How to spend stimulus/tax refund

[TX Bluebonnet]

How can private school be a luxury if the child is already enrolled? You suggest taking the child out of the school?
I paid tuition with my some of my stimulus.

And not all public schools are good.

I am not suggesting taking a child out of private school that's already paid for. I am not suggesting ANYTHING!!!!!! I also didn't come here to debate public/private schooling. I honestly don't care how anyone spends their money. I was not being judgemental in my response, as of course, it's not even any of my business what anyone does with their own money. Someone asked a question. I responded (silly me!!). As I explained in an earlier post I answered in the spirit of how I thought (my best guess, naturally, since I don't know for a fact!!) a trustee might respond to what a rebate/stimulus check was spent on. I based my response on large part on other responses in previous posts asking questions similiar to this one. From the responses I've read some trustees couldn't care less what it's spent on, based on them not caring to look at the filer's receipts. However, in another similiar situation, a filer also has receipts for verification, but that particular trustee is still demanding all the original check amounts be turned over to him/her. And then there are all those other posts cautioning to only spend it on necessities, to be on the safe side. Just goes to show there are just as many conflicting answers as there are questions. This whole process is stressful enough, so I at least, wouldn't want to add any additional stress wondering if something is going to fly with a trustee. So in this sense, part of my response was based on my own comfort level. For myself, I'm only spending my rebate/stimulus checks on obvious necessities.

Note to OP: It's all about what you feel comfortable with. Just call your flower gardening therapy, and as far as the fan goes, be cool.

[sisterfunkhaus]

Wasn't it meant to stimulate the economy? I don't understand why if you are allowed to keep it, you have to justify where every penny went unless you spent it before knowing whether it would be taken. Then, I can see the issue.

[TX Bluebonnet]

Wasn't it meant to stimulate the economy? I don't understand why if you are allowed to keep it, you have to justify where every penny went unless you spent it before knowing whether it would be taken. Then, I can see the issue.

Well, I thought that's what the issue/question was about here.

[Cali]

IMO, you were being judgmental in your post when you said private schools are luxuries.

And no one is trying to get your knickers in a bunch, I just wanted to see how you came to your conclusion.

I am not suggesting taking a child out of private school that's already paid for. I am not suggesting ANYTHING!!!!!! I also didn't come here to debate public/private schooling. I honestly don't care how anyone spends their money. I was not being judgemental in my response, as of course, it's not even any of my business what anyone does with their own money. Someone asked a question. I responded (silly me!!). As I explained in an earlier post I answered in the spirit of how I thought (my best guess, naturally, since I don't know for a fact!!) a trustee might respond to what a rebate/stimulus check was spent on. I based my response on large part on other responses in previous posts asking questions similiar to this one. From the responses I've read some trustees couldn't care less what it's spent on, based on them not caring to look at the filer's receipts. However, in another similiar situation, a filer also has receipts for verification, but that particular trustee is still demanding all the original check amounts be turned over to him/her. And then there are all those other posts cautioning to only spend it on necessities, to be on the safe side. Just goes to show there are just as many conflicting answers as there are questions. This whole process is stressful enough, so I at least, wouldn't want to add any additional stress wondering if something is going to fly with a trustee. So in this sense, part of my response was based on my own comfort level. For myself, I'm only spending my rebate/stimulus checks on obvious necessities.

Note to OP: It's all about what you feel comfortable with. Just call your flower gardening therapy, and as far as the fan goes, be cool.

[justplaintired]

Note to OP: It's all about what you feel comfortable with. Just call your flower gardening therapy, and as far as the fan goes, be cool.

I love it! Flower therapy, that's what I'll tell our trustee, that's just perfect and I do love that response. The fan, well that I love to, seriously, you made my day and put a smile on my face, that's perfect!

It's a good day here, my DH is taking me to an Amish flower auction tomorrow(we are close to an Amish community and they hold these auctions every tues and fri, flowers go cheap and I can't wait), belated Mother's day present. We have budgeted in a few extra dollars so maybe I won't even have to use the stimulus that way afterall.


