Welcome in my non-registered portfolio Shoppers Drug Mart Corp (SC)!

The happy event happen on... September 13th, on Friday the 13th. Shoppers Drug Mart (Corp) worth more than 2k in term of margin value bucks in my non-registered portfolio, which mean SC probably worth like 70%. From what I saw so far, 70% is the highest margin value EVER. So SC is on top of the top. I invested a reasonable amount of money, not too much. Don't expect my margin to fall apart anytime soon.

My non-registered portfolio is at $120 344.20, +7.91%. Since the stock market allow it, I do, in the early morning and in  the evening transfers to my credit lines to my margin (in the morning), and in the evening, margin to credit lines. That little trick allow me to save in interest money, I had explained that previously. I am able to play the game in good market conditions, but if the market deteriorate because of the Fed or whatever else, the money will have to remain on the margin account. Its a day-to-day situation. Its not very hard to evaluate the situation, how much worth my portfolio, on how much points close the TSX and that's all I need to know.

I have a 1.99% credit balance transfer with American Express. I now have a $2 500 at 1.99% for 6 months - it will expire on April 1th. This is giving me enough time ahead to pay off that debt.

I have a $1 121.20 on my RBC line a credit. It will be paid by Friday.

The other debts remaining:

-A $740.17 on another credit line when I have the gut to transfer 7k from my margin to my credit line. But I usually only transfer 5k max. I will try to pay off the extend of $740.17 by the end of the month.

-A $5k at 8.75%.

-A margin that is around $54k at this time.

Its not as bad as we could imagine at first. If I am lucky, my 5k credit line will be almost completely paid off by the end of the year. This year, my Christmas gifts won't be more than a chocolate box. Sorry, but I come first!

My non-registered portfolio slowly begin to deliver.

First, lets talk of my latest investment, Shoppers Drug Mart Corp (SC). In one of his latest newsletter, Derek Foster warn his readers saying that he still hold Tim Hortons in his portfolio but he wouldn't purchase TIM at this time because he find it too expensive. And also, Derek said that the price of the purchase impact your overall return.

I partly agree with him and this make it the perfect occasion to express my point of view on how to invest.

You can be a very strategic investors like Derek Foster or you can be like me and follow the vibe of the moment, which sometimes pay well, just as well as being a strategic investor.

Last week, I wrote that I wanted to invest in Shoppers Drug Mart Corp (SC) to benefit from the acquisition of Loblaw. Fact is, a deal like  this don't happen really often in a life time. Its just like the acquisition of the TSX Group by the group of banker freaks. You want to be part of that shit no matter what. And exactly the same scheme is happening with Shoppers Drug Mart Corp (SC) at this time. 

When there's an opportunity, don't ever waste your time thinking there might be a better deal. Business acquisitions are a great and very easy way to make money on the stock market, you just to be patient. The acquisition of TMX took sometime to happen, but it happen. In the case of Shoppers Drug Mart Corp (SC), we didn't have to wait long. The court already approve the takeover of Shoppers by Loblaw. It actually happen today! And it result, my investment gain 0.61%. We are not taking or 2-3%. But still, a gain is a gain and soon I will received a dividend distribution from Shoppers.

Of course, if I would had invest in Shoppers way before, I would had made more money. But when you deal with quality stocks, and good acquisition deal, its never too late. There will be always money to be made. As an individual who work full-time, I don't spend 30 hours per week studying the market, reading the news etc. But that is that kind of time that is needed to be aware of everything. Being late in a discovery doesn't mark  the end of the world, its just that less cash will be made.

Good stock always go up. Take for example my MX, FTS, KBL, PPL, ENF, EIF, CNR etc. The best time to invest in those are now, because in a few months, they will have gain again in value. That's how it work with blue chips. Of course, you can always wait for a market correction. But why wait when you can invest now? Why wait later when you can received great dividend payment now?

In other words, when you see a hot and sexy deal, just go for it!

Shoppers Drug Mart Corp (SC) is not my only stock going up these days.

At $52.01, my Methanex Corp (MX) currently trade among its highest value EVER.

We have quite a bit of trading history with New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI). For a while, I had accumulate a loss of several hundred dollars on this one, but recently its start going much better for this stock and I am now at less than minus $200 in term of loss on NFI. Holding to this troublemaker stock was the right thing to do. I never doubt about it.

NFI recently win a contract with Houston Metro. Business just keep going for New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI). I have a long term holding with NFI and this is the type of stock that can sometime be problematic to hold. If I would be a millionaire, I wouldn't mind, but since I am not, I am a bit scare that problems could resurfaced so I am looking forward to partly sell NFI, but not now.

Bombardier Inc. (BBD.B) haven't move that much by the CSeries. But I guess some contracts will need to come over before the stock seriously begin to gain in serious value. However, ta the price that I got my Bombardier stocks, I am currently on a profit territory. The only thing is that I would like to earn even more profit from my smart investment. This is possible. For now, BBD.B pay a good dividend and I think that no matter what happen, Bombardier is good to hold.

Quebec province is a good leader in the field of aerospace. Bombardier is one example, and Heroux-Devtek Inc. (HRX) is another example. Back in December 2012 (remember that?), Dividend Girl bitch got that good idea: invest in HRX to benefit from its 5$ special dividend distribution. Do you remember that? I DO!!! It was crazy, it was fun, but at the end, I got my pretty hands on a juicy profit. Following the special dividend distribution, I decided to hold to HRX, I never sell back my investments because I taught that HRX could grow or even better, be the perfect company for an acquisition.

Recently, Heroux-Devtek Inc. (HRX) earned the privilege to supply the Boeing 777. With this deal, HRX will earn millions and we are good and in business until... 2028!!! (Or something  like it).

For now, HRX doesn't pay any regular dividend distribution, but since it had paid a special dividend once, maybe there could be more, how knows.

No matter how you decide to benefit from the stock market, there's no rule to follow you do like you want, the way you want and if God allows it, your bling-bling will turn in gold. Or fake gold.

Those are about all of the hot news for now.

A Pot of Gold: Loblaw acquisition of Shopper Drug Mart

If you are rich or even not, and have a few thousands at your disposal for investment activities, you might like to read the following because I have an easy trick to share on how to make easy money with no pain at all.

Here at myfirst50000.com, we really like when big fish eat small fish, meaning we like companies acquisition! My really first major one was TMX Group. As soon I read that the TSX was going to be acquire, back then it was supposed to be acquired by the London Exchange, well I jump on the occasion using my margin money of course. I got my hands on a few stocks at a great price. I hold, and when a deal was made, not with the London Exchange but with a corporation or banks and other gangster gangs, I hold and wait, and happily cash in the $$$.

Today, Loblaw announced that it will acquired Shoppers Drug Mart. Shareholders have vote in favor so its now just a matter of a few months before the deal come for real. According to this article, Loblaw will pay $61.54 per Shoppers Drug Mart shares. Shoppers Drug Mart closed today session at $58.88. Right now, if you invest let say in 100 shares of Shoppers at $58.88 (it could be possible to get shares at this price), well, you are GUARANTEE to make a quick and easy $266 very very easily.

Now, its better to do this with real cash because Loblaw takeover will only take in effect by the beginning of 2014. You can use margin cash, but you'll have to pay 4.25% interest. $6 000 at 4.25% make $21.25 per month in interest fees. Let say that the Loblaw takeover will happen in 5 months of now, this is how much you'll pay in interest: $21.25 X 5 = $106.25 and remember, you can declare this interest on you taxes because you are using debt to invest!

$266 made in the deal - $106.25 of interest fee - $9.99 in commission fee (for the purchase of the 100 stocks) = $149.76

You could make a clear $149.76 very, extremely easily.

Maybe you'll say that the profit made is too small, that it doesn't worth the trouble, etc. etc., but, no profit is never too small, especially in this rough economy. That $149.76 cover the cost of a ticket for Montreal-New Brunswick. MARVELOUS! Home sweet home, you are all mine.

