Spending money

[Banker81]

Ok so I've stopped paying all of my bills and I have some extra money. Do they scrutinize what you spend the money on? It will probably be 6 months before I file. We have some home improvements we want to make.

[debtmonster]

That's a great question. I stopped paying all bills except my two cars so that I can include both cars in the means test. I am still broke even not paying my mortgage, taxes and all credit cards.

[StartingOver08]

Ok so I've stopped paying all of my bills and I have some extra money. Do they scrutinize what you spend the money on? It will probably be 6 months before I file. We have some home improvements we want to make.

Yes. You can do home improvements like maintenance items - not luxury items. Luxury is anything $600 or more and can not be justified as maintenance.

If you are under median income you get less scrutiny - if you are above median they look at every dime. BTDT

[jribe]

Yes. You can do home improvements like maintenance items - not luxury items. Luxury is anything $600 or more and can not be justified as maintenance.

If you are under median income you get less scrutiny - if you are above median they look at every dime. BTDT

we're probably not filing until May; but do we need to start keeping receipts for groceries and other spending now?

Or do they just ask for our bank statements and take the person's word for how much they spend on some expenses - like drycleaning etc.

[StartingOver08]

Keep receipts so you can formulate your post BK budget.

The Trustee only asks for receipts on certain items they deem to be out of line. For example, one of the posters had a problem with the Trustee over child care expenses but was able to successfully document it to the satisfaction of the Trustee.

I have read a wide variety of comments on submitting the bank statements. I know I had to submit 2 yrs of each account - but some people did not have to submit any. I think it is directly related to your district. It may also be related to whether you are above or below median. I would have the statements ready in case they are required by your Trustee. You do not want to be in poor jessiegirls position.

[OKBK]

That's a great question. I stopped paying all bills except my two cars so that I can include both cars in the means test. I am still broke even not paying my mortgage, taxes and all credit cards.

If you are not paying something you can't put it in the means test? What if your below median?

[debtmonster]

If you are not paying something you can't put it in the means test? What if your below median?

Have no idea. If they want to decline my BK, fine. Then I will just move out of the country. I really don't care at this point. They can put as many judgments on me as they want. I am getting so fed up with everything.

My checking account is almost $50 overdrawn right now and I have no way to put the funds in. I am going around the house right now trying to look for coins to pay for my prescription. I am really getting tired of this being broke crap. This is getting VERY old already. I want my old $70k job back!!

[gogetter76]

Hello,

Hey debtmonster....i am in the Central Florida area also.

I want my $59000 job back too. I want to pay my debts.

Too bad we couldn't bring a lawsuit against a former employer for closing shop and running off even if they still are in business in other states.

lolol.....keep the faith

[jeb]

I want my old $70k job back!! - DM

Boy, don't we all. But I don't see it happening any time soon. At least we do have some tools to work with, unlike those in the 1930's.

'course, some call that socialism. If so, thank God for a little socialism! - jb

[cityish]

My checking account is almost $50 overdrawn right now and I have no way to put the funds in. I am going around the house right now trying to look for coins to pay for my prescription. I am really getting tired of this being broke crap. This is getting VERY old already. I want my old $70k job back!!

ROFL debtmonster.

Last week after my triple root canal I was in the same boat. I had exactly 22 cents left over to last me a week until my next paycheck.

I couldn't even afford to go pick up the penicillin prescription, until I found out that Publix pharmacies are doing free antibiotics right now.

Very embarrassing to have to tell your dentist that you can't afford the prescription.

And I agree with you.... it is getting very old!

Oh and by the way... I am also in Central Florida. On Sunday I finally got desperate for some groceries and went to Publix and basically went shopping and wrote a bad check. Whenever I write a check at Publix it takes three full days for it to clear at my bank. So by the time it cleared this morning, my paycheck had already been deposited and covered it and there was no bounced check fine.

I know it's a gamble and yes it means risking another bounced check fine but it's something to think about if you ever get desperate enough. You can also cash a $75 personal check at Publix for a $1 fee. I've done that plenty of times in the day or two leading up to payday.

[debtmonster]

I don't even know where my checks are. I've been paying everything via electronic bill pay for years. I never use checks. I think they are dangerous to float around since they have your full routing and account # on them. If that gets into the wrong hands, somebody can take that money out via EFT. X.com used to offer a service back in the year 2000 that would allow anyone to enter in a routing and account # and take any amount of money amount that they wanted. A friend of mine complained to a lot of news sources and got them to remove the service.

I was lucky to find some loose change around the house to get my blood pressure medicine. Fortunately it was only $4 bucks from Super Walmart... a 28 mile drive from here. I had almost no gas left and have no money. We found an old gas card that I have not used in ages and was able to put in gas... Thank God. I scheduled a payment to pay it off on payday. At least that card bought me a few days, similar to floating a check. And it's nice that I won't pay interest!

If this bankruptcy can ever pass, my entire way I think about money will radically change. I never want to pay interest again. I am just so happy that my car with 70,000 miles on it still runs like brand new. I will be thrilled if I can get a good deal with a 722 Redemption on it and they knock off a ton of payments.

It will be sad to see the BMW SUV go... but it will be so nice that it will be a thrill to have my car insurance drop by about $55-60/mo., plus not paying almost $750/mo. for a car payment and then having to put premium gas in for each fill up.

I am keeping the BMW in the garage so that they can't repo it. I need it to stay in my possession until the bankruptcy filing so that I can include it in the means test. Whomever gets the car next should be SO HAPPY that I've been running all expensive synthetic oils and keeping it in the garage. The thing is still like brand spanking new with almost 28,000 miles in it.

[nervousss]

Aweee, debtmonster, I know the feeling I don't rob Peter to pay Paul, I rob MYSELF to pay... MYSELF.

Your good times will come again. This is the beginning... the bleeding will stop, and then you can have a lot more peace and a lot less stress, and you can start to move on and look towards the future. It will get great for you again!