Just enough to pay off my TD credit line

I received my paycheck. Not as huge as wanted, but I will catch up next pay. Luckily, I have enough to pay off entirely my TD credit line!

My non registered stocks and units portfolio is at more than 57 800$ right now. Sprott Canadian Equity Fund had passed the 37$ per unit. So it’s all very great news overall right now financially speaking. Everything is under controlled or almost. I was just upset to learn that Bank of Canada had increased a something rate of 1%. That increased do not appear so far on my TD line of credit or either on my RBC credit line but I guess it could increased. Anything can happen knowing the Tories government we have right now. I will later on work at paying more debt as overtime is currently available at my job.

Being too much in deep in the red is not good but I really appreciate my latest RBC credit line – it allows me to reach my first 100k in investment. I might be very close to my goal at this time but I am very tired, just coming from a 12 hours shift and I don’t have any energy left to spend over some portfolio update, even if it’s something I really enjoy to do. I like counting and calculating every single penny coming out of my fortune.

I just cannot wait for tomorrow to finally paid off that TD credit line.

Go go go Claymore Gold Bullion (CGL)

I had been working like crazy. Yesterday I did a 9 hours shift and today a 10 and a half hours shift. This is kind of heavy stuff for me as I usually work only a 5.5 hours shift per day on weekdays at that job. I got to get home early today since I got stuff to be done. I just hate the laundry-lunch-to-be-done-cleaning routine but those types of things need to be done once in a while right lol...

It’s raining again in Montreal. I just cannot wait for tomorrow to see how much is going to be on my paycheck. All of the money earned will go as payment on my TD credit line. After what, my TD credit line would be all paid off. I just can’t wait to receive my online earning payment. I should received a 100$ payment by the end of the month if I understood correctly. I really need another pair of shoes. The ones I have hurt my feet constantly very badly! I think about wearing sandals until I got a new pair… next week or so? I don’t know. It’s just that with the overtime available, I don’t have too much time to shop around. Second after something else, my feet might be the most precious sensible part of my entire anatomy. It’s always been like that. And it didn’t change just because I am now thirty years old lol… Finally, my laundry and lunches for the next couple of weeks are now done. I also purchase some coffee. But as you know, nothing beat Second Cup coffees and I might be running there just like always. I didn’t dye my hair for quite sometime now and it doesn’t look as ugly as I expect. I would be in need of a good hair cut anyway, as I didn’t get a cut for several months now and I know wearing my hair in a twist ponytail that I attach on the back of my head. Doesn’t look ugly, but doesn’t look sexy either. Is there anything I wouldn’t do to invest? Frugal living is a choice of live but I won’t say I had been living frugally lately as I buying a Second Cup coffee almost everyday of the week and I eat out and stuff. But lately, money is just coming out of my ears….. So very close to the 100 000$ that I decide to invest 2 000$ in gold by if not tomorrow, sometime else. That’s the main reason why you have to read this blog every single day of the week because you never know when it will be it, when it will be the day I will be updating my portfolio and say, on my classic way: I am now at 100 000$. Things are happening you know on this blog. It’s just not a matter of exposing myself and my investment and my debt, it’s more a positive message send to small investors like myself, the misses and misters nobody that hey, might not be a nobody, but that Stop Working of Derek Foster is making me rich. And it’s really happening. I am getting rich and more in deep into debt but I cannot help it, I cannot live without investing anymore. Investing had been part of my live since 2005, but lately, even while feeling “complete” with my portfolio (yeah I know, but I really wrote that lol), I want more. And I know I can make a great deal of cash on EnCana Corporation (ECA). I know I want loose my money.

Gold had reached its highest point today and Claymore Gold Bullion (CGL) had performed extremely well and I am just curious to find out if one day the Claymore Gold Bullion will pay or not an annual distribution. I think I would deserve such thing from Claymore Gold Bullion, if not by Claymore itself or if not by you.

The importance of keeping a balance between Debt, Asset and Wage

This last Friday, I almost reached the 100k in investment assets. At this point, I am very close my goal and I think that to just add up a little in order to reach that famous 100k idea of mine, I will be investing – really soon I hope – around 2 000$ in the Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL). This investment won’t bring any monthly or quarterly dividend, but maybe an annual distribution. In my life so far, I had been over-excited lol over 2 things: reaching 100k in assets and reaching the equivalent of 400$ per month in dividend earning. As for the 100k, I am almost there, and when it come to the dividend income, I am currently 369$ per month (this excluding RSP). Because with the dividend earn inside my RSP portfolio, I am at more than 400$. But since the dividend earned inside RSP cannot be touch before retirement without penalties, I am not counting them in the dividend earnings. That’s why I am currently stock at 369$ per month or, if you prefer, an annual 4 428$.

I already own some Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL) inside my RSP investment portfolio but not outside. Adding more units of Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL) will help stabilize the value of my portfolio. Gold is always a good investment. The TSX may have exceed the 12 000 points on Friday, but will still in it. The recession is not over. So better to keep it safe and diversify. I won’t feel comfortable going in stocks only, but investing indirectly in gold is my way to diversify the whole thing.

As you can see on the previous post, I update my debt situation. I am now at 41 712.83$ in debt. My CIBC Visa card at 3.9% interest rate over a credit card balance transfer had been paid off. I am currently working at paying off my TD credit line – the one at 8.50%. I only have a balance of 974.84$ to pay – might be just a bit more now because I use my credit line this weekend but no matter what, I will be able to pay it all with this upcoming paycheck of this week. This upcoming payment will bring my debt down to 40 738$. Still quite high, but nothing to worry about since my investment portfolio worth more than 99 000$. I can pay more than 2 times the amount of debt that I own (this including RSP money…).

Of course, having 40 738$ in debt is quite a lot no matter what and I won’t say the opposite. The interest paid over the debt is quite huge on an annual basis. We are talking here of 2 273.59$ in interest money. Yes, it’s a lot. But I have a plan! Just like I taught, I didn’t receive any new offer this month coming from CIBC Visa for a credit card balance transfer. It was a one time deal. In January, I have a 7 974.10$ at 4.9% that is ending in January (another credit card balance transfer), this one at TD. How do I plan to cut off the interest paid on my debt? By using margin.

I talk about using margin previously and said it was a no-no. But I have investment AND debt so why not taking advantage of margin? Especially knowing that the interest rate is only of 3.5% at TD Waterhouse. This is not a new idea and had been bring by another blogger. The idea is to use the margin money to pay off some debt and one pay, the credit line would stay debt-free in case of a margin call.

This is what could happen in January (or even before who knows) if my margin got approved:

1) Transfer of 5 000$ from my TD credit line to my TD Visa (leaving 2 974.10$ to pay)
2) Use the saving of October-December 2010 to pay off the amount left 2 974.10$. (This meaning no new investment because of the wage I am living on right now).

Depending of the money available on the margin, I could used the money left to pay off my RSP credit line. The payment would transform the RSP credit line into a regular credit line (at 11.5% interest rate – very bad for a credit line). I could use the money to pay off the margin in case of a margin call.

Also, always depending of the amount available, I could use the margin to pay off my newest credit line of 10 000$ at 7.27%. But this is something else.

If doing this, it would be important not to use the credit line anymore and remain debt free on them. In case of a margin call, money needs to be available immediately.

At this point, I am still thinking about the margin – it’s something I keep in the back on my head. I am not ready for margin and it’s not something I really wanted to get involved in, but the door stays open. As for my next investment, I am not in a rush. I prefer to keep everything simple so I won’t loose myself in debt. I got what I wanted with my latest credit line at 10 000$, I won’t go deeper into debt (kind of funny reading this back while writing, because I said kind of the same thing after receiving my 10 000$ RSP credit line just last March…) lol… But this time, I am serious about it, going too in deep in the red would = danger.

While dealing with debt, it’s important to keep a good balance between debt, assets and monthly salary. I am pretty good at balancing – I guess that’s why I got my newest credit line just last week. Without debt, no 100k. But debt needs balance. Which mean that you need to keep in a good balance in order to be able to live with debt. To understand all this, let’s take a look at my budget, including all minimum payment that need to be made each month (this budget being valid for the period of September 2010-January 2011):

Monthly rent: 545$ (all included)
Internet: 38$
Student loan: 98$
RSP credit line: 108$
Credit line: 100$
Other credit line: 61$
TD Visa: 50$
Banking fees: 6$

TOTAL of minimum: 1 006$

+ 250$ on groceries

= 1 256$

This bring the minimum of the minimum needed at 1 256$. I don’t have cable, cell phone or any fancy things. Having 1 256$ as expenses to deal with each month is not that much. I can handle this by working part-time at my day-time job only. This means that each month, I have more than needed to cover the minimum expenses. I know that each month I earn more than 1 256$. That’s why I can currently handle the level of debt I have – but I shouldn’t be looking for more.