Am I going to do this?

Well, it will all depend of the market opening.

Oh, and also, another great thing to consider is that Shoppers Drug Mart will pay dividend in the meantime, the next dividend date is September 26. Remember the 3 full business days BEFORE the 26 in order to be in for the dividend distribution.

To the profit of $149.76, you can easily add 2 dividend distribution of $28.50 each, for a total profit of $206.76.

That's interesting!

Another big+ is that I guess Shoppers have a nice margin value. So your margin value and money left will just go up for the period you hold in Shoppers...

Ok, so if this is not brilliant, I will tell you my real name.

LOL :)))))

The Dividend Girl Dirty Little Secrets about Debt

Dieting is hard, very hard. I am learning it day by day. I may enroll at a gym at this point, I will see. I had loss 5 lbs so far, but it seem like I cannot loss more. I guess I eat too much for my kind of lifestyle - I spend all day sitting at my desk and once home, I am back in front of my computer. No miracle will happen by its own. I walk around 1 hour per day. I would need to add an extra an hour and a half to that. My plan was to get up 30 minutes earlier to walk 30 minutes more in the morning but hey, in the morning, its hard to get out of bed. I am the luxurious lazy type. Beauty sleep get in front of everything in term of priorities.

One thing that is helping is that I fix myself a weight loss of 10 lbs per month so its not catastrophic not to be able to lose weight for a couple days. Better to be stabilize. I am going to write a more complete post about dieting soon. You,ll see what involve dieting and how much boring it can be.

I don't know for you, but despite being single with no kids, it always like I have laundry to do or something to clean. And it also seem like I have a lot of debt to take care of these days.

My non-registered portfolio complete the session at $117 264.18, which is very good. The amount left on my margin is probably something like 12k. Nice! I really like it when my non-registered was at $118k. Ok so what's the relation between my portfolio and paying off my debt? Maybe not all of it, but partly. Want to know?

Ok, your going to see the ugly true about the debt of the Dividend Girl.

If you had been an active reader of me and real mega fans of me, well for those, you know that for many years now, TD Visa had been offering me different credit card balance transfer promotions. I had been offered over the years several interest rates, like 4.99%, 2.99, 1.99%. And each time, the promotional interest rate offered had been valid for 6 months. But every single months, the promotion just had been there for me. On and on and on. So TD Visa had been very good for me and I even named myself a - watch out, this one is funny - a  "TD Princess". But about 6 months ago, the promotion stop showing in my account!!!

I had a balance of over $11 500 on 2 different offer. One offer had expired recently and one was about to expired by the end of October. But because I had an offered expired on a $7 500, all money paid on the card was "pro rata". In other words, I was paying 22.9% on a $7 500 balance and 1.9% on the rest, $4 000. Its the first time ever I ever had to deal with such things. Before, when I noticed that my promotional rate was about to expired, I simply took the balance, transfer it to my other Visa cards. As soon the transfer completed, I gave TD Visa a call, proceed with the promotional credit card balance transfer at 4.99%or whatever else and voilà, I was good for another 6 months.

But its not working like that anymore because TD Visa stop being good for me. For the past couple months, I no longer have ANY promotional credit card transfer available in my accounts. So that's how the idea of paying off some debt all began. 

This is how I handle my TD Visa misery situation:

I pay off my TD Visa the following way;

I transferred 5k of my credit line at 8.75% (TD) over my TD Visa balance.

I transferred $5 740 of my TD credit line at 9% over my TD Visa balance.

That left me $400 to pay.

I currently had a balance left of $400 on my American Express. I currently have an offer at American Express - a promotional interest rate of 1.99% for 6 months. So I proceed with a $400 from TD to AE. My 400 bucks at 1.99% will expired on April 1st.

I have until September 25th to take advantage of the 1.99% of American Express. What I did is that I transferred the existing balance of my $2 174.71 balance at AE over another Visa card I hold. Once the transferred completed, I will call AE, and proceed with a credit card balance transfer on the same balance. I will get 1.99% for 6 months.

At this time, I can breathe and take care of those 2 debts:

5k of my credit line at 8.75% 

$5 740 of my credit line at 9%

Those 2 credit lines are with TD. Remember that I still have left over 12k worth in margin money with TD Waterhouse? Well, at anytime, after the market are close, I can check the value of my portfolio. If my non-registered portfolio worth 116k+, I can, without any problem, transferred 4k over the $5 740 at 9%. I can easily transfer money from my broker account to any TD credit lines that I own.

The trick is to:

1st - Check the value of the portfolio to ensure that I will avoid any margin call.

2nd - If the value is of 16k+, I can transferred 4k, even 5k over the credit line. The transferred need to be made before midnight.

3rd - In the early morning before going to work, transferred the money back into the margin account. Because with the stock market, we never know. Never take something to grated.

4rd - Repeating the same pattern everyday will help to save $237.50 (4.75% interest on a 5k for a year).

Along the way, I will try to put a maximum cash on my debt repayment.

So that's the plan! How do you find it? Pretty exciting hein?

This is what I was born to do and drive my banker and broker crazy about me.

:)

Seriously? I am kicking Eric Sprott ass. No more silver for me.

I spent my Saturday evening counting my every single pennies. I haven't post an update of my investment portfolio since... March. So it was about time! The value of my overall portfolio is quite similar to what it was back in March. 

I had some stocks I am experiencing some trouble with stuff like Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY), First Majestic Silver Corp (FR), Veresen Inc. (VSN), Kinross Gold Corp (K), Just Energy Group Inc. (JE), EnCana Corporation (ECA), Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (CFX), Colabor Group Inc. (GCL), Crescent Point Energy Corp (CPG), Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (FC), and Heroux-Devtek Inc. (HRX). On those, I am in the red, I am loosing money. 

Silver and gold are experiencing volatility and its not helping me in any way. That's why I am having problem with HGY, FR, K, and not to add Sprott Physical Silver Trust ET (PSLV), Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U) and Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U). I unfortunately hold quite a bit of Sprott silver shit! In my US account, my TFSA AND RRSP account... And this is not helping me in anyway. However, I plan to hold on those troublemakers for now.

On the other hands, some of the stuff I hold are seriously kicking some ass, including Eric Sprott one. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), Methanex Corporation (MX), Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL), Fortis Inc. (FTS), Pengrowth Energy Corporation (PGF), Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (ENF), Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A), Davis + Henderson Corporation (DH), Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH), iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index (XRE), New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI), Exchange Income Corporation (EIF), Rogers Sugar Inc. (RSI), Student Transportation (STB), TMX Group Inc. (X), K-Bro Linen Inc. (KBL), Westshore Terminals Invest Corp (WTE), WesternOne Inc. (WEQ), TransCanada Corp (TRP), Canadian National Railway Co (CNR), Enbridge Inc. (ENB), Agrium Inc. (AGU), Canadian Utilities Limited (CU), JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN), Bombardier Inc. (BBD.B), Black Diamond Group Ltd (BDI), Cineplex Inc. (CGX), Barrick Gold Corp (ABX) and BCE Inc. (BCE).

I am seriously kicking Eric Sprott ass on Methanex Corporation (MX). I purchased my stocks at $15, and now well... go check yourself, you,ll see how much MX worth now.

At this point, I did what I wanted with my money, I invest in what I wanted, I don't have much more investment inspirations if not to invest in Suncor. This is why I concentrated in paying my debt for the past couple weeks and I am happy with the results. I only have left $771.20 to pay on one of my credit line. I plan to pay if off by the end of October. Once completed, I will jump on my $11 140.17 TD Visa credit card debt. It doesn't look like TD is going to give me another promotional interest rate for credit card balance transfer. I haven't received news of any promotion so far... And this might be a good thing actually. 

I am a woman of the extreme, if I would had been offer a promotion again, I wouldn't be working at paying some of my debt at this time. And considering I pretty much have the portfolio I always wanted to have, with everything I ever wanted in it. I currently have something like $200 cash in my TFSA. I would like to transfer a $800 and following what, I could make my move on Suncor in my TFSA.  

