Expense Question

[ejny65]

[FreshLikeADaisy]

Ejny, it's not so much what you spend, but being able to show where your money actually goes. You're more than broke every month, right? So your I & J should be extremely close, maybe even in the red when you're done putting in your income and expenses. If anything, no extreme expenses is very much in your favor as opposed to against it. But don't forget regular household stuff like toothpaste and car registrations and doctor visit copays.

A good idea is to look over your check registers and/or credit card receipts and/or bank statements to see where your money goes every month. You may surprise yourself. I did and I have no income! Good luck!!!

[PaKettle]

I've seen this question come up several times before and I'm still unsure of the answer:
How often do Trustees want to see ACTUAL receipts or proof of expenses like clothing, entertainment, etc. - you know, going over things with a fine tooth comb?

I'm under the impression that many attorneys just "fill in the blanks" on non-fixed expenses, to make the numbers come out where they want them. I know that our attorney did not ask me one thing about our non-fixed expenses like household items, car maintanence, clothing, entertainment, etc... and we sailed through our bankruptcy to Discharge just fine.

So, is it legitimate to just plug in "estimates" of expenses under the various headings, based on the government's tables of Allowed Expenses? Or not?

[ejny65]

Thank you guys, as always you are among the first and the best to come and rescue me with your answers. I can't believe and I hate that I am actually happy for being broke, to be eligible for Chapter 7.
FRESH, Thanks, So, I guess I am not going to LOOK for more expense, I have none, and have no money for them.
Pa, as always you are here for me, thank you, fill in the blank sounds great. We did the means test and we were negative so much that I got sad instead of being happy. and most numbers were the IRS allowances. I am guessing we are ok.
Thank you guys, without this forum and people like you, I don't know what we would do. no attorney would answer my question after his/her dinner!! You do! thanks!

[Cali]

When I did the financial review, I was asked clothing, entertainment, other expenses. The only thing that I didn't have to have a number for was cars maintenance. I guess it depends on who is doing it.