Updated expanses -- check for me?

[sillywalks]

I fiddled with my numbers a bit -- tell me if these will fly?

Mortgage $1395
Power - ~$275
Water - ~ $35
Telephone - $140
Other - TV/Internet - $150
Home Maintenance - $150 (HOA, King Green, HVAC servicing, paint/repair/etc.)
Food - $550
Clothing - $150
Laundry/dry cleaning - $20
Medical/dental expenses - $300
Transportation - $500
Recreation/entertainment - $50
Charity - $75
Life Insurance - $38
Auto Insurance - $220
Car tags - $10
Dependent support - $150

Total = $4205
Income = $3906

Income - Total = -299

I eliminated animal/gym/job education expense.
The medical is way LOW of actual expenses.
Reduced transportation by $300 (can I list the standard allowance of $896 for this?)

I have a renter - I calculated that the renter covers $100 utilities, $75 of tv/internet, and $25 repairs a month. Should I reduce my TV/Internet cost to $75 on schedule J to account for the renter's portion?

I did not include the $150 a month that my ex is paying me (as a loan repayment) as income this time.

Can I put job expenses (continuing education costs, conference fees, licensure fees, etc.) on line 16?

Since I have a -$299, could I put something in for my animals (say $150), knowing that if they objected I could remove it and still have a large negative? I can definitely document that much (especially since one of my boys was just diagnosed with diabetes - $1200 and counting so far <sigh>).

Should I up my medical to more accurately reflect things? I know my co-pay is going up $15 per prescription per month. My health insurance this month will increase $45 a month for my son and I (which is not taken into account here).

I appreciate any additional input. I would prefer to fly under the radar, if at all possible! Let me know your thoughts!

Thanks.

[tcreegan]

Hi again, again sillywalks!

Probably think I am pestering you now....

Nothing jumped out at me, all looked reasonable. If you are going to add something back in, I would do the medical (b/c you have good documentation) and/or the job related expenses (probably easy to document, already an allowed IRS deduction) Then transportation and save pet expenses for last resort.

Looking good, seems like you have a handle on everything!!

Tom in Colo

[sillywalks]

Hi again, again sillywalks!

Probably think I am pestering you now....

Nothing jumped out at me, all looked reasonable. If you are going to add something back in, I would do the medical (b/c you have good documentation) and/or the job related expenses (probably easy to document, already an allowed IRS deduction) Then transportation and save pet expenses for last resort.

Looking good, seems like you have a handle on everything!!

Tom in Colo

Yeah, you bug me, Tom! All that helpful advice, encouragement, and reassurance you give. Bah! You smell like elderberries and your mother is a hamster! I fhartt in your general direction!

LOL I am getting closer to the filing point, a little step every day - with the help of this board!

"I ain't dead yet!" "Shut up you! <clang>"

[free2breathe]

A Monty Python fan!! Ni! Ni!

I really should have picked up on it sooner....sillywalks, minister of ;)

[debee]

The medical is way LOW of actual expenses. Should I up my medical to more accurately reflect things? I know my co-pay is going up $15 per prescription per month. My health insurance this month will increase $45 a month for my son and I (which is not taken into account here).

I haven't had a chance to do more than skim your post, but I would increase your medical until it reflects your actual expenses. If you are spending more than $300/mth on it, your schedule needs to reflect what you actually spend. This is one area in your budget where there is no wiggle room so get it up to where it should be. You have to pay your health insurance and you need your prescriptions.

Also, if the trustee is going to object to one of your expenses but if you'd still be negative even if that item amount was backed out, he won't bother. The increased medical (so long as you document it) is like insurance coverage for other expenses.

So where you can increase a documented budget item that won't get objections (like bona fide medical), do it.

edit: my job tonight seems to be to post after tom and f2b. A good exercise: Read, Laugh and Repeat.

[debee]

I wonder if your maintenance/utility expenses are going to give you trouble.

Your county of residence has a local standard amount for line 20A of the means test. That amount covers: maintenance and repair, HOA, condo fees, gas, electric, water, heating oil, bottled gas, trash collection, wood and other fuels, septic cleaning, basic telephone and cell phone service which roughly correspond to lines 2 & 3 on schedule J.

You may want to sum up the expenses listed above and see how they compare to the amount allowed for your county according to the local standards.

It may be that you can get more expense past your trustee especially where you can document it as reasonable and necessary, but if you're over the local standard, then you are more likely to be on the radar. If you can't fund a ch13 even with the offending expense backed out, then it matters even less.

Hopefully you will be close to the local standard and just have more peace of mind about your expenses.

eta: are you pro se or do you have an attorney (familiar with local trustees) who will be going over your numbers with you?

[momofthree]

I agree with Tom, put an accurate figure down for your medical. The rest of it looks reasonable.

[tobee43]

silly...i see you mentioned your son......we had $400 for food and our trustee comments on how low our food costs were......!! LOL!!! so i also think that is a bit low if your a family of three with growing son..(i know at some point, i would have rather clothed my then feed them)....unfortunately those kids keep growing and require "food"...

i also agree about the medical!!!