We scrimp and save, but what is something that you just couldn't give up

[SinkingFast]

I shoulda said Cable too. In addition to Cell Phone, we must keep Cable.

Without Cable, we'd only get one TV station. A CBS affiliate. According to the locals I've talked to, if we got ourselves a really, really, really tall antenna, we MIGHT be able to pick up 2, MAYBE 3 channels,............. On a good day,.......... When the sun is shining,............ And the wind is blowing the right way,............ But not too hard.

[13inOR]

I would have to agree with the cable. That is really pretty cheap entertainment for the whole family when you think about it. And since in a 13 you are on a pretty tight budget, you need to find ways to make the dollar stretch. And, not having a cell phone would drive me insane. I would gladly give up the land line first.

[anonymuse]

So I take it that the trustees don't really give you too hard a time for having a DSL, cell phone, and cable/DirecTV (as long as its not a premium package)?

[aa06a47]

So I take it that the trustees don't really give you too hard a time for having a DSL, cell phone, and cable/DirecTV (as long as its not a premium package)?

My trustee did, but he was kinda a pickey #$#$ sucker. When they were working things out with my attorney, she said his sticking point was kinda, well, he didn't like the cable tv bill, dsl bill, and phone bill, thought they were too high, so he bascially wanted to add the cost of my cable bill back to pay unsecured creditors. He did leave the 401K contributions alone, so had he disallowed them, but kept my cable bill, it would have been about the same.

I get the impression in the plan stage, they don't really think in terms of the actual line items, but the overall picture.

Back to your original question though.

1) cable tv (as some put it, it is a cheap form of entertainment / news)
2) cell phone (it has been a life saver, I won't leave home without it, though I really don't use it much)
3) Air Conditioning....A/C is a luxury, not a necesity in my case as I have no medical reason for it. I was going to try and leave it off as much as possible, but it is just too darn hot.

[13inOR]

No, the trustee didnt question any of our expenses at all. But maybe if they had been super high they would have, the attorney went over it and even raised most things we had listed because she thought they were too low.

[13inOR]

I couldnt live without AC either----for sure.

[LostOne0069]

High speed internet. <--- besides the fact that I need it for my job... I couldn't live without it. I freely admit to being addicted and have no desire or intention to "cure" that addiction.

Only other thing would be A/C. I could live without heat... but not AC.

[anonymuse]

I don't even think of A/C as a luxury item--it's a necessity! I have allergies and leaving the windows open would drive me crazy.

[miss puff]

1-cell phone w/ text messaging (it's free Verizon to Verizon)
2-cable tv (I love forensic files)
3-coffee-it relaxes me
4-Joaquin Phoenix DVD collection-because he is too hot for words

[danas15146]

They didn't question our expenses either. Our cable is $96 per month (digital) cell phones for me & DH are &87 and our DSL runs about 30. My attorney also raised some of our expenses to what is allowable. I agree with everyone who has said that right now our cable IS our entertainment.

[anonymuse]

I have the base DirecTV plan--something like $40 a month. And sometimes I splurge and get a pay per view for $1.99 (Flight Plan last weekend) and if I've been a really good girl I'll even get a $3.99 movie. ;)

[danas15146]

Is Flight Plan the Jodi Foster movie? How was it?

We splurged this weekend and took the kids to see Over the Hedge (Matinee of course). It was really funny and nice to get out of the house for a change!

[Anj]

We didn't put "netflix" on the plan... ha ha

We did get $150 "misc." as it was titled - that's netflix $$$

We also put cell and cable internet and direct tv - and the trustee didn't bat an eyelash... I guess in today's society those are "essentials" - and if you think about it - if we can keep this things, it may allow a little insurance that we finish the plan than if they make go cold turkey on everything??? Wishful thinking??

[anonymuse]

Flight Plan was the Jodi Foster movie--I really liked it. Glad it was on Tivo so I could watch a part of it over again to answer some questions.

Just realized another thing I must have--Skippy peanut butter instead of some bargain brand.

[tinroofrusted]

Luckily I haven't had to give any luxuries up.
I ended up getting a new job right out of BK, that paid more money than I had ever made in my life...

However, since I have had to save every penny for this wedding, I STILL will not give up using a REALLY good shampoo and conditioner.... I have really nice hair, and that is my one vice... Oh, and Dr Pepper once in a very great while.