At this point, I am actually looking forward to decrease the amount of debt I have. I am can in a in-between I need to pay off debt and what about my new CGL investment kind of deal but life is like that. I could make that investment next week if I want. In this case, it's just a matter of what I really want.

My debt situation in date of September 3, 2010

9 805.38$ at 4.75% (RSP credit line) = 465.76$ in annual interest
4 900$ at 3.75% (credit line) = 183.75$ in annual interest
7 974.10$ at 4.9% ending in January 2011 = 391.15$ in annual interest
974.83$ at 8.50% (credit line) = 82.86$ in annual interest
8 058.52$ at 5.25% (student loan) = 423.07$ in annual interest
10 000$ at 7.27% (credit line) = 727$ in annual interest

TOTAL: 41 712.83$
TOTAL in annual interest: 2 273.59$
[In date of September 3, 2010]

I am now at 99 048.95$

I knew I was close to my first 100k, but not that close! Good news, the overall portfolio is doing well and is slowly growing. I am working again tomorrow. I watch tonight an Italien movie at the Festival des Films du Monde of Montreal. Was very nice. Just the wheater, it was a bit cold. I am working tomorrow, cannot comments more on my investment portfolio at this time, but at least I now know how much I have.

My stock investment portfolio in date of September 3, 2010

Savings:
1 000$

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 1 993.05$
Timminco (TIM): 81$
Blue Note Mining (BNT): 36$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 5 664.58$
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 121.50$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 2 479.21$
Fortis (FTS): 3 233$
Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN):
8 113.14$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 10 599.16$
Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN):
2 457$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund
(BA.UN): 2 549$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 2 177.78$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 4 708.40$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 3 060$
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN):
1 832$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):
2 638$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 5 954$
Cash: 13.34$

TOTAL: 57 710.16$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:
2 716.01$
The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund
(CWI.UN): 1 952.88$
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund:
5 498.04$
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): 373.75$
Cash: 63.81$

TOTAL: 10 604.49$

RSP investment portfolio:
Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL): 3 799.12$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 2 977$
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 5 556.96$
Cash: 38.08$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: 511.75$
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: 425.69$
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: 1 001.82$

Energy and Base Metals Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
503.46$
Natural Resources Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
502.06$

GIC National Bank: 1 192.64$
GIC Plus: 500$

TD Canadian Bond: 117.55$
TD Monthly Income: 105.92$
TD Emerging Markets: 85.07$
TD Energy: 80.58$
TD Precious Metals: 122.53$
TD Latin American Growth: 98.28$
TD Entertainment and Communications: 108.44$
TD Dividend Growth: 196.84$
TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth: 100.29$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund
(Templeton): 621.19$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 851.06$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 987.31$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund: 970.25$
Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund: 594.21$

Great-West – various: 1 753.62$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: 517.94$
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: 1 739.99$
RBC Global Resources Fund: 871.37$
RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund:
594.02$
RBC O’Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: 1 050.83$

GIC Canadian Market: 1 000$

TOTAL: 29 575.87$

Social Capital at Desjardins Membership share
for 3 accounts: 40$

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
(118.43$):
99 048.95$

I just received Sprott Inc. (SII) dividend

... and I had received a cutty tinny 12.87$. Thank you Sprott Inc. (SII)!

The TSX close up on Friday. I guess I will be updating my portfolio this weekend! I also received interesting comments I will later on take a look closely. Take a look, interesting stuff! Got to go for now as its the Festival des films du Monde in Montreal and their showing some movies outside. A bit cold this evening but I guess it will be alright. Did you know that Paul Martin, our late Prime Minister is from Ontario (?). Pretty hilariously funny. (Read the post on Mrs. Jean I wrote I don't remember when). Good news: I got readers :) And intelligent ones! Yah!

Got to runnnnnn. Going to update the portfolio later on. I am just very curious to find out how much I have right now. Might be pretty close to the 100k if you want my opinion. Good night!

I am now at 98 379.26$

Today, the TSX gain some valuable points. Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) had exceed the 14$ per unit. My recent investment in EnCana Corporation (ECA) had gained a bit of value, my Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) units had exceed the 18$ per unit etc… All very good news overall! And here am I, at a very nice 98 379.26$ in investment value! I could make another investment – I actually have 1 620.74$ available on one of my credit line. I am very almost there but in the same time, I want to keep it safe – remember I have around 8 000$ I have to pay off on January (reason being that the special rate offer on a credit card balance transfer expired on January). Tomorrow, I will be making extra deposits on my TD credit line and once done, I will only have 720$ left to pay off. I really prefer to proceed this way. There’s still overtime available at work so I am really looking forward to do some and do my best to off my TD credit line at 5 000$ limit. After what, I would like to reach the 100 000$ in assets. October would be the perfect month for that.

My investment portfolio in date of September 1, 2010

Savings:
1 000$

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 2 013.65$
Timminco (TIM): 81$
Blue Note Mining (BNT): 38$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 5 483.75$
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 126$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 2 428.74$
Fortis (FTS): 3 180$
Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN):
8 235.81$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 10 501.92$
Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN):
2 366$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund
(BA.UN): 2 548$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 2 173.60$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 4 724.20$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 3 040$
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN):
1 850$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):
2 624$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 5 922$
Cash: 0.47$

TOTAL: 57 337.14$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:
2 669.53$
The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund
(CWI.UN): 1 965.24$
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund:
5 395.34$
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): 345$
Cash: 63.81$

TOTAL: 10 438.92$

RSP investment portfolio:
Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL): 3 799.12$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 2 961$
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 5 583.48$
Cash: 38.08$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: 506.09$
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: 424.83$
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: 997.24$

Energy and Base Metals Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
503.46$
Natural Resources Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
502.06$

GIC National Bank: 1 192.64$
GIC Plus: 500$

TD Canadian Bond: 118.06$
TD Monthly Income: 104.98$
TD Emerging Markets: 83.51$
TD Energy: 78.55$
TD Precious Metals: 121.94$
TD Latin American Growth: 95.82$
TD Entertainment and Communications: 105.19$
TD Dividend Growth: 193.23$
TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth: 96.61$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund
(Templeton): 615.47$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 844.51$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 973.78$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund: 958.44$
Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund: 592.75$

Great-West – various: 1 753.62$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: 511.52$
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: 1 712.36$
RBC Global Resources Fund: 849.01$
RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund:
591.04$
RBC O’Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: 1 039.25$

GIC Canadian Market: 1 000$

TOTAL: 29 447.64$

Social Capital at Desjardins Membership share
for 3 accounts: 40$

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
(115.56$):
98 379.26$

It's been a busy month in August

I was quite happy with the investment I made today in EnCana Corporation. By the end of the month, my TD credit line will be paid off by the end of the month. After, I will be around 40 000$ in debt. I know, this amount of debt is enormous but I am taking the entire responsibility for those debts, it was my choice to borrow money to invest and I don’t regret anything.

At this point, my portfolio is dense. I still have a few other things I want to add in, like 100 new units of Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN), as well as 100 new units of Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN). But those 2 investments can wait, as well as the 100 000$ assets goal because I want to decrease my debt level to the same amount as before, which was of around 37 000$. Having 37 000$ in debt is more reasonable than 40 000$. It could be dangerous, at some point, to add more in debt. The month of August had been quite busy, but the month of September is going to be much more relax as I want to completely pay my TD credit line by beginning October, the latest.

Also, I received today CWI.UN dividend, 22.03$ who had bring in 4 extra new units.

I just place a purchase order through my online broker account at TD Waterhouse

This is it! I just made a purchase order for 200 units of EnCana Coporation (ECA)! Go baby go! I got a close to 800$ I can use as payment on my credit line so I am kind of already working at paying my TD credit line. Got to run now, got to go to work.

My purchase order had been completed at 9:30am, 200 stocks of EnCana Corporation (ECA) at 29.44$. Great deal. Hope it close at a higher price today. That would be nice. My non registered stocks and units investment portfolio is now at 56 486.55$. That's hot. And it's going to be quite today in Montreal.

