Please comment on my schedule J

[Maine]

I am working on my schedule J and want some input on reasonable/allowable. Am I over or under anywhere? I also have a few expenses at the bottom that I can't easily categorize.

1. Mortgage: 1,217.00

2a Electricity/Heating oil: 300.00
b Water/Sewer 100.00

c. phone: 216.00

d. Garbage/ Cable television / Internet: 128.00

3.Home Maintenance: 200.00

4. Food:/School lunches/Work lunches: 1200.00

5. Clothing: 450.00

6. Dry cleaning and Laundry Supplies: 90.00

7. Average medical and dental expenses: 400.00

8. Transportation 810.00

9. Recreation & entertainment: 200.00

10. Charitable contributions: 50.00

11a. Homeowners Insurance $50
b. Life insurance : 16.00
c. Auto Insurance: 135.00

12. Taxes $200.00

13a. Vehicle installments: 700.00
b. Student Loans: 150.00

14. none
15. none
16.none

17. Other: Braces for child: $125

Where do the following go?:
Household items (non-food items): 75.00
Hygiene supplies :50.00
Presents for holidays, birthdays, etc.: 100.00
Child care: 400.00
Haircuts: 60.00
Tobacco: 100.00

Total living expenses 7491.00

[mrskal]

How many people is this for?

[Maine]

sorry, family of 6 in Maine.

[drowningNIL]

Hi, Maine, I am a newbie so I don't really know what to say about it all. Just wondering if you can really count - will it be allowable - the cost of presents for birthdays and holidays??? I didn't even think of that.

I am going to be working on my own expenses. I think you did a great job. I have a lot of similar.

thanks for sharing. Good luck.

[scorpion35]

I am working on my schedule J and want some input on reasonable/allowable. Am I over or under anywhere? I also have a few expenses at the bottom that I can't easily categorize.

1. Mortgage: 1,217.00

2a Electricity/Heating oil: 300.00
b Water/Sewer 100.00

c. phone: 216.00

d. Garbage/ Cable television / Internet: 128.00

3.Home Maintenance: 200.00

4. Food:/School lunches/Work lunches: 1200.00

5. Clothing: 450.00

6. Dry cleaning and Laundry Supplies: 90.00

7. Average medical and dental expenses: 400.00

8. Transportation 810.00

9. Recreation & entertainment: 200.00

10. Charitable contributions: 50.00

11a. Homeowners Insurance $50
b. Life insurance : 16.00
c. Auto Insurance: 135.00

12. Taxes $200.00

13a. Vehicle installments: 700.00
b. Student Loans: 150.00

14. none
15. none
16.none

17. Other: Braces for child: $125

Where do the following go?:
Household items (non-food items): 75.00
Hygiene supplies :50.00
Presents for holidays, birthdays, etc.: 100.00
Child care: 400.00
Haircuts: 60.00
Tobacco: 100.00

Total living expenses 7491.00

your expenses look kinda high
theres some the trustee will object

[Maine]

your expenses look kinda high
theres some the trustee will object

Which ones look too high? I put down what we really need, but I don't want a bunch of objections, so if things are TOO high please give me specifics and even what you think is reasonable.
I just want to do this right so we don't get rejected.

[momofthree]

For a family of 6, you are allowed $1895/mo for food, clothing & laundry, personal care products & services, housekeeping supplies, & misc expenses.

You have listed a total of $2125 ($230 over)

Student loans go into forebearance in a ch.13, so you can't count that payment. ($150 extra)

They may also question your phone bill, transportation expenses, & recreational expense.

IRS standard medical for family of 6 is $360 a month, you have $525 listed, so you'll have to provide proof of that expense.

Where do the following go?:
Household items (non-food items): 75.00
Hygiene supplies :50.00
Presents for holidays, birthdays, etc.: 100.00
Haircuts: 60.00
Tobacco: 100.00

These would all be included in the IRS standard of $1895/mo.

I'm afraid you may be pushed into a ch.13. You'll want to find an attorney who is willing to fight for you to get your ch.7.

[Maine]

Thanks mom of 3!


I changed recreation to $150 (which is seriously low for 4 kids.)
Then reduced clothing and the miscellaneous expenses to get the total into 1895 allowance.
But where do I put those miscellaneous expenses? Presents don't seem to go under grocery- but maybe?

Phone bill includes cell phones (1 is for work and 2 are for teens with disabilities- I am hoping they will take that into consideration.)

And transportation I already reduced to the 2 car plus public transportation allowance.

I am seeing the lawyer tomorrow, I just wanted to start on a realistic list for us, and then see what he does with it.
Thanks for your help!!