All of us have our own opinion of necessities I guess and so will the trustees. Some trustees might even think a vacation is a necessity (kidding ofcourse), but we all need to make our own call on how we spend it, and cross the trustee bridge when it comes. It seems this stimulus check is a bit of a touchy subject to some, one poster in another thread called people greedy who wanted to keep it, that was not at all what I think any of us are, just people who have already hit a tough bump in the road and want to use this money for things we need for either our kids, our house, ourselves, I don't think any of us seriously are going to go on a wild trip somewhere or go gambling in a casino, we are going to make this money work for us in a good way, which to me shouldn't be a problem with a trustee, but only time will tell.

I do appreciate all responses from all posters, thank you!

[keepmine]

Actually, the code does allow up to $1500 per year per child under the age of 18 to be used for private school tutition.

http://doney.net/bkcode/11usc0707.htm

(IV) In addition, the debtor's monthly expenses may include the actual expenses for each dependent child less than 18 years of age, not to exceed $1,500 [$1,500 (added by BAPCPA 10-17-05)] per year per child, to attend a private or public elementary or secondary school if the debtor provides documentation of such expenses and a detailed explanation of why such expenses are reasonable and necessary, and why such expenses are not already accounted for in the National Standards, Local Standards, or Other Necessary Expenses referred to in subclause (I).

[TX Bluebonnet]

Justplaintired: I'm glad you're having a good day and hope everything works out for you.

Cali:

Keepmine: Good of you to post that information about private schooling. I'm sure you put some people's mind at ease.

[Cali]

I would love to see pics of the flowers once they are done. I bet they will be pretty.

I love it! Flower therapy, that's what I'll tell our trustee, that's just perfect and I do love that response. The fan, well that I love to, seriously, you made my day and put a smile on my face, that's perfect!

It's a good day here, my DH is taking me to an Amish flower auction tomorrow(we are close to an Amish community and they hold these auctions every tues and fri, flowers go cheap and I can't wait), belated Mother's day present. We have budgeted in a few extra dollars so maybe I won't even have to use the stimulus that way afterall.


All of us have our own opinion of necessities I guess and so will the trustees. Some trustees might even think a vacation is a necessity (kidding ofcourse), but we all need to make our own call on how we spend it, and cross the trustee bridge when it comes. It seems this stimulus check is a bit of a touchy subject to some, one poster in another thread called people greedy who wanted to keep it, that was not at all what I think any of us are, just people who have already hit a tough bump in the road and want to use this money for things we need for either our kids, our house, ourselves, I don't think any of us seriously are going to go on a wild trip somewhere or go gambling in a casino, we are going to make this money work for us in a good way, which to me shouldn't be a problem with a trustee, but only time will tell.

I do appreciate all responses from all posters, thank you!

[laurannm]

I think some people on here have posted that their local trustee has allowed the full monthly expense on their schedules, even if it exceed $1500\year. May not be the norm though...

[justplaintired]

I would love to see pics of the flowers once they are done. I bet they will be pretty.

Thanks Cali! I am so excited to go and now I can get my flowers and not even use the stimulus that way. We have a few dollars budgeted for our big gas bill, well the stimulus can pay that it's not a questionable luxury item, so that seems like a good idea. I hope it is. Anyway, off to have a fun day, warmer today, no rain, how much better could it be???

[sisterfunkhaus]

We kept both and our attorney said that we can spend both as we please. I asked if we should keep receipts and she said that in all of her years, the trustee has never asked her clients for receipts. I asked if we can take a vacation with our stimulus and she said yes.
Maybe my situation is different.

[nurzndebt]

Hey Sisterfunkhaus, love the name by the way!
Just curious, my husband and I will be having our 341 meeting June 3rd and for goodness sake am very very nervous! We filed April 29, 2008 and we are getting our "file" ready to give to the trustee. It's just so nerve racking that we have to give her pretty much the same stuff our lawyer already has. The only thing is that we did not keep all of our receipts that she is requesting. We got our tax refund already and pretty much spent it on medical, dental, the kids, house repairs, etc...and we also recieved our stimulus a couple of days after we filed. She is asking for receipts on what we had spent our tax refund on. Will it be such a big deal if we only found a few of them? Our bank statements show what we had used the money for. Won't that be sufficient enough? I know you are not a lawyer, but any info would be appreciated.
Congratulations by the way on surviving your 341...reading how everyone else's 341 meeting is giving me some hope, but of course driving me insane at the same time (I guess its the fear of the unknown). We are going to have to bring our 3 very active little tots to the meeting, I only pray that they behave while we are going through ours. Hope to get a reply! Thanks!