Bye for now.

Welcome again EnCana Corporation (ECA), 200 new stocks of ECA in my investment portfolio

Today I wake up early, but not early enough to do everything I wanted to do. I did a couple of transactions but I am looking forward to complete everything tomorrow morning. I would like to have more time for myself or at least get a complete one day off but it’s just impossible at this time. It’s only when I am very busy that things are taking a powerful turn.

My investment portfolio is doing better than ever. My non registered stocks and units portfolio is now at a splendid 50 618.55$. I currently had paid off my TD credit line. Once my TD Visa at 4.9% will expired in January, I will use the money of my TD credit line to pay off the currently close to 8 000$ balance I currently hold on the TD Visa. Yeah, I know, I will be missing a 3 000$ to pay it all right but... I currently own an extra 4 262.14$ that I can use for investment purposes… I am thinking of 200 stocks of EnCana Corporation (ECA)… This represent a 6 000$ investment on which I can make an easy 2 000$ profit. I could be wrong – but even the Globe say it – it’s a good time to buy EnCana Corporation (ECA). So I decide to go for it and add 200 stocks of EnCana Corporation in my portfolio. Yeah, I know, the bad girl that I am will be taking a bit on its TD credit line to make the investment but hey, I have to take the money out of somewhere, and it’s definitively not in my banking account that I am going to be able to please myself lol. But I plan to work on paying pack my TD credit line as soon as possible; I wouldn’t like to be too much in deep in debts. At this point, it’s reasonable and I only have the interest to pay on my new RBC credit line so I should be just fine.

This EnCana Corporation (ECA) is going to be one of the last investments of 2010 I guess. If I am lucky enough, I should be able to later on make that investment in Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN). The way things are going is quite funny because I had been talking for a long time about these extra 100 units of Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) I wanted to make… but….. Seem like the plan had change! 200 stocks of EnCana Corporation won’t add that much in my dividend earning. But here, I am adding EnCana for its growth potential and you should do the same, if you want a good advice. Everyone free to do whatever they want with their money but passing by this awesome opportunity would be just like too dumb. Of course I could be wrong, but just wait for the good old Canadian winter to come ahead in a few months and you’ll see….. Easy profit, easy money and EnCana Corporation at less than 30$ per stock is just one of those things – you can’t continue without it. This being said, I am getting ready to make my order purchase – this investment should bring my portfolio to somewhere close to the 97 000$...

Am I very close to the 100 000$ in assets or very close to bankruptcy? What do you think? There’s stuff like that who were just mean to be. So go for it! Go purchase some EnCana Corporation stocks now and if you don’t have any money left, no problem – just do like me – open a credit line with RBC Royal Bank and don’t worry about anything ok. :0)

I am now thirty, show me the cash

I knew I was gaining some points on August 27, but I never taught I was going to exceed the 90 000. On date of August 27, 2010 (which was my birthday) I reached 91 007.42$ in assets. At this point, the overall is getting even more interesting. Better than ever actually! And this had happened on the day of my 30 birthday. My new credit line at an interest rate of 7.27% is now from my RBC banking account and I am looking forward to make a couple of transactions, I hope for tomorrow morning:

-pay off my CIBC Visa (the credit card balance on my 1 200$ balance is expiring on September 6);
-My credit card balance transfer of 8 000$ at an interest rate of 4.9% at TD is only expiring in January 2010. In the meantime, I can use the money to pay off my TD credit card. The interest rate on my TD credit line is at 8.25%. I will save a 0.98% in interest rate. Nothing much but sill, a penny saves is a penny save.

After those 2 transaction, I will have left 3 800$ available. I was thinking about investing in 100 stocks of EnCana Corporation (ECA). At this time, EnCana Corporation is at a super low price (around 29$). Usually, ECA is at 35$. EnCana represents a great opportunity and I think I may be able to make a nice profit out of this one. Later on this month, I am hoping for an investment of 100 units in Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN).

My projects are going on quit great. Still overtime available at work and I am hoping for another close to 1 000$ paycheck for next week. Just a bit tired for now because a lot had happened at the same time and I am just happy that I had been able to update my portfolio (I knew I was up!) and also clean my place, which really need it. I am just missing my laundry but its already pass midnight and I have to wake up early tomorrow (or I will try to…). It’s always hard for me to wake up early on a Monday morning as I am working all weekend long, but still those annoying things to do like cleaning and stuff. As I am getting older, I prefer my place to be clean. Might be a sign of what so ever maturity. And I also now prefer to wear clean clothes everyday... ;)

Good night, my bed is waiting for me.

My stock investment portfolio in date of August 27, 2010

Savings:
1 000$

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 1 982.75$
Timminco (TIM): 81$
Blue Note Mining (BNT): 36$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 5 567.21$
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 121.50$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 2 239.22$
Fortis (FTS): 3 085.66$
Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN):
8 142.75$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 10 247.60$
Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN):
2 347.80$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund
(BA.UN): 2 521$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 2 121.35$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 4 521.96$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 3 048$
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN):
1 831$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):
2 682$
Cash: 0.14$

TOTAL: 50 576.94$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:
2 634.22$
The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund
(CWI.UN): 1 921.68$
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund:
5 313.48$
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): 359.38$
Cash: 60.78$

TOTAL: 10 289.54$

RSP investment portfolio:
Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL): 3 775.46$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 2 931$
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 5 336.64$
Cash: 38.08$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: 500.43$
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: 420.55$
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: 995.71$

Energy and Base Metals Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
503.46$
Natural Resources Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
502.06$

GIC National Bank: 1 192.64$
GIC Plus: 500$

TD Canadian Bond: 117.81$
TD Monthly Income: 103.84$
TD Emerging Markets: 82.23$
TD Energy: 77.54$
TD Precious Metals: 117.96$
TD Latin American Growth: 93.10$
TD Entertainment and Communications: 103.46$
TD Dividend Growth: 188.66$
TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth: 95.85$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund
(Templeton): 605.44$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 836.46$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 963.01$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund: 950.63$
Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund: 577.17$

Great-West – various: 1 753.62$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: 504.82$
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: 1 684$
RBC Global Resources Fund: 831.70$
RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund:
574.99$
RBC O’Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: 1 027.35$

GIC Canadian Market: 1 000$

TOTAL: 28 985.67$

Social Capital at Desjardins Membership share
for 3 accounts: 40$

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
(115.27$):
91 007.42$

I am now 30 years old!

Yeahhhhh happy birthday to meeeeeeee! I am now 30 years old and feeling great! I am witting this post in a hurry because I had to write down something on my birthday! It's been a busy week. I did a few extra hours at my daytime work. I am also working at my weekend job. I am going to a friend concert this Saturday. I am just sooooo tired and I am just feeling like staying home... I had that new credit line at 10 000$ at less than 8% interest rate. This is saving my life. My credit card balance driving were giving me a headache but now, my life is save. Who had save my life? RBC did.

This been that I could use that 10 000$ to make a new investment and than voilà, my 100 000$ would be reached... But I prefer to "play" safe lol.... Which mean that I am going to wait to make new investment. I am not looking to increase my level of debt. My new 10 000$ credit line is not money to invest, its life saver money.

It's seem like the TSX did quite well today so I will be updating my portfolio this weekend. So many things on the way. I just can't believe another month had pass and that I am now 30.... and rich :)

Brad Pitt was in Montreal today and I got my credit line!

I hear it on the radio. Brad Pitt had been seen on St Catherine today. Isn’t that hot? But I have even better news: I got approve for my credit line! Yeah! I finally apply for some credit this past Monday and I had been approved for a 10 000$ line of credit at 7.25% on today.

The interest rate is relatively ok. I guess my credit score is medium because I hold many debts and my salary is not quite extremely good, and on top of that, I don’t own my place. So all those things mix all together, it’s making it difficult to get a lower interest rate. At first, I got rejected and I argue, and I finally got it! So this is very good because this way, I am going to be able to pay off the balance on my CIBC credit card. The balance was at a special interest rate due to a credit card balance transfer. The special interest rate at 3.9% is expiring on September 6. This is a balance of something like 1 200$. Not that much, but I certainly do not have the money to pay off the balance at this time. Also in January, I have an 8 000$ at a special interest of something like 4.9% that will expire (also a result of a credit card balance transfer). I was in great need of a solution, so better now than ever.

