Three months into our 13...

[sunshineMN]

Just wanted to share how things are going for us...

Three months in, and we're still alive and surviving! Had a couple scares since my husband changed jobs, but all has worked out in the end...with no changes to our plan. The only bad thing to come out of the job changes was he got a little behind in his child support. There's an extra $100/mo that will be automatically deducted from his paychecks! Yuck!! But, luckily we've got wiggle room in our plan that will allow us to not go into the red.

Tomorrow is the last day for objections - not worried that any will come up at this point. 6 of 7 unsecured creditors have filed claims. The lone hold out is the one with the highest balance - what are the odds! But, they have one more month to file, and I'm sure they will.

We're still trying to get into a good routine with our budget and try to set any extra money aside to build an emergency fund. Everything looks good on paper, but making it work is a challenge. I've been clipping coupons and shopping at thrift stores....and found I love it! It's like a challenge for me and when I can show my husband how much I saved, it feels sooo good. I've also been doing lots of internet searching for all sorts of ways to cut cots. Such as finding a recipe to make our own laundry detergent -- haven't tried it yet, but I'm going to. Anything to save what we can.

I'm feeling like things are a too easy at this point - I keep waiting for some major bomb to drop. Can it really be as simple as pay our plan amount every month and keep current on the things we are paying for outside of the plan...and we'll succeed??? Where is the catch?

The one and only thing that I am a little frustrated about is the lack of communication from our trustee and/or atty. For instance, there was no mention of if we needed to submit copies of our tax returns to the trustee each year while we are in our plan. Nothing on any paperwork from the trustee. Nothing mentioned at the 341. Nothing on our confirmation notice. Nothing told to us by our atty. I was curious about this as I've read so many posts on here that tax returns need to go to the trustee, so I called the atty to ask. The paralegal called me back and said, " you're in a 13 right?! Yes, you are required to submit your tax returns and W2s to the trustee each year you are in your plan". (Before we filed, our atty was great and answered every question we had. Now, we only get calls from the paralegal if we have questions and she's rather rude.)

Now if something like this is REQUIRED, then why isn't it communicated up front. How were we supposed to know this??? Not like we've been through this before! Once again thank God for this forum!!! It's a life saver!!

3 months down and only 33 more to go!!!

Sorry for the long post, but I just felt like I had to share our story.
Hope everything is going to for the rest of you, and hope you are enjoying you summer!!

[sharina]

I'm in MN too - wait until they send a letter requesting them, if they do. They sent us a letter the 1st year and not the second - my in-laws had to send them the 2nd year and not the first. If they want them, they will request them. They seem to be looking for info on refunds based on what I've seen. The trustee seems reasonable (if we have the same one).

and we were surprised too that no-one told us ANYTHING other than send the check

[indebt00]

We are 11 mos into our ch 13....and it does get easier. It was a big adjustment those first months going completely cash - no credit. and...it was hard to learn to live on what we had and budget. but...it has gotten better

We are doing a lot better this year and have become frugal....this is a change for us. We use coupons when we can and buy things on sale and we save save for the rainy day things that have already happened...

car registration ($900...ouch), pool repairs 400/650, dryer repair 250

and that is just in the last 11 mos. so....we have gotten thru and now that we are confirmed I see us doing well. We have adjusted to living on a budget and we like it. We still eat out (much cheaper and less often) and we still do some of the things we used to enjoy...just on a smaller scale.

Good Luck !!!

[markdel16]

I'm 7 months in, and I'm just squeaking by. I haven't managed to build up any kind of rainy day fund, but at least I know if I receive a birthday gift or something like that, it can go right into the fund and not have to go towards making bills.

Things will probably be better for me in the summer also, as the days of $450 electric bills are gone until winter comes around again, so that too is additional savings.

All in all, I thought it would be hell, but it's not been so far.

[sharina]

It was fine for the first year, but after 2 yrs of making this large payment, I cracked. Looking around my house, seeing things that needed to be fixed...and not aesthetics, some of it critical.

Since our 100% plan was overfunded, we got our payment lowered so we could create a home repair budget and yes, the new budget goes to the trustee but since we are in a 100% payback, we just had to submit the modification and a new budget and wait for the judge to sign. And pay our lawyer $500.00 for this (paid within the plan)

It only prolongs the 13 as we were going to pay off in 3 yrs, but now it will be at least 4 yrs of payments. But when the next thing breaks or cracks, we will be able to pay for it more easily.