Maintenance includes the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing and shelter. It also includes necessary transportation, automobile expenses, medical and drug expenses, utilities, household expenses and income tax liability resulting from payment. Frederic v. Frederic, 302 So.2d 903 (La. 1974); Bernhardt v. Bernhardt, 283 So.2d 226 (La. 1973); Vial v. Vial, 422 So.2d 523 (La.App. 5th Cir. 1982); Hamiter v. Hamiter, 419 So.2d 517 (La.App. 2d Cir. 1982); Oddo v. Oddo, 416 So.2d 241 (La.App. 1st Cir. 1982); Kean v. Kean, 388 So.2d 398 (La. App. 1st Cir. 1980); Marshall v. Marshall, 390 So.2d 1365 (La.App. 4th Cir. 1980). Jordan v. Jordan, 432 So.2d 314 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1983)
Loyacano v. Loyacano, 358 So.2d 304 (La. 1978), vacated on other grounds, 440 U.S. 952, 99 S.Ct. 1488, 59 L.Ed.2d 766 (1979), affirmed on remand, 375 So.2d 1314 (La. 1979). The amount of alimony fixed by the trial court should not be modified unless the record reveals that it abused the sound discretion with which it is vested under La.C.C. Art. 160. Oddo v. Oddo, 416 So.2d 241 (La.App. 1st Cir. 1982)."
Id. Examples of expenses not considered necessary for a spouse's "maintenance" include gifts, newspapers, childrens' allowances, pet care, recreation, pleasure trips, church contributions and life insurance. Oddo v. Oddo, 416 So.2d 241 (La.App. 1st Cir. 1982); Vorisek v. Vorisek, 423 So.2d 758 (La.App. 4th Cir. 1982). A trial court has much discretion in determining an appropriate award of alimony.
Loyacano v. Loyacano, 358 So.2d 304 (La. 1978), vacated on other grounds, 440 U.S. 952, 99 S.Ct. 1488, 59 L.Ed.2d 766 (1979), affirmed on remand, 375 So.2d 1314 (La. 1979). The amount of alimony fixed by the trial court should not be modified unless the record reveals that it abused the sound discretion with which it is vested under La.C.C. Art. 160. Oddo v. Oddo, 416 So.2d 241 (La.App. 1st Cir. 1982). Both parties in this matter submitted to the trial court financial statements outlining their respective income and expenses on a monthly basis.
Among those expenses which should be considered in determining those needs are food, clothing, shelter, automobile expenses, utilities, household expenses, and income tax liability caused by alimony. Oddo v. Oddo, 416 So.2d 241 (La.App. 1st Cir. 1982). Ms. Hebert's own statement of monthly income and pertinent expenses shows the following:
The Malibu's engine burned up, so she bought another one. Her second Malibu, with a large V-8 engine, proved uneconomical to operate, so she purchased a more economical four-cylinder Citation. She is entitled to transportation to and from her two jobs, and under the circumstances, her purchase of a new but economical four-cylinder automobile, after experiencing maintenance and operation difficulties with larger, uneconomical used automobiles, was not unreasonable. Cf. Oddo v. Oddo, 416 So.2d 241 (La.App. 1st Cir. 1982). Nor do we think that her furniture expenses are either disallowed under art. 160 or unreasonable under the circumstances.
Maintenance includes the basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing and shelter. It also includes necessary transportation, automobile expenses, medical and drug expenses, utilities, household expenses and income tax liability resulting from payment. Frederic v. Frederic, 302 So.2d 903 (La. 1974); Bernhardt v. Bernhardt, 283 So.2d 226 (La. 1973); Vial v. Vial, 422 So.2d 523 (La.App. 5th Cir. 1982); Hamiter v. Hamiter, 419 So.2d 517 (La.App. 2d Cir. 1982); Oddo v. Oddo, 416 So.2d 241 (La.App. 1st Cir. 1982); Kean v. Kean, 388 So.2d 398 (La.App. 1st Cir. 1980); Marshall v. Marshall, 390 So.2d 1365 (La.App. 4th Cir. 1980). We also note that a major child who is in school but capable of working is not by the mere fact of his schooling in need of support.
Expenses for which alimony may be allowed include food, shelter, clothing, reasonable and necessary transportation or automobile expenses, medical and drug expenses, utilities, household expenses, and the income tax liability caused by alimony. L.S.A.-C.C. art. 160; and Oddo v. Oddo, 416 So.2d 241 (La.App. 1st Cir. 1982). Medical expenses for which alimony is allowable have been interpreted to mean the usual ones. Thiel v. Thiel, 388 So.2d 1170 (La.App. 4th Cir. 1980).