So now, it’s going to be much better because I know I won’t have to sell my investment to pay off my debt. It’s all going very well and the last thing on earth I wanted is to actually sell my investment. It’s something I wanted to avoid. Between now and January, I can use my new credit line to pay off my other credit line, the one being at 8.25% interest rate. That’s a 5 000$ right there. And on September 5th, I will be paying my CIBC Visa. Before requesting my credit line, I call CIBC Visa to see if it was possible to get another credit card balance transfer, but I was told to wait until September 1, to see if a new offer will show up… But the way it was going, I knew nothing was going to happen. I guess that with CIBC Visa, it was a one time deal.

I have to get my paper ready for tomorrow and I guess it will be it! I should get it right away. I am just very happy. This Friday is my birthday and it will be a very happy one. It’s almost too much stuff for me at this time with my overtime and everything else but you know, you’re an investor or your not one, one or the either. lol…

My last week as a 29 years old

Just 2 other investments and I am done with the stock market.

This week pass by quite nicely. Too bad it had to rain this weekend. I took a nice rest even if I was working. I got plenty of time to think about my investment and stuff and I came with a little plan for the upcoming months. So far so good, I had been able to follow what had been planned and I hope this time won’t be an exception. First, my credit line request… I had been talking about it for about 2 weeks now, but I didn’t take time to actually call and make my request. So I am at the same point regarding my new credit request. That’s the really first thing I need to take care of tomorrow. I would like to get a good 10 000$ credit line at least. Ok, so my CIBC credit card I have to pay soon is at something like 1 200$ only. But I am thinking for January… In January the special offer I have on my TD credit card for 8 000$ will expired and it’s going to be the same thing over and over again. Problem after problem after problem. Investing using money available on credit card balance is nice for the time it last, but on a long term basis, it’s annoying. But using credit card balance transfer to invest in Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) was one of the brightest ideas I ever come with. It’s going on pretty well and the last thing on earth I want to do is to sell my units. More credit is not the solution of course but you know, poor people have debt and I am quite poor actually. The 90 000$ and something is just an illusion of richness. But I love the illusion anyway.

Sometimes, an individual had to take responsibility for itself despite the risk, despite the recession and despite everything you could imagine. Despite my sometimes distrustful colleagues, despite a bad job situation, despite my relatively poverty. I am the perfect example that things are possible despite everything you can imagine. All of this is happening to show that the stock market, in reality, it’s belong to small investors, it’s belong to New Brunswickers and everyone else with a soul and mind working well together. I just want to add that this week, I have overtime, so I will try to do the maximum hours I can. It went well last week, it should also go fine this week. Oh and also that later on this week it’s going to be my birthday…. lol. :0)

I will be able to make my next investment beginning of September. As plan, it’s going to be 100 units of DHF.UN. After what, I plan to make another investment in BA.UN, 100 units of BA.UN, in order to benefit from the DRIP. Those might be my 2 last investments. Not that I don’t plan to invest anymore. Problem being that even at this time, my portfolio feel complete. I do not feel the necessity to invest in stocks anymore. Don’t ask me why, it’s just the need is not there anymore, not as much as it was before. So this will close my stock investment – not forever, but just for a little while. While waiting for my stock fever to come back, I will be investing in ETFs. Did you know, some ETF pays a monthly distribution and other pay an annual one? It’s the case of Claymore Gold Bullion who had pay, at least for last year, an annual distribution. ETFs distribution can be as interesting as the one offer by stocks. Here’s where Questrade is coming into action: I plan to open a Questrade online broker account to invest is non registered ETFs. Even while having around 70 000$ at TD Waterhouse, I still have to pay 29$ per trade. It doesn’t have to be that way. That’s why I am willing to open an account at Questrade. At 9.99$ or so per trade, I am going to have a lot of fun with ETFs – it’s coming to be a bit in here, and there, and here again, and there again…. Just the way I like to do things. The US economy is not that great. Canadian one is relatively stable but I have to say I worry and at this point as I said, my portfolio is complete and I don’t have anything left in mind in the sense that I don’t want anymore. I couldn’t be more clear about it: I am feeling complete, despite I am not at 100 000$ in assets yet and despite the fact that I don’t have enough to live on dividend. I cannot explain it, but I guess 90 400$ and something is already a great deal of money for me. I guess my feeling is coming from there. From the fact that I am basically at where I want to be at this time. So it’s not bad as feeling isn’t? Better than my hate for Quebeckers, that’s for sure. Taught that people from New Brunswick were poor and bad at investing? Guess you got it all wrong… So stay tune because things are getting wilder as I am getting close to 30th and close to my 100 000$ assets. That’s pretty much about it for not if not that I am also planning to job search in September, trying to bring more cash in the house to fly to my first 150 000$. I just wonder how I will feel with 150 000$ in my pockets.

ENF.UN + BA.UN dividend for August 2010

I had received 30.14$ from Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN) and 24.17$ from Bell Aliant (BA.UN). This bring my dividend income to 2 382.96$. Nice earning, but once the conversion will be completed for Bell Aliant, DHF.UN and YLO.UN, my dividend earning will be a bit less than what they currently are. Good news, there's still overtime available at work for next week. So I really hope to make my next investment in DHF.UN in September. Nothing much for now.

I am now richer than ever but its not enough to call for retirement yet

When I notice today that my investment hold in Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) was exceeding the 10 000$ (it’s currently at 10 075.56$), I knew something major was happening today. I run to home after work and there it was, one of my dreams was coming true, my investment in JE.UN exceeds the 10 000$ and my non registered stocks & units investment portfolio exceed the 50 000$ (I am currently at 50 244.58$)… And here am I, at a 90 472.56$ in assets. I left myself at 1 000$ in savings. Currently, I am around 1 300$, but I wanted to leave it at 1 000$ (my savings section) just to compare my assets to the previous investment portfolio update. Everything is going well so far, financially speaking, at least.

I also received some dividend income lately: 14.56$ from Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) and 57.06$ from Emera Incorporated (EMA).

My investment portfolio in date of August 18, 2010

Savings:
1 000$

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 1 900.35$
Timminco (TIM): 87$
Blue Note Mining (BNT): 34$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 5 466.63$
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 126$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 2 268.06$
Fortis (FTS): 3 052.80$
Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN):
8 218.89$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 10 075.56$
Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN):
2 361.45$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund
(BA.UN): 2 550$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 2 087.91$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 4 534.16$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 3 030$
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN):
1 769$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):
2 670$
Cash: 12.77$

TOTAL: 50 244.58$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:
2 640.66$
The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund
(CWI.UN): 1 921.68$
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund:
5 178.04$
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): 345$
Cash: 60.78$

TOTAL: 10 146.16$

RSP investment portfolio:
Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL): 3 748.42$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 2 904$
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 5 334.60$
Cash: 38.08$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: 496.85$
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: 417.13$
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: 990.37$

Energy and Base Metals Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
503.46$
Natural Resources Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
502.06$

GIC National Bank: 1 192.64$
GIC Plus: 500$

TD Canadian Bond: 116.87$
TD Monthly Income: 104.38$
TD Emerging Markets: 82.12$
TD Energy: 79.76$
TD Precious Metals: 114.32$
TD Latin American Growth: 95.98$
TD Entertainment and Communications: 105.39$
TD Dividend Growth: 191.76$
TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth: 96.78$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund
(Templeton): 608.50$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 838.52$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 973.37$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund: 944.61$
Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund: 582.73$

Great-West – various: 1 753.62$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: 501.42$
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: 1 679.05$
RBC Global Resources Fund: 832.68$
RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund:
580.92$
RBC O’Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: 1 023.86$

