A comment about expense questions

[butterbean]

I am filling banckruptcy and just got back my income tax check. I still owe some folks that I didn't put on the creditors list. I don't want to give up my income tax check what should i do and spend it on so the trustee can't get it

[krobin02]

Here is the IRS housing/utilities guidelines, just pick your state and then find your area:

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=104696,00.html

I had to laugh at this! I looked up the allowable housing expense for a single person in my county and it is almost as much as my monthly take home pay!!!

[ccidiot01]

means test

If your gross income is above the median income are you locked into Chapter 13 regardless of expenses?

[anonymuse]

If your gross income is above the median income are you locked into Chapter 13 regardless of expenses?

No, you need to complete the means test to determine how much disposable income you have.

[ccidiot01]

No, you need to complete the means test to determine how much disposable income you have.

Thanks, we "passed" the means test on several "calculators" with negative disposable income, but one calculator still showed it as presumption to abuse, so I wanted to make sure.

[BKinCA]

[mdabcdefg]

I told my lawyer I spend about $200 a month on food. He put on my expense sheet $350, lol. I'm a 143lb guy. Do you think they might question me on this one. I live in WI.

[mindy0795]

My schedule J expenses

Everyone else's expenses look good to me. I am from PA and am very new to this forum. I would like someone to look at my expenses and see if they are reasonable. We are a family of 4 which includes 2 children ages 11 and 16. We fall below the median income range.

Food $740.00 which includes paper products, person hygiene and school lunches.
Transportation for 2 vehicles (one is a diesel) 357.67 a month includes inspections/registration and general maintenance
Banking fees of 6.66
Vet fees of 18.96
Laundry/dry cleaning 15.00
Recreation/clubs and entertainment 30.00
Home maintenance 100.00
Medical/Dental 100.00

Our attorney feels that the food expense is high he said we should be able to survive on $10.00 a day. Attorney also would not me list what we pay a year for haircuts either which I though was strange.
He feels the transportation is high also but we do have receipts to verify the amount used.
Medical - we don't have receipts was on a health program that paid almost 100% of our childrens and my health care but husband took new job and now we all have a $1500.00 deductible and I only have 1 kidney in which I have to have tested 2 times per year.

Any suggestions would be great if you think we are to high for a family of 4 in PA.

[Tbornetun]

$10 a day for a family of 4?? Is he crazy?? The IRS standards for monthly food expense is $752, and that is only for food alone.
Check out the means testing information here: http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/2..._standards.htm

Also, the operation cost for 2 vehicles in PA is $470 per month.

[mindy0795]

He also told me that I shouldn't have a recreation/entertainment expense since I'm filing Chapter 7. I have researched and I see that most people's expense for that category is double what mine is. I would just hate to have the trustee make me provide reciepts for everything. I have kept the past 2 months receipts for food and transportation costs.

[jennordhavn]

These are my expenses for a family of 4 in CA (less than $2k above median but still passed means test), 2 adults and 2 children, one income family (DH unemployed) and filed by myself (DH did not file):

Rent - $1700
Electricity - $132
Cel phones (3) (no land line) - $125
Satellite and internet - $123
Home maintenance/upkeep - $100
Food - $840
Clothing - $100
Laundry - $50
Medical and Dental - $100
Transportation - $550
Recreation - $25
Auto Insurance - $165
Student Loans - $120
Tuition (for DD) - $391
Childcare, school fees/supplies, diapers, toiletries, haircuts, gifts - $407

None of my expenses were questioned and I did not have to provide receipts or bank statements.

[lhbankruptcy]

Not a Good Idea

I am filling banckruptcy and just got back my income tax check. I still owe some folks that I didn't put on the creditors list. I don't want to give up my income tax check what should i do and spend it on so the trustee can't get it

This is not a good idea. Are you above the exemption amount? If you're not, you are potentially risking committing a federal crime for nothing.

[nana]

ball park allowable amounts for expenses??

Has anyone got any numbers for a husband and wife that were ok'd?

[lrprn]

Expenses vary depending on where you live in the country. Expenses that worked for someone else may not work for you.

[nana]

allowed average expenses for 2 adults

South Carolina. After I posted the request, I did find a US guide. but it was not as complete as I need.