Right now, the woman of the extreme is doing 2 things at a time: I am paying off some debt AND I am also dieting. I had loss 5 lbs so far, which is great, but I constantly have to watch myself. Its not hard for me to keep in mind that I am on a diet because I now have a scale and I use it every day and I write down how much I weight. This could sound like an obsession, but getting on the scale everyday is what's helping me the best, I find. Because I easily forget about things and I am use to go straight one thing to another and so in the past, I forgot numerous times that I was on a diet... But not this time, its not going to happen. I think losing a 10 lbs per month will work well with some walking around and by watching what I eat. I wouldn't like to spend money to go at the gym so I 'll try my way. I will also write a post about dieting; you'll be able to learn my dieting secrets.

In the meantime, go eat a f apple!!!

My investment portfolio on date of September 7th, 2013

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio $CAN 
Timminco (TIMNF): $2

Blue Note Mining (BNT.H): $0

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): $6 603.30
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): $30
Methanex Corporation (MX): $5 249.91
Fortis Inc. (FTS): $3 347.39
Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL): $14 797.86
Just Energy Group Inc. (JE): $5 379.85
Pengrowth Energy Corporation (PGF): $1 407.60
Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (ENF): $7 838.22
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): $2 403.50
Davis + Henderson Corporation (DH): $5 823.36
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH): $8 217.65
EnCana Corporation (ECA): $3 791.84
iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index (XRE): $2 273.04

Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY): $1 480.05
Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (CFX): $1 023.84
New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI): $2 294.24

Exchange Income Corporation (EIF): $7 647.90
Rogers Sugar Inc. (RSI): $552.90
Student Transportation (STB): $658
Colabor Group Inc. (GCL): $445.74

TMX Group Inc. (X): $385.52
K-Bro Linen Inc. (KBL): $3 352
Westshore Terminals Invest Corp (WTE): $6 107.76
WesternOne Inc. (WEQ): $2 732.20
First Majestic Silver Corp (FR): $1 484
Kinross Gold Corp (K): $869.76
TransCanada Corp (TRP): $1 138.75
Canadian National Railway Co (CNR): $4 514.85 
Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (FC): $496
Enbridge Inc. (ENB): $1 211.84
Agrium Inc. (AGU): $2 307.50
Canadian Utilities Limited (CU): $1 451.52
Veresen Inc. (VSN): $768.24
Crescent Point Energy Corp (CPG): $843.92

JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN): $2 120
Geovencap Inc. (GOV.H): $0.40

Bombardier Inc. (BBD.B): $642.20

Heroux-Devtek Inc. (HRX): $456.50

Black Diamond Group Ltd (BDI): $599.26

Emera Inc. (EMA): $742.75

Cineplex Inc. (CGX): $967.50

Barrick Gold Corp (ABX): $795.20

BCE Inc. (BCE): $977.90

Stella Jones Inc. (SJ): $495

TOTAL: $116 728.76

Stocks and Units investment portfolio $US:
Sprott Physical Silver Trust ET (PSLV): $1 504.06
Cash: $4.12

TOTAL: $1 508.18 US

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
EnerCare Inc. (ECI): $18.88
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): $201.25
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): $1 956.36
Sprott Strategic Fixed Income Fund (SFI.UN): $387.50

Healthlease Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (HLP.UN): $991

Keg Royalties Income Fund (KEG.UN): $747

RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust (REI.UN): $828.45

Precious Metals and Mining Trust (MMP.UN): $581.40

Sprott Inc. (SII): $2 840.75

Chorus Aviation Inc. (CHR.B): $377.52

Data Group Inc. (DGI): $1 144.72

AltaGas Ltd (ALA): $1 063.50

Cash: $214.97

TOTAL: $11 353.30

RSP investment portfolio:
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund: $3 426.23
iShares Gold Bullion Fund (CGL): $4 164.16
EnCana Corporation (ECA): $1 914.15
Emera Incorporated (EMA): $6 773.88
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): $652.12

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD): $1 367.40

Barrick Gold Corp (ABX): $994

Stella Jones Inc. (SJ): $2 475

Telus Corp (T): $1 665.50

Tim Hortons (THI): $580.90
Cash: $79.41

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: $614.53
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: $291.23
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: $1 141.19

Energy and Base Metals Term Savings (Indexed term savings): $577.30
Natural Resources Term Savings (Indexed term savings): $502.06

GIC National Bank: $1 227.70
GIC Plus TD: $500

Maritime Life International Equity Fund 
(Templeton): $584.15
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: $968.39
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: $1 129.85
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund: $1 177.67
Manulife GIF MLIA B World Invest: $736.95

Great-West – various: $1 957.04
Various other mutual funds: $675

TOTAL: $36 175.81

Social Capital at Desjardins Membership share: $40 

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax- 
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
($77.21):

$165 883.26

My debt situation on date of September 7th, 2013

$771.20 at 9.30% (credit line) = $71.72 in interest

$2 174.71 at for 6 months at 0% (credit card) = 0$ in interest. Expired: November 2013

$11 140.17 at 2.9% for 6 months (credit card) = $161.53 in interest. Expired: October 2013

$54 166.81 at a low interest rates of 4.25% (margin money coming from my broker account): = 

$2 302.09 in annual interest

$4 900 at a low interest rate of 4% (credit line rates) = $196 in annual interest

$5 676.48 at low interest rate loan at 5.50% (student loan) = $312.22 in annual interest

TOTAL: $78 829.37

TOTAL in annual interest: $3 043.55

[In date of September 7, 2013]

Mastering the art of using coupons with the Dividend Girl

These days, I am trying to pay as much debt as I can. The Bank of Canada decided for now not to increase its prime rate. But this won't last for long. And as soon the prime rate will increase (probably of 1%), the more I will own on my debt in term of interest fees. Repaying my debt will be a long and painful road, but among the way, there're many things that I am doing to help me save money.

I was away on vacation for a few days in July-August and September is going to be a quiet month. I recently received an email from someone I used to do some self-employed work. I hope to get my hand on a few hundreds that way. To pay more debt, there's no magic trick, the best way is to earn more and save more.

Its always more difficult to make more money than to save. Saving money is like losing weight; if you work hard enough, results will show up.

Coupons are a great way to save money. The best is to be able to match the coupon with a current sale. I had a $1 rebate on any L'Oréal Shampoo or Conditioner:

My hair can be difficult. I color my hair and they are curly and thin, but I have a lot of hair. I was surpise one day when a hairdresser said that I had thin hair. Since that day, I try to select conditioner for thin hair. On top of thin, color and curly hair. My hair can get really oily. So I have to be careful to the conditioner that I use. If the product I use are cheap, well, the result will be cheap. Good hair products come with a price. I really like L'Oréal Paris Volume Collagen for flat, fine hair conditioner. L'Oréal shampoos and conditioners are currently at $3.99 at Shoppers. Its a good deal knowing that the original price is usually around $6.99:

So in total, my favorite conditioner only cost me $2.99+ taxes. Pretty cool isn't? Well, that's only a little overview on how to use coupons. I am not a fan of those extreme coupon shows we seem these days on television. If use right, coupons can make it easy to save money; but they should be use on stuff you usually purchase.

I try to focus on my everyday needs, on stuff I purchase on a regular basis and I  try to get my hands on the precious coupons. Also, the bets is to save those coupons and wait when a sale show up - like the one at $3.99 for L'Oréal shampoos and conditioners. When both are combine, it can be a magic blind-blind easy save money.  

A nice finding at the Dollarama Store: the Zipper Seal Giant Bags

With autumn hitting our doors, I am slowly storing my summer clothes out of the closet. I unfortunately don't have enough of a big closet to store my summer and autumn/winter clothes. So I have to find a way to clear some space. 

My first taught was to simply fill some ugly black big garbage bags with all of my summer wardrobe but I actually find something much better at the Dollarama Store: the Zipper Seal Giant Bags.