GIC Canadian Market: 1 000$

TOTAL: 28 934.25$

Social Capital at Desjardins Membership share
for 3 accounts: 40$

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
(107.57$):
90 472.56$

I am spending too much

I did around 10 hours today at work. I am going try to get up early tomorrow and begin earlier. I should be good for at least a 1 000$ paycheck. For laptop, I could afford it, but only if I work 14 hours for the 3 upcoming days! So I don’t know what I will be doing. But a laptop purchase is really not important at this time, even if it was supposed to be my birthday gift. The problem is that I am spending too much. I am already at 350$ in expenses on my BMO credit card that I only use for its AirMiles (and the month is not over yet!). I also have a 163$ to pay on my RBC Visa by the end of the month. And just to make things worst, I now have a 112$ to pay at TD Waterhouse for my RSP account… I am going to take care of this one tomorrow morning because it’s bringing my account to -112$ since I don’t hold any cash in my online broker account. Some TD Waterhouse staff is so bad, they could some of my stocks or units just to pay their administrative fee! For once, I have a good reason to wake up early and after passing by a TD Canada Trust branch, I should be able to go to work… Lot of expenses to cover, but I should be able to make it. For tomorrow, I am waiting a 365$ paycheck. And my next week paycheck should be of at least 1 000$. From the way things are looking, there could be some overtime available next week also at my daytime job. I could be able to make my next investment in September, but not by the end of August, probably not. I am just a bit confused about it at this time. After all, I had been working 10 hours today (I usually only work 5.5 hours per day at my daytime job!). I didn’t have anytime to apply for a credit line or see my options to cover my CIBC Visa debt. I try to call RBC on Monday, but the delay was too long. I have a 1 232.57$ at 3.9% that is going to expire in September. I could pay it off by not doing my next investment. But… I didn’t give up yet on my 100k. Being pack of all kind of debt does not bother me at all and I don’t agree with people when they say I should pay debt instead of investing. I am building my future financial situation here. Why should I care about paying debt? My portfolio is doing well. I was just surprise today when I saw EnCana Corporation (ECA) at 29$... (usually it’s around 33$...). Also CDL.A that is currently below 15.30$. Other than that, the portfolio is just the way I like it, pretty stable. I got those 2 French comments on my blog that I decide not to post because they were written in French. Quebeckers can be so arrogant, thinking that they have the right to post comments in French on my blog. So typically Quebecker. It was about a guy saying that he knows Derek Foster (but we all know Derek Foster!!!) lol. And the guy was saying I should move to Gatineau (which is located close to Ottawa) and work for federal agencies, that I could be less annoy by Quebeckers… Well, I work before in Ottawa and it was full of stupid Quebeckers and between Ottawa and Montreal, Montreal is way much better because yes, there’s Quebeckers here but there’s a lot of people like myself coming from outside Quebec. Montreal is more multicultural and I met great people here. Ottawa-Gatineau is full of Quebeckers and part of the reason why federal government does not perform too well it’s because it’s too full of Quebeckers, doing nothing at all. Canadians are paying the big price for a unite Canada and it does not worth it. Not with those hypocrites voting for Duceppe but working in senior positions in federal agencies. I had been there, I worked in many agencies through staffing agencies and I am able to tell, Quebeckers are killing this country. I have many stories to tell and I may have the time to write about those another time. To get more deeper into the specific see.

Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN) dividends for August 2010 are in

I made it! I had reached my second online income payout of 100$ for 2010. I would like to make a third 100$ by the end of 2010, if possible and, why not even more… I guess I will be spending the 100$ on an Acer 10” mini laptop. The mini laptop is at 279$ at FutureShop. It come at 314$ after taxes. So I will only have 214$ from my pocket to pay for. Not to forget a case I will have to purchase to protect the laptop… Anyhow, it will be a nice birthday gift from me to me. Don’t forget, it’s my birthday somewhere at the end of the month lol! I am in need a good pair of shoes too. I won’t be able to wear my sandals forever… I love the sandals I purchase earlier this summer. They are black Columbine sandals, very comfortable. Sports Expert has that sale going on where you purchase one item, and the second is 50% off. I don’t know if it’s over now. Columbines work well for me. My winter boots are also Columbines and I had them for 3 years now. Since there’s overtime this week for a second week at a row at my daytime job, I may make enough to cover the cost of my laptop AND make my next investment of 100 units of David + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN). That will be quite of a challenge and involve me doing over 50 hours this week lol…… Anyhow, I’ll see how it goes.

This weekend had been quite easy as I just work my usual weekend shift and it’s about it. Some people are really getting annoying at my weekend job and there are so a bunch of Quebec morons there. It’s unbelievable. I am just not getting use to it. I didn’t apply for any credit line over the phone like I wanted to. And it’s not a Quebec jerk who’s going to refuse me because I am going to call the English line for all the places I am going to apply to (because I could get refused…). I am going to try to take care of this tomorrow morning. My investment project is going on so fine. I received this weekend Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN) dividend, a nice and gentle 30.01$. I guess it will DRIP on Monday or so. I should receive around 4 new units of Yellow Pages Income Fund. The dividends are slowly adding up. I think this is the first ever I am receiving a 30$ from Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN). Hope one day I will have enough to espace from Quebec province forever.

I need more credit

It’s been a great week. I made some extra hours at work. I went to a barely 30 hours per week to 44 hours… My goal was to do 50 hours this week, but I wasn’t able to reach that number of hours because today I just do my regular 5.5 hours… The weather was beautiful in Montreal today, very difficult to stay inside and take calls in those conditions. But good news, there’s still overtime next week. This is kind of very nice because I will definitively be able to make my next investment, 100 units of Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) by the end of this month! And by the end of the month, it will be my birthday! I have my eyes on a mini Acer laptop, those 10’’ ones. I would like to buy one of these. I could carry the mini laptop everywhere I go and log in to the Wireless basically everywhere I went. Sweet. I wasn’t able to find a pair of Gisele Bundchen sandals anywhere I went today and I went to several stores downtown. They appear to be all sold out.

Talking about dividend, I receive this week Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) dividend (76.77$) and Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN) dividend (54.73$). The dividend keeps adding up! I really hope that one day I won’t have to work as hard as I am working right now. At a point, just working part-time, cashing in the dividend could be just so the dream. But knowing myself, I might continue to work just to be able to invest more… and why not, pay off those heavy debts that I have lol. Anyhow, let’s update my dividend earnings and see how the DRIP strategy had worked so far:

My non registered Stocks and Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 515 x 0.10 cents + 0.04$ special dividend =
72.10$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 107 x 1.96$ = 209.72$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 103 x 0.62$ = 63.86$
Fortis (FTS): 106 x 1.12$ = 118.72$
Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN): 423 x 1.56$ = 659.88$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 748 x 1.24$ + special dividend of 0.20$ = 1 077.12$
Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN): 450 x 0.80$ = 360$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN): 100 x 2.90$ = 290$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 208 x 0.93$ = 193.44$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 314 x 1.15$ = 361.10$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 200 x 0.56$ = 112$
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN): 100 x 1.84 = 184$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH): 200 x 1.18$ =

236$

TOTAL: 3 937.94$
+ my next investment in David + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) (184$)
= 4 121.94$

My TFSA investment portfolio
The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN):
408 x 0.76$ = 310.08$

I am leaving my RSP portfolio behind, as it’s not possible to cash in the dividend coming from a RSP broker account.

OVERALL TOTAL: 4 432.02$ (or 369.34$ per month…)

I can say that overall the DRIP had worked well. It’s definitively worth it to reinvest the dividend in order to earn new stocks and units each month. Seem like TD Waterhouse IS offering the DRIP discount so, that might also help I guess. Once I will earn 400$ per month in dividend (or an annual 4 800$), that will be quite something. I am not too far away from that amount.

Regarding the debt, I have that 1 000$ and something currently at CIBC Visa at 3.5% or so. The special interest rate is going to expire in September. At this point, of my investment game, I am not in position to pay off any debt because if I do, I may not be able to reach the 100k portfolio by the end of 2010. So this situation is kind of a dilemma for me. I am already full pack of debt, but I wonder if I could get approved for a credit line at RBC or CIBC at a low interest rate. So I am going to do my request this weekend and see if something can be done for me. I could have used margin on my portfolio but I am feeling very insecure about it. A pro would have use margin, a Derek Foster imitator….. credit card balance transfer lol. At this time, I don’t have any room left for credit card balance transfer. I didn’t receive new credit card balance offer from RBC Visa or CIBC Visa, just from TD Visa and my TD Visa is currently “fully” full… So I am in need of a miracle. But you know, sometimes, miracle happens.

And what about a 50 198$ value in my non registered stocks & units online portfolio?

Yesterday, something very special happen. My non registered investment portfolio of stocks and units reached the 50 198$! When I saw the amount I couldn’t believe my eyes! WOWW! This is the highest value reach ever for my non registered stocks and units portfolio. I always say that once I reach 50 000$ in my non registered portfolio, that day will be special… I always wanted to be there. So now I am there. No today, but I was there yesterday.

