A Susan Brunner's suggestion for March 2022: BCE Inc. (BCE)

I am happy that I actually updated my investment portfolio two days ago, because yesterday, my numbers are a bit on the lower side lower. On this last session of the week, my non-registered portfolio closed at $145,992.09, my US portfolio at $4,720.20 US, my RRSP portfolio - stocks only - at $66,104.56, and my TFSA portfolio at a very good $129,065,66. Just like I predicted, New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI) did rebound a bit from yesterday's massive -22.45% losses. Today, New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI) gains +1.20%. I actually would like to invest in a few extra shares of NFI. 

Following NFI's announcement to cut in their dividend distribution, I haven't updated my dividend income. It kind of breaks my heart just to think that my dividend income went down. But I guess it went down by only a little. It's just that I am not really yet to endorse the reality. While dealing with this little descendant hit, I had been trying to spot stocks - for future investment - on Susan Brunner's blog. In one of her latest articles, she targets "something to buy" for March 2022. I was happy to see BCE Inc. (BCE) on that list.

Today, we received a heavy load of snow, it wasn't funny. I managed to clean the side of the house, but I am pretty sure I will have other snow to remove tomorrow morning... It was heavy rainy snow. My winter boots came to the end of their life. They were some kind of boots made of plastics, which doesn't remain good long when you walk like I do, but they were doing the thing. Some holes began to appear so I came up with a few suggestions for my father to fix them: 1) duck tape (and used a black marker to make the duck tape less visible) (the easy breathy solution) 2) take a lighter to make the plastic melt so it goes inside the holes 3) your usual glue on top of the hole, let it dry and after what used a black marker so nothing much appears (because the glue leaves on white marks)... It made my old folks laugh, especially the lighter idea... they told me the boots would just explode because of the plastic chemicals... and we all laughed hard. I really wanted my father to fix those boots, he will with the glue. I will keep those old boots for the wood. But after all the laughs, my mom asked: do your boots are waterproof? Well, the answer to that question is... no. I can feel a bit of a situation when I deal with too flashy snow on the sidewalk here and there... So we figure out the time had come to buy a new pair of winter boots. :-) LOL.

And so I did. I was able to get a pair for less than $60 on sale. But it's not the kind of boots that are good for very cold winter days, and they are not super high boots. However I don't really go out when it's too cold anyway, so I guess we are on business. It might sound weird not to want to buy winter boots while I am having close to $350,000 net worth, but the fact is, my expenses just keep rolling in and I just want to save the max I can while being in New Brunswick. Other than groceries and bills, I am giving myself $200 per month to spend on coffees, etc... like that $200 is my extra go-to money, but for one reason or another, I always blow it. 

Last month, I had my antivirus for my laptop that took me by surprise with a $120 bill. This month, I had to pay a bit over $100 to have my tax income done... So far, my "extras" are at $284, so I already exploded my budget. $200 a month for my extra expenses is just not realistic enough, but I prefer to stay at that amount because it helps me to really control my expenses. Boots, pieces of clothing, beauty products... All of those expenses can be heavy at the end of the month. I am now frugal more than I haven't been in a really long time and it's just the type of thing I needed in order to save money, so I can finally hit on the $400,000 net worth one of these days. 

Back in the days, I used to be very frugal - without facing any difficulties because I wasn't making that much money. But over time, as my net worth grow, I became a bit less attentive. so basically, I am just being my old self. With inflation going on, better to be overcontrolling than not being at all.

If anyone has any suggestion on how to fix holes on plastic winter boots, feel free to share :)