My expenses/ realistic?

[Okieblue]

Family of 5 + 2 pets
$6,188 gross (spouse works) sometimes OT, but not a regular thing
taxes/dental $1162

Rent: 1065 (over by 95)
food: 800
personal:100
medical: 225 ($12 copays, kids will need wisdom teeth out, one in braces, PT for me)
dogs: 90 (yeah, yeah, high I know)
home: 45 (gotta change filters, grass, paint, clean carpet)
gym: 39
cable/net/home phone: 149
cell: 149
car payments: 864 (2)
car ins: 179 (thanks uninsured motorists, with child added on comes to $450)
life ins: 51 (could be higher spouse has heart condition)
gas/main: 300
books/papers: 25
clothing: 100
entertainment: 60
utils: 290 (includes trash/gas/elec)
= $4531
gonna finally do this thing next week would also like to add in tutoring for learning disabled child

[momofthree]

IRS standard for medical for family of 5 is $300/mo. With 3 kids, you'll probably need every penny of it. I mean, think of eye dr, dentist, annual appointments, sick appointments, prescriptions, otc meds, etc. Gas & maintenance also seems low for 2 cars. Even new cars are going to need new tires/breaks/tune-ups & tag renewals. Don't short yourself. Clothing of $100/mo seems low for 5 people too. What about schooling expenses for kids (yearbooks, field trips, etc)?

[ShooFly]

You also may be able to save money on the phones/cable/net. Look for deals in you area, switch companies or cut something out. I disconnected my home phone and went with straight cell phone and got rid of HD boxes. I think food should be higher for 5 people too... IRS regs are about $750 for 2 people.

[Pandora]

agree with Momofthree - those 2 areas look low - take it up to the IRS allowance. Right now based on your Net - expenses, you're looking at a possible payment of close to $500 a month.

Look over everything carefully and see if you can get it lowered if possible - unless you're having to come up with X amount thats mandatory for repayment (secured items, back taxes, arrears, etc).

[tobee43]

yes i also agree with the PP...the food appears low...and also maintenance..remember you need to be prepared if the water heater goes...or the roof leaks..etc. so it's good to budget that into your expenses...also what is it you mean by "personal"...5 people have quite a few personal needs...hair products, personal hygiene products etc...that also seems low to me.

we are two...our household maintenance was $400 and the trustee didn't blink...LOL! we r tho...since we DID have a roof leak...and we did have to fix some major items..actually we have exceeded that amount! as mentioned, try not to "short" yourselves.

[momofthree]

and also maintenance..remember you need to be prepared if the water heater goes...or the roof leaks..etc. so it's good to budget that into your expenses..

Since op is a renter, her landlord will be expected to cover home repairs, a large home maintenance allowance will not be allowed.

As far as groceries, the irs standards are located here: http://www.justice.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa..._standards.htm As you can see, food for 5 people is right around $900/mo. (food for 2 ppl is $537). What you can do is add a "housekeeping supplies" budget of $80 or so...

[Okieblue]

Yes, we rent, owners live 2000 miles away, they only care about making the mtg payment, we have to spray for pests, keep the grass alive, the usual, but they've only raised our rent 1.5 % in the 4 years we've lived here. The cable company is the only one hooked up for here, I wouldn't use U-verse if they paid me anyway, and we are not allowed to put a sat on the roof, nail holes you know? When I spoke with the atty at the initial meeting, he took down expenses, and started giving me the 'eye', but I will for sure bump up the medical. I am doing 3 months of PT, that is $188 in copays, going in for a minor surgical procedure, kid needs glasses, one in braces may need longer treatment, even though they've been paid, they will charge us more if this happens, and older kid needs money for senior items this year. I was just trying to be cool so this'll go through and we can get on with life. Got another quote for life insurance for spouse, ranges from $187-500 due to his heart condition.

[Okieblue]

Just checked the checking acct, the CU took out a huge sum of money, via a check, without our authorization. Now I am scrambling, guess we aren't going to get filed this month and the car payments won't get paid this month either. What a load of excrement. What if I took out a small payday loan, to pay the atty the initial fee, paid the payday loan back, would that work?

[Freddy03]

What about renter's ins? Do you pay that?

[Okieblue]

We did, but then I didn't have the money. I have the bill sitting in my stack though.