There’s currently overtime available at my job so I finished work very late yesterday and arrived home late. I just took the time to take a quick look at my portfolio… And there it was, it was there, the magic number was there! It’s really too bad I didn’t have time to update my portfolio yesterday. On date of yesterday, I may had been around 90 500$ in total assets or something it probably. I am always good at telling at around which level I am at by looking at the TSX. Today the TSX lost a couple of points, but nothing major. I am at 49 900$ something right now.

I am really working hard right now because since overtime is available, I may be able to make my next investment by the end of the month. And this is very exciting. I am also very close to my 100$ payout for my online earnings. So that’s pretty cool too because I would very like to purchase a pair of Gisele Bundchen sandals (can a pair of her sandals make me look like her, please!! lol) and a new pair of running shoes. I won’t be able to purchase both with 100$ but still. By encouraging The Dividend Girl, by visiting my advertisers, you make things possible you know. Earning a couple of 100$ per year by working online is kind of nice. I will be celebrating my 30th birthday by the end of the month and it will be awesome if I could make another investment just before hitting 30th you know, just to say to myself ok, I might be working at some extraordinary boring jobs (no offense but that’s how my jobs are lol) – but at least, I am f***** rich! LOL!!!! And you know what, I have a feeling I am going to be able to make that investment of 100 new units in David + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) really soon! Call me stupid, call me dumb, I couldn’t be more careless. I am going to make it anyway, even after being laid off by BMO Bank of Montreal. Finance stuff is just a matter of touch and sense. If your heart is good and understands the basic, you can do better than anyone else (even me lol) and I am at a point where I begin to think that I am pretty good at the investment game. It’s all about following the right person. In my case, Derek Foster books had been pretty useful and I have to say, that’s where the extraordinary all begin. And thinking about it, Derek Foster is such an angel, for the way he answered people on the Canadian Business forum. Always cheerful, always polite, so professional. Whenever I want to say f*** you to a customer or/and hang up on them lol!!!, I think of Derek Foster and his kindness. He’s so professional and a good person. Such so the complete opposite of who I am. F Quebeckers will have to apologize me and F BMO Bank of Montreal employees who had decided to lay off me would have to eat shit one of these days. That’s really all. Because I really begin to think that I am pretty good at everything I do and those F of Quebeckers and BMO Bank of Montreal will have to get use to it. That’s really all. I am sooo terribly sorry. I am being sooo bad. But I am really telling the true. The customers I am dealing with at my job in a call center? I am just trying not to yell at them.

I have someone at work who catch me looking at the TSX and stocks and he joke around. I didn’t talk about it too much. I don’t want to take openly about my portfolio and my money, this being to protect myself. The world we live in being what it is, you better careful, especially with Quebeckers. So told me why you don’t study accountability to understand more of what you do? I told him: “yeah, that’s a great idea. But you know, I only look at the index because I love everything related to finance. That’s really all.” I am such a liar. But you know, I might not have the big diplomas in finance, but I perfectly know what I am doing. The 50 198$ in my non registered stocks + units portfolio of yesterday is the living proof of that. I am just that good. One day you’ll have to stop reading this blog because if not, you’ll catch all the tips and tricks all for free and BMO Bank of Montreal financial planners will all be laid off. Just like that. I just have to get over it one of those days you know but Bank of Montreal + Quebeckers + me = a lot of shit. That’s all I have to say. Just one beer and I am already drunk. It’s all what it take me. ONE BEER. :)

About BMO Bank of Montreal ETFs

It’s been a nice weekend. I went to Festival of Fashion & Design yesterday and watch a couple of shows, if I can call them like that. They had played a song by Beast during the event I love sensation and it was very great. Tonight had been quiet as it’s raining hard in Montreal. So I finally decided to clean my place. It kind of needs it. It’s feeling much better now. :)

This week is going to be quite busy because I had accepted to work full-time at my daytime job. I will be working some terribly long and painful hours. I decide to do it to accommodate them, as they had accommodated me quite well during the past couple of months. I just wish they won’t forget about this one if it happen I had to request a schedule change for whatever reason.

Nothing done regarding job searching at this time, but I am looking forward to seek for something maybe in September or so. I gave myself the summer off for that part. I had been quite lazy and I have to say, my laziness had paid well – in the sense that my investment portfolio is stronger than ever (remember I am now at more than 90 000$ in assets).

My portfolio is not perfect but I like the crazy diversification. One of my favorite hobby is to calculate my dividend income money over and over again. In result, I had been searching ways on how to increase my dividend income. Without counting my RSP dividend earning, on date of July 19, I am at 4 229.47$ in yearly dividend income. Nice little income that represent a 352.46$ per month.

Whenever I want, I have the possibility to increase my dividend income to more than 500$ per year. How? Really simple, just by selling my mutual fund units hold in the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund and RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund. Currently, my investment in the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund exactly worth 5103.76$. I could sell my Sprott Canadian Equity Fund units and get a 5 000$ from the sell. As for the RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund, I could make around 2 700$ from the sell of its unit. This represent close to 7 000$ in cash. With this money, I could purchase 500 units of Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN). And those units could provide me more than 500$ in dividend income. This is quite tempting but I won’t sell anything now. I am confident that those 2 mutual funds will gain more value in the upcoming months so I am in a big rush to sell. But just the taught of earning 500$ more in dividend, just like that, is quite a magical taught. This is a future project and I just can’t wait to get ride of the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund. Good thing that Eric Sprott had called for retirement. I have enough him for all of my life. As well as for BMO Bank of Montreal. It make me laugh you know when I learned that BMO Bank of Montreal was waiving the management fees to their ETFs to their customers. I don’t know too well about that offer but anyhow, fact is that BMO Bank of Montreal ETFs are not great performer. If I look at the ETFs top performers for the past year, we find stuff like:

Horizons BetaPro COMEX Gold Bullion Bull Plus ETF (HBU) at a fantastic +64.49%;
Horizons BetaPro COMEX Silver Bull Plus ETF (HZU) at +55.95%;
iShares S&P TSX Capped REIT Index Fund (XRE) at +37.74%;
iShares S&P TSX SmallCap Index Fund (XCS) at +36.85%;
Horizons BetaPro COMEX Silver ETF (HUZ) at +31.44%;
Horizons BetaPro COMEX Gold ETF (HUG) at +30.37%;
Horizons BetaPro S&P/TSX Global Gold Bull Plus ETF (HUG) at +29.77%;
iShares S&P TSX Completion Index Fund (XMD) at +28.17%;
Horizons BetaPro NASDAQ 100 Bull Plus ETF (HQU) at 27.60%;
iShares S&P TSX Income Trust Index Fund (XTR) at +27.52%.

As you notice, no sign of ETFs of BMO Bank of Montreal.

And what about the latest 6 Month Performance? Well, here they are:

Horizons BetaPro S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Bear Plus ETF (HMD) at +26.12%;
Horizons BetaPro US 30-yr Bond Bull Plus Fund (HTU) at +25.51%;
Horizons BetaPro S&P Agribusiness North America Bear Plus ETF (HAD) at +24.96%;
Horizons BetaPro S&P/TSX Global Gold Bull Plus ETF (HGU) at +24.36%;
Horizons BetaPro COMEX Gold Bullion Bull Plus ETF (HBU) at +23.91%;
Horizons BetaPro NYMEX Natural Gas Bear Plus ETF (HND) at +22.85%;
Horizons BetaPro NYMEX Crude Oil Bear Plus ETF (HOD) at +19.10%;
iShares S&P TSX Global Gold Index Fund (XGD) at +14.63%;
Horizons BetaPro COMEX Gold ETF (HUG) at +12.29%;
Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL) at +12.02%.

Take a look at this: My very precious Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL) is making the list, but of course, none of BMO Bank of Montreal ETFs! Ok, let’s give BMO Bank of Montreal a chance and let’s take a look at the latest 3 month performance of the best ETFs. Here they are:

Horizons BetaPro S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Bear Plus ETF (HMD) at +47.28%;
Horizons BetaPro S&P/TSX Global Gold Bull Plus ETF (HGU) at +43.76%;
Horizons BetaPro NYMEX Crude Oil Bear Plus ETF (HOD) at +36.04%;
Horizons BetaPro S&P Agribusiness North America Bear Plus ETF (HAD) at +32.79%;
Horizons BetaPro COMEX Gold Bullion Bull Plus ETF (HBU) at +23.06%;
Horizons BetaPro S&P 500 Bear Plus ETF (HSD) at +22.90%;
Horizons BetaPro S&P TSX Capped Financials Bear Plus ETF (HFD) at +21.65%;
iShares S&P TSX Global Gold Index Fund (XGD) at +21.38%;
Horizons BetaPro US 30-yr Bond Bull Plus Fund (HTU) at +21.36%;
Horizons BetaPro NASDAQ 100 Bear Plus ETF (HQD) at +20.98%.

