Renting before filing and expenses question

[StrawberrySu]

I plan to rent a home in our new location in North Carolina. The means test for that area lists $1170 as the rent allowance. If we had our druthers, we would rent a cheap place for $500, but that will cause us to have too much DMI.

So should I spend close to the allowance (every penny will help on my Schedule J). Must I have a one year lease for schedule J? Is month to month okay, assuming I could find one? I hate to be tied into paying this high of rent after the BK is closed, if I don't have to be. Thanks everyone!

[daylate]

Hi SS- I don't think you need a lease. It is a representation of your current/expected budget after bk. Now if you know that once the bk is discharged/closed you are bolting to a much cheaper place for which you have signed a lease then I think you would be liable to say. If you are planning but don't have a place then its like saying well I plan on getting a new job paying a lot more,but you have nothing definite so you don't say what might be. You just say what is. Let's see what others say.

[StrawberrySu]

Hi SS- I don't think you need a lease. It is a representation of your current/expected budget after bk. Now if you know that once the bk is discharged/closed you are bolting to a much cheaper place for which you have signed a lease then I think you would be liable to say. If you are planning but don't have a place then its like saying well I plan on getting a new job paying a lot more,but you have nothing definite so you don't say what might be. You just say what is. Let's see what others say.

Hi daylate, yeah, not planning on having a "secret lease" ready to go, just wondered if I was obligated to have a years lease when I file (since so many things on Schedule J are prorated for a year).