On how it's important to pay credit card debt

I knew, of course, I was paying interests on the 2 549.52$ (which is a little bit more than what I taught), but it just catch my eyes that I was paying 18.89$ per month in fees for that debt. I didn't pay too much attention because my plan was to invest first for my 2007 RRSP and but some money away in mutual funds.

But now that I am done with that for 2007, the next step was to pay, if not my student loan that is more than 10 000$, at least pay that credit card debt. That debt was under 7.99% with American Express. It's a low rate, but knowing it cost me almost 19$ for money that I can easily pay off...

I would like to pay off another 1 000$, but my plan is to wait in 3 weeks, at the next pay.

My living expenses for March (which were made for February) are very low, 170.78$ at my Visa, 520$ rent, 67$ metro pass, 165$ student loan, 200$ (extra, like going out...), for a total of 1122.78$. Which is nice, because this month, I made something like 1 000$ for the 2 pays, so there's an 877.22$ right there this month that can go for savings, but it's not enough if I want to reach 18 000$ in savings this year to reach my fabulous 50 000$.

My TD 2007 RRSP Portfolio: the best of the best

I was so proud of myself to get what I wanted from TD. I follow day by day the performance of my TD 2007 RRSP portfolio. What I call portfolio is a mix of the following mutual funds:

TD Entertainment & Communications
TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth
TD Latin American Growth
TD Precious Metals
TD Dividend Growth
TD Monthly Income
TD Canadian Bond
TD Emerging Markets
TD Energy

I wasn’t able to get those right away, but at the end, I finally got what I wanted and I was quite lucky, knowing just the little money I had invest in each of those funds (100$ initial investment in each, except for the TD Dividend Growth in which I invest 200$).

Since January 2008, the month I made my initial investment, the overall portfolio didn’t do so badly, it went down to 996$ once, and now, in date of yesterday, it’s up to a super 1 012.13$!!!

For me who like mutual funds that much, I find it very hard to pay out my credit debt instead of investing in mutual funds. I would like to have a similar portfolio in non RRSP. If I was able to get it once, I should be able to get it twice. Even outside RRSP investment, the minimum investment is only of 100$ per mutual funds. Which I wonder why, because it’s the only bank I think who ask for an as low minimum. And knowing what kind of funds have TD, I just find it great that someone can invest as low as 100$ in any of their best funds.

RRSP nightmare

I just get through my papers for 2007 tax. I was scared that I put too much in RRSP.... The maximum I was able to put in my RRSP was 5 712$ for 2007....... I almost stop breathing yesterday when I went to get my mails.... I get a receipt for 2007 RRSP coming from London Life. I totally forgot that my late employer was putting money in my RRSP. I was with that employer until June 2007... Anyway, I totally forget about that one.

What I had in mind for my RRSP was to put 5 000$ in it. And I taught that I had put that about in so far... So when came that letter yesterday of 1 137.78$ that had been put from my late employer in my 2007 RRSP, I was shocked and I was really scared that I pass out the 5 712$ that I am eligible to put in for 2007.

I calculate and calculate again......

London Life: 1 137.78$
Canada Trust: 1 500$
CIBC: 1 000$
RBC: 1 500$
Desjardins: 500$

TOTAL: 5 637.78$

It was a short one... Since the advisors of the bank where I went to give my RRSP papers immediately after doing the transaction, if it's not of Caisse Desjardins, because I don't have an account in one of Montreal Desjardins Bank, I believe I am ok for this year, but it was a short one....... I was so sure that I already put in 5 000$ in my 2007 RRSP for whatever reason... But I know I only put 500$ at Desjardins because I can see it online, via my bank account.

If I would have passed out the 5 712$, I don't know what I would have done... Anyway, enough is enough. I have been working so hard, I don't even remember how much I have put where. In previous post, I was saying that it was 2 500$ that I had invested, in 2 separate times... I just corrected those posts. First time it was 2 500$, second time less..... But I don't want to calculate, I mess up so much around, it's hilarious.