Still no sign of one of BMO Bank of Montreal ETFs! Do you need any more proof? I am telling you, BMO Bank of Montreal is going a great deal of marketing over some ETFs who had no good values for investors. I decide to play it smart and not to invest in any of BMO Bank of Montreal ETFs. My results? Extraordinary. They speak by themselves. I am using a 37 000$ and something in debt over a 90 200$ in assets. My leverage plan is working extremely well because I know now how to invest and how to avoid bad investments like the one being represent by BMO Bank of Montreal ETFs. You have to play smart to make big bucks. There’s no easy way, but you can easily avoid bad investment if you do some simple very easy search, simple as 1-2-3. The ETFs of BMO Bank of Montreal? They don’t worth it. That’s why you can get them without any management fee. That’s really all. No big secret to be hide.

You might ask yourself, why is she talking about ETFs? Well, it happens that Claymore Investments had listed a new ETFs this last Friday. It’s the Claymore China ETF (CHI). Most of my assets are concentrated into Canadian stocks. Adding the Claymore China ETD (CHI) in my investment portfolio will help to add a great diversity and will bring international exposure to my portfolio. Now you know my secret.

Also, I am looking forward to open a discount broker account with Questrade. Even while having 70 000$ with TD Waterhouse, I am paying 29$ in commisssion per trade. This restric my trading movements a lot. Enough is enough I decide, time to move on. What I have at TD Waterhouse will stay there, I am just looking to start a new fresh broker account with Questrade. So Questrade, here I am! This is going to be fun, trading at 9.99$ instead of 29$, the saving are huge is this will allow me to diversify my portfolio even MORE. So it will become extra-diversify. Fun time ahead! I am still thinking about David + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) as next investment.

I am now at 90 275.29$

My investment portfolio is now at a beautiful 90 275.29$ and I have to say that I am very please. Hitting a first 90 000$ in assets is quite special to me. Especially on this month because I will be celebrating my 30th birthday.

I hit the 90 000$ because of today TSX gain. My overall portfolio had follow the TSX gain and here I am, at more than 90 000$. I was surprised to see Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A) at less than 15.30$ today. Otherwise, everything else is looking great, if not that Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN) that had slide to less than 6$ per unit. I had been lucky, at the time, I had purchased YLO.UN under 5$ per unit but I wouldn’t invest again in Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN).

As for my next investment, I was thinking about 100 units of Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN). I currently hold 100 units only of Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN), so it will be nice to add up an extra 100 units in order to benefit from the DRIP, even just a bit.

Otherwise, I want back to work on Monday and it went well. I am just trying to do my best but I kind of lost the speed a bit. Very strange isn’t, especially knowing I had doing what I am doing for more than 2 years now lol. Anyhow, I am back on track and surprise, I won’t have to work full-time to cover up on a co-worker who wanted to switch to a part-time shit. This is very nice because working there 6 hours per day at that job is pretty much what I can handle right now. I plan to discipline myself a bit more on my online projects with the free time a 6 hours daily shift is giving me and also focus more on my frugal living. I purchase a Second Cup coffee on Monday and today I buy myself some sushi. So I am cheating all the way here but my objective is to spend less, not to stop spending.

My stock investment portfolio in date of August 3, 2010

Savings:
1 000$

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 1 761.30$
Timminco (TIM): 118$
Blue Note Mining (BNT): 40$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 5 504.08$
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 129$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 2 411.23$
Fortis (FTS): 3 117.46$
Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN):
7 881.12$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 9 926.48$
Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN):
2 578.50$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund
(BA.UN): 2 562$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 2 094.56$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 4 364.60$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 3 010$
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN):
1 757$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):
2 650$
Cash: 0.32$

TOTAL: 49 905.65$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:
2 658.85$
The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund
(CWI.UN): 1 872.72$
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund:
5 036.64$
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): 388.13$
Cash: 60.78$

TOTAL: 10 017.12$

RSP investment portfolio:
Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL): 3 616.60$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 3 149$
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 5 369.16$
Cash: 30.26$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: 501.18$
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: 420.27$
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: 996.48$

Energy and Base Metals Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
503.46$
Natural Resources Term Savings (Indexed term savings):
502.06$

GIC National Bank: 1 192.64$
GIC Plus: 500$

TD Canadian Bond: 116.01$
TD Monthly Income: 105.45$
TD Emerging Markets: 82.52$
TD Energy: 82.12$
TD Precious Metals: 106.68$
TD Latin American Growth: 95.63$
TD Entertainment and Communications: 106.51$
TD Dividend Growth: 197.19$
TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth: 98.66$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund
(Templeton): 627.89$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 847.46$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 989.79$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund: 946.39$
Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund: 589.37$

Great-West – various: 1 753.62$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: 508.61$
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: 1 721.83$
RBC Global Resources Fund: 845.11$
RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund:
598.35$
RBC O’Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: 1 027.64$

GIC Canadian Market: 1 000$

TOTAL: 29 227.94$

Social Capital at Desjardins Membership share
for 3 accounts: 40$

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
(84.58$):
90 275.29$

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) dividend bringing summer fun

This is very nice: I received 51.94$ in dividend from Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS)! It’s actually very sweet to come back from work (I was working today at my weekend job) and log in to my laptop and see that I am richer of 51.94$... I am quite happy because this brings the stocks I hold with Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) to 107. Once Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) will exceed the 51.94$ or around, I won’t be able to get any new stock from the DRIP. But until that happen, I am enjoying the DRIP. This is actually looking very great for my dividend income of July. It’s at its highest ever, at 397.37$! This is getting interesting! My non registered portfolio (for stocks + units) had close Friday at 49 549.78$. Not so bad at all! Those are just little things that help me keep going even if my job situation is not the dream. So I am going to get back to work Monday at my daytime work with a big smile in my face and no one will know the reason why I am smiling. Except if you know who I am… lol... So thank you Bank of Nova Scotia, too bad you had to refuse my RSP loan because I rock. Show me the money baby and show me the love.

DRIP marketing discount offer by some Canadian companies: bonus on top of the dividend

I just notice 2 dividend payments: 15.33$ from Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) and 21.81$ from the Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN). This bring my dividend earnings to a total of 345.43$ for the month of July 2010. Today is my last day of my summer vacation, it was pretty relaxing since I slept in a lot and did almost nothing at all… But it was just what I needed, just to have nothing to think about. I had received my vacation pay. Again, I have a nice little very tight budget for the month of August. I hope to be able to invest again in September or October. I am not very sure of what my next stock trading will be made of. We’ll see. For the month of August, I plan to save around 1 100$ in cash. Nothing major for my online savings account, but it’s the best I can do with my current labor employment situation.

Yesterday was very beautiful day in Montreal so I took a long walk all the way to Montreal Old Port. After what I stop by the Chapters and take a look at a financial planning book I had seen before but never read: Debt-Free forever by Gail Vaz-Oxlade. Very good book about how to get out of debt. I find Debt-Free forever very inspiring and it actually reaches me in many ways. She talk about credit card balance transfer (the fun stuff!!!), about destroying credit card with a pair of scissors (awesome part!!!) and so on… Personally, I went through many things that Gail Vaz-Oxlade describes in her book. I went through them in order to not pay off debt, but to invest. I actually like the part where she suggested getting a second, and why not a third job as a clear debt solutions… This is me! She also openly talks about getting laid off of jobs before currently doing what she’s doing….. That’s definitively me… Thanks to BMO Bank of Montreal, I know what’s laid off is all about. She also talks about staying at home while taking vacation….. That’s actually how I spend my vacation: at home! lol!! Anyhow, I think I had discovered something very special with Gail Vaz-Oxlade writing and I will stay tune to her Web site.

I slowly begin to see the rewards of my online investment portfolio and my debt(s). Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) is slowly growing to reach the 14$ per unit, Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN) had exceed the 18$ per unit, etc. At a point, in the last couple of days, my non registered portfolio almost reach the 50 000$ by itself. The value of my portfolio is relatively stable and I am very happy about it. One investment after the other had bring more and more value to my online investment portfolio and I am pretty sure that one day, my 15 000$ investment mistake will just disappeared by itself, without leaving any traces.

