been sick to my stomach over this for the past few weeks....not eating well, not sleeping. I have a consult tomorrow and while prepping all of my paperwork, I'm feeling sicker and sicker. The past couple of years, I've sold items online. I tried to do the right thing by filing that on my taxes. Mind you, I don't know a THING about taxes but I've been using turbotax the past few years. Well while printing out my taxes, there's information there that I really don't understand and not sure WHY it's there!! I used the business software because well, since I was "working" from home, I was told that I had to file like a business since I was claiming it. The taxes show losses both years but what if my taxes have mistakes???? How will that affect me now??? I'm scared as it is but now I'm wondering if things can actually get worse for me. I feel like crawling in a hole and not coming out. I've been on edge and am really hating life right now. I was much happier a few weeks ago before I started considering this!! UGH!!! OH, I'd love to hear from others in this area regarding expenses too. Nor Cal is so darn expensive!! We pay $2500 a month for rent! That is about $550 over the alllowed. However, there isn't really anything much cheaper avail out there. Maybe 2-300 cheaper if you REALLY hunt for it but with bad credit, we can't get a thing anyway. Not to mention affording the moving expenses. Oh, we area family of 5.

Thank you in advance!

scaredy cat

[AngelinaCat]

Mr / Ms Scaredycat:

First things first; WELCOME HOME.

You have found a place where you can ask all your questions and no one will belittle you. You will get lots of great advice here. I note you are a family of 5, poster Momof5 will probably be able to help. There are other wonderfully knowedgeable posters here and will offer advice more specific to your situation.

My main message at this point is, you CAN relax and get some sleep. You will get advice and support here.

[BKParalegal]

For starters, take a Zanax (just kidding). Don't get stressed out about your taxes, the trustee is not going to be auditing them. They want to see them to make sure you aren;t trying to bury money in " tax writeoffs" that aren't legit. But we are talking major money not a few sheckels here and there. The guidelines you are looking at is just an average, and those numbers are adjusted to the area you are living in. Remember, those numbers apply to someone who lives in Bakersfield(why would someone live there, I have no idea) as they apply to you. But $2500 a month rent in Bakersfield, you could rent most of that town with that and still have change. As I always tell my clients, there are over 1.3 million bankruptcies filed every year, as long as your numbers pass the giggle test, you will be fine.

Good Luck

[scaredy*cat]

Hi Cat!! Thank you for the welcome! I've been reading and reading the forums here for the past couple of weeks. In fact, I can't stop reading them. LOL. My hubby is soooo laid back and just goes with the flow of everything so he thinks I'm a little off my rocker right now. ( I certainly feel as though I am, LOL) I really appreciate your kindness! : )

OH, and I'm a female scaredy cat! LOL


BK, thank you as well! Honestly, if I had something to take, I probably would! LOL Okay, so I DID use the tax writeoffs that were brought up in turbo tax. Portions of the home usage, car usage, etc. I bought some things to use for the "business" that were also added such as a computer, camera and a lens. I see a depreciation write off on the taxes too. Our fed refund was about $5500 so I didn't get insane amounts of money, although we got about the same back from state.

Unfortunately, I don't know much about Bakersfield. Sounds like I don't want to either, LOL! So, the allowed numbers are based on Bakersfield though??? That's interesting.

We are also way over the means test for income, however, I did have 6 mos of unemployment and 5 months of child support on there too. I'm not receiving either anymore. Both ended the end of May. I'm guessing we will have to wait for those to drop off??? My son also had a $1500 income that ended the end of June. He's been searching for a new job and I'm worried that his income could make or break us. Even though, with his income added in too, we still can't pay everything (and we don't even use his income) *sigh*

Thanks again to both of you! I literally have not talked about this with anyone (except Mr. laid back hubby) so I reallly do appreciate this!

S Cat

[scaredy*cat]

Okay, never mind my dumb remark about the numbers referring to Bakersfield! LOL! I understand what you meant. I'm sorry, can you tell my mind is clouded??

[liz417]

Okay, never mind my dumb remark about the numbers referring to Bakersfield! LOL! I understand what you meant. I'm sorry, can you tell my mind is clouded??

I was wondering where you got *Bakersfield*??? I had to go and reread the post because I thought i missed something....

[scaredy*cat]

I was wondering where you got *Bakersfield*??? I had to go and reread the post because I thought i missed something....

hee-hee!! Don't mind me!

S Cat

[scaredy*cat]

Well, had my consult today! What a HUGE waste of my time! I literally almost walked right out (and would have probably used a few choice words upon doing so). My first impression was terrible anyway. Waiting room was dirty.....dying plants, peeling wallpaper, cracked glass at receptionist window, and a terrible musty smell. The paralegal was talking with a client, hung up and came to the window telling me the clients situation!! I ended up waiting to be seen for 25 min past my appoint. The attorney kept his eyes closed for.....I'm NOT kidding you.......95% of the conversation!!! First thing that he told me was that he doesn't know why I am so worried because we were about $30,000 UNDER the median!! HUH????? Um.....the median is for 6 months and he was calculating by it being for a year! I didn't think too much about it as I make odd mistakes that that myself BUT those are the kinds of "mistakes" that he made throughout the entire conversation. I had to explain things to HIM many times! He was so strange!! He said that my expenses will NOT matter whatsoever because the means test expenses are all that will count, no going over in any of them. The only other things that he said could be added would be secured payments and that I have no choice but to do a 13. They even gave me the amount of what my payment would be without looking at a thing. I asked them how they could tell me what my payment would be without looking at my expenses and he got kind of hasty at that point and told me "that's just how it is. Nobody ever said it would be fair." I kind of figured that we would have to wait until at least November anyway but I was hoping to gain more insight from a professional. I sell on ebay sometimes and he actually laughed and said "maybe ebay sales will pick up enought to pay this debt, ahhahahahha". THAT put me over the edge!

I know from reading others posts here that it can take some time to find the right attorney. Honestly, after this experience, I don't think that I will be making another appointment for quite some time. I feel like I just wasted the entire past week preparing all of my information. I have a stack of papers about 3 inches thick and he looked at ONE paper!!

I think a nice glass of wine...or two or three.....is in store for tonight!