Single Eaters....ummm Filers

[anonymuse]

Ironically, I've tried to do less of the eating lunch out (since it's classified as entertainment) and more buying groceries, and I'm spending more. (Maybe healthier, but more money.)

The IRS National Standards for Allowable Living Expenses puts food for 1 at $292 per month. (One cannot live for half the expenses of two--that's for sure.) And I'm spending around $250-275 a month on food, but it still sounds like so much.

For those of you who files as a household of one, how did your food expenses compare to the IRS Allowable values? Does the trustee have any problem with claiming values near the IRS Standards?

[newday]

I think my problem is waste. I never quite learned how to cook for myself so I often end up inviting others or bringing leftovers to share with co-workers instead of just feeding myself. I put $300 even though it was probably slightly more that I spend a month.

[SinkingFast]

Ironically, I've tried to do less of the eating lunch out (since it's classified as entertainment) and more buying groceries, and I'm spending more. (Maybe healthier, but more money.)

Actually, Anon, I realized I told you wrong about this.

When we met with our attny, the paralegal mentioned about the family going out to eat as "entertainment", BUT,........ We were allowed to list some $$'s seperate for work and school lunches. Hubby eats lunch out once in a while and we were able to list that. And of course, the kids eat lunch at school and we listed that.

Run it by your attny and see what he/she says the Court where you're filing will accept on your Schedule J for work lunches.

Sorry I told you wrong to start with. I just forgot about listing the school and work lunches seperate. Eating out and then going to a movie or just eating a nice dinner out would definitely be entertainment.

[anonymuse]

Often, I buy a 6" sub at lunch and save half for dinner.

Still wondering if trustees bat an eyelash if the amount listed on your schedules is close to the IRS allowable values?