Are my expenses ok?

[concerned]

Please critique my expenses. I meet with my attorney to file tomorrow. How little in disposable income are you allowed to have to file?

Expense: Amount:

Mortgage 1 1705
Mortgage 2 434
Auto Ins. 133
Clothing 112
Day Care 434
Attorney Fee 95
Entertainment 100
Food 700
Gas/Auto Repair 600
Heat 160
Electric 120
Student Loans 280
Cable/Internet/
Phone 124
Cell Phone 37
Trash 28
Household
Maintenance
& HBC Items 200
School/Day
Care Supplies 10
Haircuts 30
Gifts 75
Counseling svcs 30
Charity 20
Bank Fees 18
Magazine Pres. 8
Out of Pocket
Medical 15

Total: $5,468

Income (net): $5363

Most of these are way under budget. Our household/HBC items includes many miscellaneous items. Income is 5363. We are in the negative by $104. We are only paying interest only on my student loan, and we are currently on a budget plan for our gas, which will no doubt go up this winter.

Thanks for any feedback!

[Lightning]

What are you paying an attorney $1,140 a year for ($95 x 12 months)?

[concerned]

My attorney had attorney fees in our budget, but I couldn't remember the exact figure he used. This is what we paid him over the past 3 months so I divided it by 12. I thought it seemed strange to include it, but he had it listed.

[HHM]

I know you have posts spread throughout this forum, but remind us again, what is your family situation...?

Unless your doing some serious communiting, the gas seems high, but within limits.
The 2 mortgages might be a problem in so far as your mortgage payments are 40% of your income, but again, given the overall circumstances, it still within limits.

[concerned]

We have been up and down, but have decided to work things out. We live in a very rural area. My husband currenly commutes 25 minutes one way to work. The nearest decent mall is approximately 70 miles away. Everything is a drive to say the least!!! Even Walmart is a 1/2 hour away. We live in the north and we have exremely cold winters. -30 below are not uncommon in Jan. That's why I'm concerned our heat projection is low. Gas prices here are currently $2.89--not sure if this is above average or not.