Dollarama sell those lovely storing bag at only $1.50 for 2 bags. I purchase 2 kits for 4 bags.

Those are X Large big zipper bags perfect to store any clothes. I already began to use them and I find the bags very nice to use. Once the bag are filled, they can easily be store under a bed or in a tiny closet space.

See it for yourself:

The bag closed exactly like a Ziploc bag, which make it very convenient. I was really happy with my finding. 

Other than Zipper Seal Giant Bags, I buy at Dollarama store a number of everyday articles : I buy all of my cleaning products there, Ivory body soap, Q-Tip, cotton pads (to remove my make-up), dish washing liquid (also Ivory). Its about what I usually buy at the Dollarama store.

While working at saving money, Dollarama is a great place to get a variety of items at a more than fair price. Cleaning products can cost a lot more at drugstore, so its important to know where to go to get the best of our bucks.

The Dividend Girl is now 33 years of age. 3-3 is sexy hot!

I have been quite busy in the past couple days and I haven't post much over here!

There's a couple of fellows on vacation at work and I had to do a bit of extra hours to put in so I could catch up with everything. Also, on August 27th, it was my birthday! Celebrating 33 years of sexy life. Otherwise, Montreal being what it is, I have spent my free time running around and the stock market was the last of my thing.

Love me tenderly because I am now more precious than ever. I AM 33. Listen to Love me Tender and tell me if there's any better love song.

Like last weekend, the St Laurent boulevard was closed to circulation and it was really nice to walk freely on the Main. St Laurent should always be closed to cars!! (Pictures should be post soon)

There's also the Festival des Films du Monde going on right now in Montreal. Its fun to see movies outside. (Same thing).

I had paid off $430 on my RBC credit line. I now have a remaining balance of $1 777.20. If everything goes well, I will be able to pay it off by October. That's great of course, but I have a few concerns regarding my balance on my TD Visa because soon, somewhere by the end of October, my promotional interest rate is going end. It will be the end of it!

I slowly began my search on what to do. I began with TD Canada Trust. At TD, they have a TD Emerald Visa card. The interest rate depend of your credit score. I guess my credit score is not very good because the best TD could offer was 10.75%. I have a better interest rate on my TD credit line. I told the guy that I had an account with TD Waterhouse,s  and had several thousands invested with TD, but he wasn't much impress. He explained that the interest rate he was giving was directly link to my credit report. So I guess I don't have a very very good credit but I it doesn't matter.

I have experiment this before; its extremely hard to get good interest rates with banks. They are looking for fortunate people looking to get more credit. Middle class salary is not exactly welcome. However, I am curious to get a look on my credit file so I registered to TransUnion Credit Monitoring Unlimited. I don't plan to get it every months, but it just something I want to look at. But even if I don't care, I am curious to see what is on there.

Since I am working at paying down my debt, I decided not to move from my current apartment. My rent had increased of only $5 per month so I am now at $615. The benefits are that I am closed to everything, grocery stores, dug stores, parks, etc., including work. I don't have to pay for a metro pass every months. I only individuals tickets whenever I go tot he Casino. You can get 10 or so in a bunch for a price that make sense if you have the electronic metro pass. Also, I have a bit of furnitures included. If I move, I would have to pay for moving AND furnitures, and I probably have to pay $80 per month for transportation. That begin to make a lot of $$$. I really don't like to take the metro, all crashing up and the metro is not exactly clean. I prefer to make my way to work on my two feet.

I am currently on a weekend diet, I hope to lose a few pounds in the next coming 2 days. I am on a sevrage of food. its good to cut on eating once in a while. I think we all eat too much at some point. We need to make a bit of sacrifice for those who suffer of hunger around the world, for Syria and we have to pray. I drink jasmine tea this morning and I took a chocolate shaker for lunch and I just eat dinner, 2 eggs, 2 toasts and grapes. I don't feel like I am starving or anything. And I don't want to feel like starving tonight because I am going to the Festival des Films du Monde. Its the last weekend. 

I guess I may go on a diet soup. ;) I am thinking.

Other than dieting (I actually bought a scale because I had no clue on how I weight and I had a bad surprise!!), quiet weekend so far. I went see Red 2 at the movies. It was really good. Tonight, I clean my place, went out to take a coffee, check on the two lottery tickets I bought on the day of my birthday - but I haven't win anything, and I went for grocery shopping. I expect to eat regularly at lunch time at work because I won't be able to concentrate if I am starving. on a everyday bases I want to cut on bread, candies and all the other stuff not good for me. Quaker and banana for breakfast, a regular lunch for work and for lunch, I will try a chocolate shaker and an apple. Still feeling hungry? Eat another f apple. lol  I never been very serious about dieting before but now I am more than ever and if I could clear off 40 lbs of my sexy body, I will be even sexier. My booty feel a bit tight in jeans those days... I find green apple to be very good at cutting hunger cramps, just to let you know.

Losing weight is not easy, but I have done it before. It just that those days, I am working hard and I don't exercise as much as I should. And I eat too much too, so here's the living result.

And when I will be back on top I will go SHOPPING. And I will go to the Casino.

Well, you know, the usual stuff!!!!

I am planning a little vacation in New Brunswick in the middle of October maybe around Thanksgiving. So September will be a savy month. I plan to leave my credit card right at home and I will be exclusively on a cash budget. I will try Gail envelop methods. I still have a $20 left from a previous experience. I am a good saver, this is how I had been able to find money to invest. But now, I am trying to find money to pay off debt. 

I need to go back to my saving days. But as I made more money, I had spent more. And its easy to do so. I have the money available. I have a salary that enter in the house every 2 weeks. It seem it was easier for me to save money BEFORE getting rich. Well, I guess you see what I mean by that right.

Montreal is a sexy playful city and spending temptations is EVERYWHERE.

I have my temptations, what are yours?

I have a few more posts coming out about my saving tips and also dieting and a bunch of sexy things. Just be patient.

Wanna do it like Warran Buffett? Well its easy as 1, 2, 3. Or almost :)

Yesterday, I spent a few hours at the Montreal Casino and I blow away $80. Pretty insane isn't? I know its not the correct thing to do - especially while working at paying off my enormous debt. However, it was fun to play on my money. I like the excitement of playing on machines. Youhouuu! 

I am not addicted. I know when to stop - and after losing $80, trust me, I ran out of there. I didn,t go to the ATM machine to withdraw money; I had enough! The interior of the Casino really suck right now. It doesn't look luxurious at all when you look down at their red carpet. There's been construction going on inside like forever now. The inside doesn't match the outside. The outside construction is really nice, but while being inside, no-no. It actually look old and need a complete refreshment from upside down. I only go once in a while, but there's still stuff going on. Its not very sexy to have like a cafeteria in a Casino. But they have that in Montreal... And now, you can bring your drink anywhere you want; which is not classy at all.

Anyway, I think you get the idea. Guys and girls working at the Casino have sometime to deal with complete morons. The fact that anyone can drink a bit everywhere now is not helping them in any way. And its not good for the security of visitors too.

Drinking right next to a slut machine is not sexy, it look dumb and unsophisticated. Drinking at a poker table is not sexy either because a poker table is a place to play, not to get drunk.

One day for sure, I will go to Vegas and I will blow hundreds and hundreds. I promise. It suck not to be able to win whenever I want but yesterday, the sky wasn't on my side.

It will be a lot more sexier to play on US dollars anyway.

My non-registered portfolio is at $116 113.20. We'll talk a bit more about it. There's some changes I would like to make. You'll see, it will be interesting!

But first, let's begin with my debt repayment goal. Yeah I know, times are changing, I am now paying my debt!!! Well, I would like to pay off my debt before I get pregnant, IF it had to happen. And no, there's no mister at this time. Getting involved in a relationship with a Quebecker is something just going out of my mind at this time.