I call TD Waterhouse broker just to find about a question that been posted under my blog entry: Switching to a cheaper online broker: Scotia iTrade. Some companies offer a discount to enroll on a DRIP. The question was if brokers were offering that discount. In my case, I deal with TD Waterhouse broker. I heard about discount before but I wasn’t really sure if I had accessed to the discount while being with TD Waterhouse broker. With TD Waterhouse broker, I have 3 types of broker account: non registered (in Canadian dollars), TFSA and RSP. I am registered to a DRIP in all 3 accounts. So I was curious to find out if I had accessed to the discount or not.

A good resource to find out about DRIPs and discount being offer in Canada is on the Web site Canadian Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRIPs). In my online investment portfolio, the following top dividend paying stocks are offering a discount to their stockholders:

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 2% discount
Emera (EMA): 5% discount
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 2% discount
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 5% discount

The discount is being offered on the DRIP shares. In my case, for all investment I hold, I only deal with small sum of money, but it still worth it to enroll on a DRIP. In my online investment portfolio, 4 companies I hold are offering me the discount.

I got the answer to my question from a TD Waterhouse broker representative. But the person who answers me wasn’t really nice. I find sometimes TD Waterhouse broker rep to be really rude and arrogant. But it’s not the case with every single representative, but still. I got a couple of bad experiences, always with French representative. I explain the rudeness because I talk to a bilingual representative. TD Waterhouse broker has a customer service call center located in Montreal. Overall, I am not being impressed at all by TD Waterhouse broker services and it’s very too bad that Bank of Nova Scotia didn’t approve my RSP loan because I would have switched to their iTrade discount broker. I just hate it when a TD Waterhouse broker representative say something to me, just like it happen today, of this nature: “As I just explain it to you” bla bla bla….. If I need clarifications, I should be able to ask without anything else being add. After all, I am kind of a successful investor and if I need to ask questions, I will ask them. All of them. But shouldn’t be surprise by bad customer service offer by Quebeckers. While living in Quebec, I am living outside Canada. It’s in Quebeckers real nature anyway to treat people like shit. Just take a very close look to their wonderful educational system and health care and see what’s going on. Quebec province is slowly dying on itself and I am very hoping for a wonderful long and peaceful death.

Money saving tip for debt management solution: my plan to save an extra 2 588.85$ per year

I am enjoying my last couple of days left of vacation. I work online a bit, made a few pennies which was enough to make me happy, but nothing in term of real big bucks lol. However, my vacations had been relaxing. I am waiting for my vacation paycheck tonight. I am just very curious to see if I am going to actually receive it or not……lol. Anyhow, I went saw Salt yesterday with Angelina Jolie. Salt might be the best movie of Angelina Jolie so far, if not ever. Nice summer blockbuster if you like action movies! Real soon Salt will become available among the other blockbusters dvd rental. Angelina Jolie is very great in Salt. It’s Angelina Jolie at her best.

I started to use my travel rewards credit card BMO Bank of Montreal MasterCard again. This specific card is an Air Miles MasterCard and the master card credit limit is of 4 000$. For a while, I was waiting for my credit card balance transfer to be completed and I didn’t have any credit card left to use knowing that I have a balance on my cibc visa card at a low interest rate of 3.9% until September. Once I have a credit card with at a low interest rate for a credit card balance transfer, I usually stop using that card, in order to not mess up with the low interest rate and the usual interest rate, often something around 19%.

This month, my credit card balance transfer was from my rbc visa card to my td visa card. It is now completed, I am now good for another 6 months at 4.9% on a 7 950$ balance. This will drive me until January. I am very grateful to TD Canada Trust for this low interest rate. I am good for another 6 months. This will make a one year at 4.9% for my visa credit card limit of 8 000$. My credit card minimum monthly payment for the 8 000$ balance is reasonable, less than 50$ each month. So I can easily manage this payment. It always needs to be done on time, before the due date. If not, I will loose the low interest rate of 4.9%. That’s basically the major thing that needs to be respected in credit card balance transfer. Another rule would be also to not exceed the visa credit card limit. Mine is 8 000$ for that specific td visa card. I had a headache for a while because my 4.9% was about to expired somewhere in October. On my late invoice, when I saw the offer was still on I didn’t wait. I proceed with a credit card balance transfer from my td visa card to my rbc visa card and than after from rbc visa card to td visa card. And here I am, all good until January! It actually really worth it to read your visa credit card statement! I did, and I find a quick and easy online debt solution to a credit card debt problem. I want the 100 000$ for 2010 even with a 37 000$ worth of debt. With my 89 000$ value in assets and 37 000$ in debt, I am not in a huge debt problems.

While thinking about my overall financial situation, I try to find new ways to save up some money. Those won’t make that of a difference on a short basis, but they will definitely help on a long term basis.

1-Stop dying my hair
I had been dying my hair for about 5 years in a row now. I went through several colors, from blond, brown to red. I really like myself in dark red and find it was the perfect color for me. But my latest coloration didn’t stay in my hair for very long and my natural hair color started showing up. I didn’t want to dye my hair again and so I told myself: why not stop? I didn’t see my natural hair color for about 5 years now and I don’t remember what I look like with my real color. I decide to give it a try. I didn’t dye my hair for the past 2 months or something like it and I decide to stop definitively.

Monthly money saves: 14$

2-No more monthly metro pass
I didn’t purchase a monthly metro pass since May, 2010. I like the experience. It wasn’t so bad during the hot summer time. I plan to continue living without a travel card for the upcoming months. I just wonder if this will work during winter time…..

Monthly money saves: 65$

3-Stop buying new shampoo products when I have many unused
This is a habit I have. Buying bottle of shampoo after bottle of shampoo, just to try new hair products. I purchase a new bottle when the one previously is not even finish. I have a full bag of shampoo products like that… So I won’t be purchasing new shampoo products for the upcoming months.

Monthly money saves: 6$

4-Using air miles reward program to purchase Second Cup coffees
At 2.21$ for a medium coffee, my daytime treat at Second Cup is costing me a fortune on an annual basis…

Check it out:
2.21$ x 5 times a week x 49 weeks (52 weeks – 3 weeks of vacation) in a year = 541.45$

I always bring some tea bags with me at me at work, but nothing is tastier than a Second Cup coffee. And most of the time, I find myself going to the Second Cup anyway, cheating on my nonexpenses goal like crazy.

With AirMiles, a 20$ Second Cup coffee card worth 170 AirMiles.

541.45$ / 20$ = 27 coffee cards……..

27 x 170 AirMiles = 4 602 AirMiles

Can I possibly satisfy myself with Second Cup coffees for one year without spending a penny?
Currently, my airmiles mastercard of BMO Bank of Montreal give me 1 air miles reward card per trench of 20$ in spending. Let’s say I spend around 350$ per month (overall). I earn 17 AirMiles per month…… 17 AirMiles x 12 = 204 new AirMiles accumulated annualy….. On top on this we can add 30 AirMiles earn per month by using AirMiles search engine. Which bring in 360 AirMiles.

I currently own 809 AirMiles… 809 + 204 + 360 = 1 373 AirMiles / 170 =
8 Second Cup coffee cards……

The trick would be to drink a mix of coffee and tea at work……. And not spend more than the 160$ giving by the Second Cup coffees card.

Monthly Money saves: 45$

5-Bring my lunch to my weekend job
Despite my low salary, I never bring or barely ever bring a lunch at my weekend job. I usually go at that nice bakery called Les Copains d’Abord located on Rachel… That’s where I spend at least 20$ each weekend lol.

20$ x 49 weeks = 980$

Monthly Money saves: 82$

6-Waive the service banking fee by keeping the minimum required in my checking account
I do my banking with Desjardins, so I don’t have to worry about major banking fees like the ones charged by BMO Bank of Montreal. At Desjardins, I am currently paying 3.95$ per month for 12 transactions. With this package, the minimum required for service charge exemption is only of 1 500$. Maybe not now but in the future, I may keep a 1 500$ in emergency fund. This will allow me to save 47.40$ annually in banking fees.

Monthly Money saves: 3.95$ (a bit more than the cost of a medium coffee at Second Cup!)

Those are some of my tips I will try to apply in order to save a couple of hundreds of dollars per month.