Ch 13 Allowances/Budget

[spearmint]

Does anyone have a link to where I can see what you are allowed in $ per budget category for Chapter 13? I'd like to compare them to what I actually spend now.

At the moment, my expenses are higher than my income and I frequently have to rob Peter to pay Paul so this is going to be fun!

[HHM]

The basics are here (the IRS and Census bureau stuff)

http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/20081001/meanstesting.htm

Beyond that, you can try searching for your districts chapter 13 trustee's website (many trustees have websites), you may want to search for your districts chapter 13 trustee handbook; but those sources may not have the info.

Although I DO NOT recommend this, you could log into PACER and download some recently filed chapter 13's ($.08 per page).

For Schedule I & J, you simply list your "ACTUAL" expenses. So long as you can prove them, and the expense is otherwise reasonable, it really doesn't matter how much it is (to a point). Although the "amount" of an expense can be an issue, the main issue is whether the expense category is reasonably necessary to live; haircuts are fine. but a subscription to Eastman Press to receive leather bound versions of classic books probably not. However, if you are a single person spending $700 per month in Groceries because you shop at Whole Foods, that isn't going to fly.