This week is pay day on Friday. I already know what I will be doing with the money. A part of my pay will go directly on my $2 201.20 credit line. I unfortunately have to keep the biggest part for my rent. For the upcoming months, probably until the end of 2014, I will do my best to pay off a maximum of debt. I am carrying about 80k of debt at this time and I now find its way too much. One day, the interest rate could raised and I don't want to get stuck forever on heavy debt and too high interest rate.

I have to say that at this point, I find that what I have as portfolio is enough. It won't be never enough to retire on, but don't ask me why, I am satisfied the way it is. But I can certainly rearrange some stuff....

I read on the Financial Post that the one and only Warren Buffett had invested over $150 millions in Suncor Energy Inc. (SU). You can read about it all right here. I am not a Warren Buffett specialist, but I supposed that in his adult life, Buffett may had made only good investment choices - or it appear to be that way. Right now, Suncor Energy Inc. (SU) is trading at its top pike, but I am really tempted to invest in that stock just to be in the same game as Buffett. From now on, I will have at least ONE little thing in common with it and the thing will be a stock: Suncor Energy Inc. (SU). 

Warren might be of a certain age, but I believe he will be around for a few more years and it will be interested now that worldwide economy is more complex than ever before, it will be interesting to follow where he's going when it come to the market. I must admit, I find oil investing very complex and hard to follow. I am not a oil fan. But like everyone, I need money and if Warren Buffett  invested in Suncor Energy - it mean something to be. And so why not.

I have that stock, Exchange Income Corporation (EIF). Its a big holder of mine, I had more than 7k invested in that stock. Recently, it went down, but I am still on a profit with that one. So I thinking of selling 100 stocks of EIF in order to invest in Suncor Energy Inc. (SU).

Another option would be: I had been holding New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI). I had invested in NFI a little way back. I invested more than 2k in that one. Holding NFI in my portfolio hadn't been easy. For a long period of time, NFI had loss in value, but it had now recover. I am now only under $180 to the original investment made. I was thinking of partly selling NFI and reinvest the money in Suncor. That could be actually a great idea.

I could also partly sell EIF to pay off some debt, or even sell it all.

I am not quite sure on what to do, but I will you post for sure!

In the meantime, I had over $600 available in my RRSP account. I had a GIC that I recently cashed out and believe it or not, after 5 years, I haven't earned any money from the GIC. I decided to no longer invest in GIC related to the stock market because they are too risky. Too risky to not make a single penny in profit. I decided to place a small investment in Tim Hortons Inc. (THI), which is a Derek Foste stock. I place my order today t a max price of $62 per stock, just to make sure the trade won't exceed the money currently available in my RRSP account.

That part was easy, but I just have a bit of anxiety about EIF and NFI. I wouldn't like NFI to go down account, I had been lucky that I had been able to recover on that one. As for Exchange Income, I am a bit surprise, I wasn't expecting that one to go down that much.

Having too much invested n  the same spot is not a good thing, especially when it is about stock that I had picked myself lol...

But hey, I will figure it out soon.

So stay tune.

The list of my best tips on how to save money will come soon. You'll know about all my secrets!

The Dividend Girl look like a 20 something guerdile

Big dirty day at work today. I am just coming back from visiting an apartment. $550 not too far from my actual place but reallllll tiny tiny. Its a place to kind in mind in case of real need, but other than that, for what I saw today, no-no. The man asked me my age because he said he didn't want people less than 25 year of age as renters... I am 32, hitting the 33 soon. I mean, I look less than 25? REALLY?

I AM SOOO HAPPY!!!!

I had a big smile in my 32 year sexy face when I left the building. OH MY GOD! 

I said it many times on this blog, I am giving myself something like 25, maybe 24-23. But don't imagine that its because I have small boobs. BECAUSE ITS NOT THE CASE OK. Otherwise, I will describe myself as more an angel beauty who look nice with makeup on. But without makeup, I am just like the stars, I look like nothing. I guess I look like a nice chick. Kind, really not aggressive what so ever. More than like a sex kitty with the soul of a soldier inside in the mind. And the mind is twisted by a criminal sex attitude.

I look young, but you know it, I wrote it before, I began to have a few white hairs. Which is strange because my mom only began to have white hair, she's pass 60, and for my father, he began to have white hair in his fifties. So I may not be the girl of my mom and dad, who knows.

I guess this is the perfect timing to say what I need to say. I couldn't mix the following information with the previous post about bed bugs. I couldn't write in that post that Derek Foster and his wife welcome their 6th child in this world!!!!

Isn't great?

For quite a time, Derek has 5 children, but I always had problem with that number. You might had noticed at some point. When it came Derek Foster, I had the number 6 in mind and here had came the miracle. The 6th child is born. I would like to be able to read in my own life that easily, but its not quite easy, if not that I used to have dreams with a lot of red in it. I was seeing red, nothing really specific, but something abstract, something broken, red flash and something black. I guess my English is just not good enough to be able to perfectly describe. What I saw was more of the like of destruction. And I had that in my life. Like when I returned to New Brunswick, I knew somewhere it wasn't to be for long. But I decided to go anyway, I had been promised a permanent job and I REALLY wanted to leave Montreal for the rest of my life. I went there for 6 months, after what I was laid off, the non-profit organization was closed to bankruptcy. I went to court, win a bit of money, nothing much. But it was my path to do so. In the process, I destroyed the ego of a bunch of people and I was very proud of of that. I am not afraid of fight and I LOVE to deal with F@ckers.

Its hard to imagine but we all have a path in life and it cannot be avoid, but it can be control. I enjoyed however my few months in New Brunswick because I had been able to be with my family and also, I took a rest during that time. No one can shit on me without consequences. I am not a criminal but I do have a criminal mind and when I think of revenge and I think of a gun full of bullets that I can put very high in the air, well you know, its not a physical gun, but an invisible one. There's many situations I am not able to handle but I do handle them anyway. I guess that living in Montreal again is giving me a lott of aggressivity (how come this word is turning red, its not like that we write aggressively aggresivity). Its seem like its not a word!!! You know and I know that F@ckers is not the proper way to write the word.

I hope to be able to make more money from my portfolio real soon or I feel I am going to lose control and to out with a 18 old little boy. lol

What I want for my readers is to have the exact sex attitude and to be fighters. I don't want of lazy, weak readers. I don't want you get boring with age you know.

Did you just say bed bugs?

I began my search for a new home. And its really not easy. By home, I mean a one and half apartment. The place where I live in is great, but my rent is $610 and they are looking forward to increase it of $10 extra and I am very mad. I don't have a very huge place, the balcony barely have enough place to put a chair on it and the apartment by itself is not huge and I have a old cooker, the wardrobe is small... See what I mean?

But the place is quiet and I am close to everything, including work. I don't have to travel using the bus and the metro each morning, and that's very precious to me. I could take the $10 rent increase, but it doesn't seem to be very fair to me, especially that I never had paid my rent late and I stayed there for many years now. But each and single years, the f rent increase. STOP.

So today, I place a few calls. I had a $540 one and a half located in Lafontaine Park, but the f owner, lol wasn't willing to make me visit during the evening or during the weekend, even after explaining that I was working during the day. Isn't a good sign that I work during daytime? It actually mean that I have money to actually pay the f rent every single month. So why is the owner isn't smart enough to  make me visit? I decided to pass on that one. What a f moron!!!!

Seem like there's a lot of F@CK LOVE already? YOU ARE NOT READY TO READ WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. LIKE F NOT!!!!!!

LOL

Ok, so here we go. You can only read following the : ONLY if you don't suffer from the heart or something like it.

Ready honey? OK now. LET'S GO.

So I place a few calls today, and one place it was close to the metro Laurier, it was $470. GOOD DEAL. But oh... wait. SOMETHING was wrong.

I call the number in the add to ask if it was still available. the lady who answered said it was going to be available on August 16th for visits. I was about to hang up when she said WAIT, I have something that I need to tell you. Do you know that in Montreal, bed bugs are a problem? I answered, well, I am in Montreal right now. She said: Well, i have to tell you this, we have bed bugs and we have exterminator coming every months for bed bugs and coquerelle (check that work in an English-French dictionary for me please ok). Before hanging dead on her, I said: Thank you very much for letting me know.

