Smokers?

[jlynn275]

My husband is a full time smoker, I'm a part time smoker. We didn't figure the smoking expense into our expenses, but as you know (if you smoke) it can be anywhere from a $200-$400 a month habit. We have been spending about $300 a month ::CRINGE::, but my husband cannot quit. Is this just an expense we can't account for?

[carlsbadmike]

My attorney figured cigarettes into part of another category which had a cap so you might not be able to figure in as much as you spend.

[tyson24]

I accounted for my smoking...I had to scale it down a bit but I was told by my attorney that I would not get crucified by the trustee for smoking

[jlynn275]

I figure if we could put down at least $150-$200 that would be better than nothing. ANOTHER question for my poor attorney. She is definitely going to be earning her money!

[tyson24]

Don't worry. I paid my attorney good money and I know I sucked every penny out of him My hearing is today and I know he can't wait to be done with me

My husband has talked to him once. He is calm, cool and collected. I am jacked up, smoking like a fiend and all over the place

[jlynn275]

Don't worry. I paid my attorney good money and I know I sucked every penny out of him My hearing is today and I know he can't wait to be done with me

My husband has talked to him once. He is calm, cool and collected. I am jacked up, smoking like a fiend and all over the place

OMG. My husband has done nothing but go to the initial consult with me and figure out his income on our initial look through of the packet. I am obsessively going through the paperwork and asking questions (to you AND my attorney) and collecting receipts, making copies, crunching numbers, budgeting for the attorney fees. I told him today "we need to sit down and finish the paperwork so I can stop worrying about it" and he said "I thought we did that already?" He literally went through just to get an idea of what needs to be done ONCE (with me). His nature is to know it will all work out and my nature it to make sure it does. I got the short end of the stick here. LOL

[tcreegan]

....you smokers should be glad you don't live in NY, they raised the tax to $4.53 a pack. In NYC you add the city tax and prices are up around $14 a pack...

Your lawyer should know if the trustee will object to cigarette expense, probably depends on if the trustee smokes or not....

Tom in Colo

[SunshineGal]

Our attorney said no to cigarettes.

[AngelinaCat]

We don't smoke, but we do like our wine in the evening, and 'Hub likes his beer. I don't recall putting a line item for alcohol anywhere in the paperwork. I DO recall being mildly embarrassed at the numbers of trips to ABC that showed up in our bank statements that we had to turn over to the attorney. But nothing was ever said.

[Fletch]

Was wondering how alcohol purchases would be viewed. I have been making sure to pay cash for wine and beer for months now.

I dont think my wife and I could get through this without our wine and beer!!

[jcj112562]

Learn to homebrew beer and wine...it allows you to make what you like, for less than buying it, and it's legal, as long as you do not distill the product of fermentation into spirits. As for smoking, guess you will have to play trustee roulette, and hope that your trustee shows up with a pack of Marlboros.

John

[ValleYum]

Learn to homebrew beer and wine...it allows you to make what you like, for less than buying it, and it's legal, as long as you do not distill the product of fermentation into spirits. As for smoking, guess you will have to play trustee roulette, and hope that your trustee shows up with a pack of Marlboros.

John

Or add a $50 box of Nicorette gum (or 2) to his medical expenses on Schedule J.

[jlynn275]

Thanks! I think we will ask the attorney and maybe try for the cessation angle - since my husband DOES want to quit and we do have nicorette in the house (he chews it if he runs out of cigs lol). It probably doesn't really matter anyway, but just in case

[jfuller10]

my attorney told us to add that to our grocery bill

[researchnerd]

I DO recall being mildly embarrassed at the numbers of trips to ABC that showed up in our bank statements that we had to turn over to the attorney. But nothing was ever said.

My attorney told us a story about another client who was reluctant to hand over her bank statements when requested by the Trustee. She said there were some things on there she considered private and did not want anyone in her business. He essentially told his client she had no choice, but promised he wouldn't be judgmental and that the Trustees have seen it all before. Her expenses? Regular visits to strip clubs. I have no idea whether they tried to include that in expenses (entertainment? healthcare? educational?) but having it on bank statements was no big deal.