I am so bad with the numbers and I am so tired of the 2007 taxes thing. I can wait it will be all done. I was off yesterday and I took time to place my papers in order so it will be easier when it will come time to see someone to do my taxes for me.

But I didn't receive all my taxes paper. I am missing 2 from employers, one from government because I receive a little tiny 300$ and something for the unemployed insurance and one from Desjardins, for the mutual fund I have, non RRSP. So I cannot do anything now. I also have to remember my banks paper from ING Direct and Desjardins.... what a nightmare lol.... I was all confused yesterday and I had one of those hard times...

I can't imagine what is like to be a millionaire and doing taxes. I already have so many problems to get through my little life the way it is right now. In my fifty, I am going to have a lot of fun. The problem will be that there will be money under my name all over the place, and if it's difficult now, what it will be in about 30 years... lol

Anyway, for good news, I receive the paper coming from RBC regarding the non RRSP mutual funds I have with them. I made around 700$ with those mutual funds, which is really good, but unfortunately, I just lost that money in January, with the crash we had.... The only place I didn't lost money is with a placement I did in 2005, at Desjardins, with my super Fidelity Frontière Nord.

Now that I am completely done with RRSP and that things don't look to good regarding mutual funds, I prefer to wait a little before investing again and I prefer to get off credit card debt, like I previously post about. Since I have more than 8 000$ in regular savings, plus non RRSP investments, the best thing I can do for now is pay out debt.

I receive by pay check today after midnight and I really hope to be able to get the famous 1 000$ pay check after taxes, for 2 weeks of work. I already pay all my expenses for February, and I was planning to give the totality of the pay check to pay off that credit card debt of mine. On that 2 000$ and something, I pay 17$ in interest, which irritated me. And knowing I am currently making no money from my investments right now, the best thing to do is to pay off that debts I believe, especially the credit card debt.

I didn't find a second job yet. I plan to get one, but I didn't do major searches. I am at a cafe right now and I am searching for job. I get some kind of tired and confused for now so I plan to search more seriously at the beginning of March, maybe earlier, but it's difficult for me at this time.

About my experience with TD

I went to TD in other to place 1 500$ I have rest to invest in my RRSP. The girl I got as an advisor didn't let me buy the mutual funds I wanted. It's the first time ever I am getting that much trouble to invest in mutual funds. I now have more experience investing in mutual funds and I understand the risk and what I can lose. My profile was aggressive, since I have a high tolerance of risk.

She wanted me to put money in one of their portfolio who had a return, since date of creation, of 5 or 7%. That what she had to offer to me as growth portfolio. She didn't want me to invest in the mutual funds of my choice. She told me she would have to ask if I can possibly to so, and I have an appointment with her tomorrow morning. Usually, I do extra hours at work, I arrive always earlier. But tomorrow, I won't be able to do so because I need to deal with the most incompetent advisor of TD bank.

I wanted to invest in the mutual funds I had selected (see below post), but she didn't want. She was sticking to the idea of putting my valuable money in one of her placement idea. Maybe she get a higher commission if she sales a portfolio. Anyway, if it's happen that the poor girl doesn't let me do what I want to do with my money, I am going to complaint.

I had present to her my list of funds, saying I wanted to invest 100$ in each of them. I told her I understand if I am not able to get them all, that just a couple of them would make my happy. Anyway, she could had make the call for me immediately, but the jerk didn't want to.

I ask her if it was the TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth ($US) or the one in Canadian $ that had receive an investment award. She wasn't able to tell. Isn't hilarious, an advisor who doesn't even know which of her fund had win an award....

I had a similar experience with a TD advisor from Gatineau (QC). The advisor there didn't want me to invest in mutual funds.

I had a credit line and a visa with TD, and next thing I do on Monday morning is I go paying the little money that I have in there and after what I will close the credit line and Visa that I have at TD.

TD suck, and I don't recommend them to anyone.

I got a lot more service at CIBC and RBC, Caisse Desjardins also.

I understand I am a small investor, but I have another 2 or 3 thousands I would like to put my money in, but TD won't get any more money from me. I feel release, I have enough of TD.

I rock.