Do I really need to comment on this?

Following my day at work, I also went for a visit. I had an appointment at 18 h 30. I was there on time, but the guy was already with someone. The stairs were dirty, as well as the walls. Right there, it was a no-no for me. I try to call the guy on the number I got, but I only hit the voicemail. I could hear the guy with a girl and  the girl seem to be very interested. I could tell that the apartment was tiny tall without even going in. I could tell just by looking at the stairs. I heard the guy asking the girl what was she doing as work blabla. The man seem to be nice, but I never saw his face and I didn't visit any apartment this evening.

I have another appointment for another place tomorrow. Looking around for a place to rent is not easy work. I thing i may even prefer to stay in my current hole lol.

Or is the Dividend Girl going to be homeless? Want to take me in? It won't cost you a damn penny.

Want to hear from my money problem? Well ENJOY.

Its a beautiful Sunday here in Montreal. I just post an update about the debt that I hold. I have a few problems to deal with... 

One of the problem is my rent. My rent is going to increase of $10 per month starting September. I don't agree with this increase and I am really frustrated. I asked to stay at the same price, but I didn't hear from anything yet. In the meantime, I checked on some other places, but I haven't visited yet. I have until September 1st to decide what I do and if I don't accept the increase, I will have to move by October 1st. 

The other thing is that if I move, I will have to buy a few furniture. And I don't exactly have the money for that at this time. Luckily, for the move itself, I will be a one shoot in a taxi van. 

Another problem is my special interest rate credit cards. I have a $11 200 at 2.9% for 6 months at TD Visa. The promotional rate will stop being promotional in sometime October. While updating my debt profile, I suddenly realize that it doesn't seem like TD is going to give me anytime soon another promotional interest rate. I always paid my credit card on time, so I don't understand why this is happening. I had the promotional interest rate for many years now in my account.

Until October, I can save about 3k. This will leave me with a $8 200 balance. So I hope to get the TD Visa special interest rate by the end of October. If not, I will use 5 000$ of my TD credit line at 8.75% to pay it off. For the remaining of 3 200$, I will use my RBC credit line 9.5%. Its not the best plan ever, but I will be able to pay this debt completely in a couple of months. 

In November, I have a $2 242.54 at 0% interest rate with American Express that is going to expire in November. But no worries for that one because when I arrived from my vacations, I have a nice little something that was waiting for me in my mailbox! I need to call American by October 10, 2013 to benefit from the transfer at this time 0.99% interest rate. Once proceed, I will have until April 2014 to pay the balance...

For now, I am really looking forward to pay off a part of those heavy debt. And I already began yesterday: I paid $750 on my RBC credit line. The next couple of months won't be easy, but I would like not to have more than 60k in debt. I think now is a good time. 

And for the first time ever, I will soon gave you access to my best frugal tips on how to save money.

My debt situation on date of August 11, 2013

$822.77 current balance at BMO MasterCard = no interest, going to be pay next month

$2 201.20 at 9.30% (credit line) = $204.71 in interest

$2 242.54 at for 6 months at 0% (credit card) = 0$ in interest. Expired: November 2013

$11 200 at 2.9% for 6 months (credit card) = $162.40 in interest. Expired: October 2013

$54 101.80 at a low interest rates of 4.25% (margin money coming from my broker account): = $2 299.33 in annual interest

$4 900 at a low interest rate of 4% (credit line rates) = $196 in annual interest

$5 756.39 at low interest rate loan at 5.50% (student loan) = $316.60 in annual interest

TOTAL: $81 224.50

TOTAL in annual interest: $3 179.04


[In date of August 11, 2013]

Its always the same old stories around here

My non-registered portfolio is now under the 118k mark. At a bit more than 117k, the value is still great, but 118k would had been better. I had a limited access to Internet while being at home in New Brunswick, so I had been able to watch over my stocks. Luckily, the value of my portfolio had stayed stabilize. I normally checked on my portfolio everyday, most of the days.

I just came back from vacation, but I felt tired today and I would had stayed in bed all day. I didn't even take a shower before going to work. I was too tired to feel disgusted about it. I just spray on dry shampoo and perfume and I tied up the curls in a pony tail and I finally took a taxi to go to work. I never missed one single day of work of my entire life. I want it to remain that day. I need cash and right now, I need cash more than ever. And hourra, if I am not mistaking, I am supposed to received a pay tomorrow.

For the past couple months, I had said multiple times that I would get a part-time job, but I never did. I however try to expand my freelance activities, but I didn't get new contracts and for the past couple months, nothing had moved on that side. It is true that I didn't try very hard. I am just very curious to see what a few other tried may bring in. I was more successful as a freelancer when I was living in Ottawa. That was a few years ago, even before I started this blog. Back then, I wasn't the Dividend Girl. This make me think on how old I am. Be ready because I am turning 33 on August 27. Understand? Need to be ready for the pow-wow. I did not forget about the 600 000 view celebrations I was supposed to do a little way back. If you don't mind, we are going to celebrate it all together: me the chika turning 33 AND me celebrating the 600 000+++ views of myfirst50000.com

That domain address is totally out of control and is just soooooooooo cute. Don't you think so?

I spend a few hundreds on my vacation - without regret, but my debt is slowly adding up. I have debt, but I also my limit. For once, - it actually happen a few times occasionally when I really have nothing on my stock WANTED list. I have a few thousands I want to clear off. My 1k+ of tomorrow will go over the credit line that I used to pay off my taxes and from where I also withdraw fresh cold cash for my vacations.

This post is going to end here.

Back from New Brunswick

Too bad, but my vacations are now over. I arrived today at 2 am. I didn't have too much problems on the bus because when I took the ride, I wasn't tired. So in result, I think for the first time ever, I went on the bus clean, drug free, under the toxic influence of nothing at all. I didn't take my usual Gravol pills or anything else to survive the trip.

I had a great time at home despite the mix of thunder, rain, and rain again; clouds and occasionally, one or two sunshine that never last very long. But I had been able to swim outside one little time, at least. It took me about 30 minutes to get in the lake but at least, I make it happen - one little single time. I swim in inside pool here in Montreal really often, but there's nothing better than a natural lake and, even better, the sea. The evenings were very cold in New Brunswick. The nights and early mornings were cold too, unfortunately.

Once back in Montreal I was all good and I waked up to the construction noises made in the building facing my apartment. There're some renovations going on and its been going on since this Spring. And it doesn't seen to be over yet. I did pretty much everything I had planned. The usual boring stuff, laundry and grocery shopping.

Its quite revealing that I had to immigrate in Quebec province, stealing jobs away from Quebeckers themselves, stealing their best looking men from the poor little Quebec female. Poor poor poor Quebec ladies. Its a shame but its like that for now. And I wonder what will happen tomorrow at work because I already have a bad surprise today so I just hope I won't get another one today. When I picked my mail today, I saw a letter from the janitor. Starting September, my monthly rent will be of $620 instead of $610. I had to take a $10 increase on my monthly rent. My Solidarity Tax Credit is of a bit more than $10 per month, so the increase will be cover that way. I am too lazy to search for a new place to live. And while being in Quebec, I don't live, I am just there, waiting for the money to jack in and accumulate and accumulate. Here in Quebec, I don't live, I am a ghost.

The ghost is now going to sleep.

My debt payment new goal

I am enjoying my vacations. We have a bit of rain, but its been worst in the South West of the province. While having a good time, my non-registered portfolio is performing well, $118 466.99. I have left $12 294.14. Now the once cent is gone, I wonder how I can get that .99. It seem like the one cent still exist on the Canadian stock market, but is gone from the real world.

For August, my BMO credit card is at $708, and my dividend income for July had been of $660.75. I only have a left over of $47.25. And I really need that left over! I also win $50 at my local Casino... I guess I had been lucky, but I was looking for much much more.

