did anyone over estimate a bit on expenses

[kl030505]

to get the result of I and J to come out a little lower?

I trust my attorney, but it still makes me nervous. I know certain things are listed as LOWER than I actually pay (rent for instance), but many are probably higher estimates than what I A) have been paying because we've been saving for things like paying attorney's fees, etc B) probably will pay for the next few years or so because I'm interested in actively saving. For example, I do not spend $100/month on cable and internet. But, I spend more than the allotted amount on gas and electric depending on the amount. They used values that are well within allowable amounts for my family size and state, but I'm still nervous because it's not really down to the penny accurate, you know?

There should not be anything that sticks out as abuse or fraud in our case. We haven't charged anything since March of 2006 (other than last fall, I charged about $100 in clothes on a kohl's charge for fall clothing for the kid, but I paid it off). There certainly weren't any luxury purchases, we don't have assets, heck, they can even take a tax refund if they want to (if we even get one). But, we are making considerably more money now than we were 6 months ago. We fall under the median income for now, but by March or April we would not. (we'd be about $10K over it).

I'm just nervous, because truth be told, if our case is discharged as a chapter 7, I will never have felt more comfortable about our situation as I do now. We are making enough money to live comfortably, but keep our heads down and save, save, save. I'm just starting to get scared that we shouldn't be in quite this good of a position post Ch 7, you know?

Sigh. I can't wait for the 341 to be over and I still have 4 weeks to wait!

So, did your expense list look exactly like what you *really* spend per month?

[erinmi]

Our situation sounds a bit like yours and we made adjustments with our attorney to keep our I and J below the $100 mark.

It made me a bit nervous but then I realized that it really is all just an estimate of what your expenses are and many expenses can vary month to month, so don't worry. As long as your attorney is comfortable with the numbers you submitted and nothing seems over the top in terms of amounts, I doubt you have anything to worry about.

We too will be much better off in terms of a "fresh start" once our BK is discharged. My DH got a huge raise the week we filed, so we are planning on just saving his raise and making sure we live below our means from here forward.

Good luck

[tay666]

From what I have been reading here on this forum for the past year.
IT seems that most attourneys make adjustments according to what the local trustee is used to seeing.
So they bump some numbers up because the trustee won't care.
And bump other numbers down to keep from catching the trustee's attention.

[FreshLikeADaisy]

KL, ditto to what everyone else said. Listing the expenses -- ESPECIALLY if you're over the means -- is apparently a fine art. Obviously you don't want to lie, but definitely be generous, especially where you really did or do pay more $$$ and have the receipts or check copies to show for it. And be sure you include everything you really did spend, which might surprise you. Credit card bills and check copies/registers will be especially helpful in this regard. Good luck!!!