For my vacations, I withdraw $500 from a line of credit. I also had used the same line of credit to pay my taxes. So I am now at $2 951.20 on that same line of credit. Also, my margin is at $53 873.42; I would like to pay off $3 873.42 on it. that way, I would be at 50k.

Remember that American Express gave me a 0% interest for 6 months a little way back? Well, the amount deposit was $2 312.54. The monthly payment is $70. I am not looking to pay off that debt for now.

Debt repayment plan for the debt I want to pay off:

1- $2 951.20 of my credit line
2- $3 873.42 from my margin

Total: $6 824.62 + $700 extra balance on my credit card (total balance being $1 400).

My monthly need is of $1 194. For this, I need to live on a $70 per week.

My monthly income from work is about $2 240 after deductions
My dividend income is about $550 per month
My total monthly income is: $2 790

$2 790 - $1 194 = $1 596

$7 524.62 \ $1 596 = less than 5 months

If I get my hand on an extra 1k per month, the debt would be paid off in less than 3 months.

Isn't weird to have a look at my debt while being on vacation? Its a must do once in a while and I had reached the point where I need to pay off some debt - but only if I don't change my mind. I am a money moron, for reallll.

I hope you all enjoy your summer.

Here come the thunder: are you ready for Black Diamond Group Limited (BDI)?

At this point, my portfolio value - after margin at TD is now 100k. That's quite an enormous amount of money - at least for me. So how come its all working well for me? I think its because I am investing the way I want and I do what I want. Having something really impersonal as portfolio, having someone managing my money wouldn't work well for me. The trick is to focus on the long term and to stay on track. If you believe in something, if you feel that you really need to invest in that X stock because you really really think its the best thing to do well just do it.

One recent example of my perseverance is New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI). I had invested in NFI back in January 2011. The stock had experimented a roller-caster ride. Shareholders had to vote at one point on the way they wanted their shares - all very complicated stuff. Overtime, New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI) had become what I had name one of my troublemaker stock - a stock which value play the yo-yo and is down most of the time.

I never gave up on the stock because its located on Canada Wild West and I like the look of their buses lol

I worked on impression more than anything else. But I stick to it and I taught that holding was the right thing to do. I remembered now today something that Derek Foster (oh no not him again!!!! ahaha) said in an email (because he had the courage to reply to me like every single times). It was something saying that if the creditable of a company remain intact, that it could worth it to hold in a stock.

Of course, its always much more complex than that but back than, I haven't received that email from Derek Foster so I was even more ignorant and clueless. But I wanted to hold.

It can become very difficult overtime to hold on to some difficult stocks, the troublemakers one. But it something you get use to and can even make fun of by naming those stock troublemakers. So I had my troublemakers, and i still have troublemakers today.

But NFI is no longer from the list. NFI is now very closed - just a few bucks away - from the amount of my original investment. This is quite spectacular knowing how much this stock went through since 2011. And those are the kind of things we Canadian have to become very proud of. Of the hability to our businesses to rebuild themselves, to move on. Not all succeed. Its always a very personal choice to stick on to difficult holding. But if you believe in those stocks and have faith in them, you should no let them go like garbage. Our economy is not garbage. We need to celebrate the power of our Canadian economy, even if a guy at the name of you know who... aHH what the heck, let's name him again ok, one more time.. DEREK FOSTER lollll AND Jean-François Tardif. Well those 2 are involved in the US market when the US is absolutely very an awful place to be.

I don't want to encourage a develop country who doesn't care enough about its very own citizens to give an equal access to everyone, from prostitutes, poors, homelesses, to a free healthcare system. There's some people who are in desperate need of health care and it is extremely sad to hear stories of bankrupcy and stuff like time, complete misery because the US system doesn't care and is just obviously a wholly bag of shit.

I don't want to support hypocrisy in any kind of way. This is why I care about the Canadian market and that I am almost 100% Canadian invested. As Canadian, its our responsibility to make our businesses shine inside our portfolio. We are better. We are Canadians!

I was right about NFI and I hope to recover from my investment mistakes.

This is why Jean-François Tardif and Derek Foster are 2 men very very important in my life. But there's not only men, there's women too. Like Susan Brunner, for example.But I prefer to talk about men if you don't mind.

I began investing in stocks are reading Derek Foster books and I made a fortune on his stocks. ENF, ENB, PPL, CDL.A, etc.

As for Jean-François Tardif, he always turned me on while he was a hedge fund manager at Sprott. So when I heard he was launching a fund of his own, I jumped on the occasion, I even got in the initial public offering of his fund. I was excited because I saw the opportunity to cover for my investment mistakes. His fund was going to perform very well, I would do some great $$$ on him and it will have cover for my investment mistakes. But on date of today, Jean-François Tardif fund haven't deliver yet.

I am still waiting.

But in the meantime, I am getting richer my by own way.

Stuff like Black Diamond Group Limited (BDI) - a stock I hold - had performed very well lately. Just go check it out.

That is what I call a girl in action. The mister Jean-François doesn't want to perform? Well, wake-up now or later Jean-François, I don't really need you..... or almost.
  

A future King is one day old today; long life to the King!

Its been a little while since I haven't post anything here. I had been busy and so far I had a nice summer. I am going home to New Brunswick tomorrow night for a couple days. I hope the weather will be nice because my suitcase is too small to bring everything. I am bringing my laptop, so in case I am getting on a blogging and its raining and the weather suck, you might hear from me. Because if it rain, I will stay inside and watch TV.

My non-registered portfolio is at $118 851, which is quite good. I had received some very great dividend distribution in July so far. Its looking quite good for a $600+ in dividend income for July. i am considering a little trip in August, but I don't know exactly where. I have a few choices: the Mont-Tremblant, the Massif of Charlevoix or... Ottawa. My brother is in Ottawa - and also Derek Foster lol. I like Ottawa but after a while, it can get boring. And I am very use to it so I was thinking the Mont-Tremblant because someone at work is from there and said the lakes are nice. And I always wanted to go there. Its a tourist destination, but even more in winter.

According to Revenu Quebec, my annual income exceed the 50k. And according to them, I own them an extra $12... Its completely hilarious. Yeah, suck me Quebec, suck me. Get everything you want from me but hell, let me go to New Brunswick. I guess the $12 could be right because here in Quebec, we pay for the health insurance. I haven't see a doctor in more than 10 years, but yeah, I am going to pay the f f BS health insurance. I am in very good health, I never missed a day of work in my life, so Quebec province, don't get me on my nerve, I don't want to benefit from your health system, my imagination is greater than everything you can offer. I have the power to take of myself by my own. I have the control over the greatest power - meaning the great me lol.

It make me laugh sometimes people going to the gym, training very very hard and after, having all sort of health problem and injuries. My health philosophy is the following: my body can naturally take the shape that it want, as long as it doesn't get overweight. I could certainly work on losing weight but if my body feel the need to have extra curves, why should I beat it and treat it badly? I have a great body line. The charm is all in the line. What doesn't stick to the outside is not that a big deal because its or like extra huge. Its curvy, its sexy, its all me.

And yes, I have pack my bathing suite in my suitcase, don't worry. Got to be proud of what God gave you as assets and show it all in a distinct and graceful way and manners.

Skinny girls are not at there place on the stock market. It take bones, curves, a good health and good psyche just to have anything to do with it. The past couple weeks had been very difficult.

A commentator just wrote something saying that I won't received so much negative comments if I would be more transparent. Hey, mother f, if having access to my debt portfolio, my portfolio AND my personal diary is not enough for you, don't get on the mother, get on yourself and do on yourself okay? Is that clear enough? Am I transparent enough now?

Like I am writing about everything and I am being asked for more. I cannot show more if not myself completely naked but that's a pleasure you won't be able to savor, if not certainly not here and publicly. Because I am the Queen, I am the Dividend Girl Princess and you have to respect that. I am giving away a mix of good and bad information for absolutely free on my blog, so don't ask too much.

I could certainly post an update of my portfolio but I said it in the past, I will say it again. I only publish update of my portfolio when it is up. Otherwise, in pretty much all of my posts, I disclose the value of my non-registered and how much left I have available on my margin account. What can be more transparent than that? Especially my Debt section. If I wanted to play and to fool, I wouldn't have publish a Deb section, I wouldn't have tell about my failures to save more money, I wouldn't have explain that in deep margin and its consequences.

I know it must be very hard to accept but there is no doubt that the perfection is just right here on this blog. There cannot be a more tangible financial blogger. It is just so very real.

So now, time have come to applaud your favorite princess okay?

Because this is all what it is about. I want my readers to be at my feet, to be totally in to me. If your not that into me, time for you to move on. I want a bunch of unsex lovers.

My money moron budgeting experience

Last week, I watched a couple episodes of The Money Moron and it gave me the courage to look a bit more deeply in my living expenses for the next 2 weeks. I gave myself a $100 for 2 weeks. I busted the amount by $21.54. But it was a bit out of my control. I had paid a Marichito I think its called at Starbuck for me and a co-worker. It cost me $10 right there. And yesterday, the weather was extremely hot in Montreal, so after spending the afternoon outside, I decided to go to the movies. Nothing better to beat the hot heat of the summer. Once out, I saw a parade, Just to Laugh Festival was beginning and it was their parade. I am already at $121.54, but I have everything I need for next week. So my personal challenge will be not to spend a penny next week. I doubt I can make it happen because I am a coffee addict - especially Second Cup coffees. So I may spend 10 bucks in I have in pennies but it won't be more than that.

My $121.54 included some makeup and eating out. So I think that I could survive without too much trouble on $70 per week on regular week. So from now on, I will stick to cash and keep my receipt and look at my expenses once a week.

Here's what my budget will look like:

Rent: $610
Grocery, coffees, other: $280

Student Loan: $98
Credit Card: $37
Laundry: $30

Cell phone: $40

Internet: $23
Banking fees: $6

TOTAL: $1 124

I had been paying cash for my stuff, leaving my credit cards at home. I also kept all of my receipts. It make me realize that I may had spent too much on makeup, eating out and entertainment. I stay more at home, which is not exactly a bad thing now that the must of the summer are behind, the Francopholies and the Jazz Festival. There's currently the Just for Laugh Festival downtown.

I bring my lunch at work everyday and I try to skip my morning coffee at the Second Cup. A medium coffee is at $2.42 if I recall at the Second Cup. That represent alone $12.10 per week. and does don't include the lunch coffee or afternoon coffee or weekend coffee. I brought a cup at work and some tea bags. The taste doesn't compare to my lovely Second Cup, but its a compensation. I realize I had been spending too much on coffees.

I usually bring my lunch to work, but I sometime skip one or two day. The cost to that laziness is around $10 each time.

I am not in need of any new summer clothes, so I won't buy anything else. On that point, I don't have problem to skip the shopping. I don't like to have too many clothes in my closet. At a point, where are you doing to store all your stuff anyway?

If I can respect the $1 124 budget, I will be able to save around $1 700 per month (from paycheck and dividend income). Its quite interesting to realize that the amount of saving is larger than the amount that is being spend for my living. Its a must because I go to New Brunswick a couple times a year and also a few times per year in Ottawa where my brother is.

I always been great to save money, but on the past couple of months, I had been spending too much on entertainment mostly. Having total control over your budget will help not only to save more money, but also to become financially independent. Even while working in a great job, where everything seem to be fine for the next couple years - that's what it is in the immediate - but the situation could changed.

Most people who completed a university and are living in Canada will find themselves in a comfortable situation. However, it is  important to stick to the basic because you never knows when it could turn ugly, you never knows when you'll need your saving to rely on. Its better to always be prepared for the worst. That's why I not a fan of home or condo ownership, and that's why I think no one should be spending more than 10k on a car. Instead of buying luxuries and moving in that 200k condo, the real luxury is money saving. A cool expensive car or condo - its not what will be able to support your living. Its actually the opposite direction. A condo/house and car represent increase your expenses and increase the amount you need for your living.

I am really not comfortable with the purchase of a new car or getting enroll on a mortgage. And I feel its a bad choice for the middle class to chose to get enroll on a mortgage or purchase a new car. A new car cost a fortune in insurance. But that's not the worst. A car doesn't gain in value, but decrease in value. And its terribly easy to get involve in a car accident. There's some expenses that exist for the rich only and a new car is a concrete example of that.

On the other hand, a house or condo will mostly appreciate in term of value, but with the actual economy, I wouldn't take that for granted. When you get involve in a mortgage, you need a job to pay for it. It mean you totally rely on your job for the next 20-30 year of your life to pay for the damn mortgage. Is it really what financial freedom is about?

When Gail asked her guest what their money goal is, the answer is usually to get a home. Gail always respect the goal without saying anything about it. What she does is that seek for ways to arrive to that goal. She totally respect her guests in what they want out of life but I don't. I don't think a home is a good goal. Its a goal projected by our society. Its not a personal one that the individual set up by him or herself. A home is very costly because of the municipal taxes. Each year, taxes increase for no reason, but home owners have to deal with that. So you have the mortgage, all the utilities that come with it, like electricity to pay and all the municipalities taxes. How the middle class is supposed to pay for all that? Once done, there's no room left for saving. Its catastrophic.

I never dreamed of owning a nice expensive car, I never dreamed of having my own home. Those are things that are not important to me. My dream are much bigger. I had been born without any luxury needs - if not being entertain and Second Cup coffees.

Anyway, I already have a home in New Brunswick that me and my brother will inherit one day. Its a little house, nothing fancy, but we have a nice view on the Maine. So is there anything else I should asked for? Income taxes are lower in New Brunswick - actually lower than in Quebec! Because in New Brunswick, we understand that people will spend less if they are taxes too much. Lowe taxes mean a bigger impact on the economy. And too high taxes is not classy, its being disrespectful to the citizens. In New Brunswick, we have class and we have money, we know how to manage ourselves. New Brunswickers are the best at everything.

:) !!!!! 

Fact is, I don't want anyone to have to rely on their employer to make ends reach each month. Businesses are there to make money. Don't expect them to be generous. If they stop making money, you'll get laid off. That's why the power of saving on the income you currently earn from an employer is precious. Its our job to make the best out of it.

My only goal is to increase my dividend income and, why not, pay out some debt. Because I won't be able to retire very safely if I hold too much debt. Currently, my annual dividend income is set up at $6 681, about $556 a month. I am not missing terribly much in order to pay my minimum living expenses. This is why the dividend income is sooo interesting and that's why I don't leave Derek foster alone. I won't be able to escape the rat race anytime soon, but the willingness is quite sexy. And its important to diversify our source of income.

I haven't work too much on my online articles and my self-employed work lately but hey, summer is too short not to enjoy it. In the meantime, pushing the savings is the thing to do.

Welcome in my non-registered portfolio BCE Inc. (BCE) and Stella-Jones Inc. (SJ)!

The transfer of my Data Group Inc. (DGI), Sprott Inc. (SII) and Chorus stocks over my TFSA is completed. In result of that transfer, my non-registered portfolio closed yesterday session at $116 126 and the effect was spectacular; I had a gain of 8% in my portfolio. The gain is in result of the transfer of a couple of losers of mine over my TFSA. And during that time, my margin has left $10 714 on it.

But now, the gain are even more. The reason being quite simple, its because I used this week paycheck to invest in 2 new stocks: BCE Inc. (BCE) and Stella-Jones Inc. (SJ). Stella-Jones is new to my non-registered portfolio, but its not all new to the Dividend Girl. I had been holding on some Stella-Jones stock in my portfolio since March 2013. I plan to perform a long time trade on this one. My plan is to sell my Stella-Jones stocks once they will have gain 60%. It may take a while, but if lucky, I will be able to cash in some great return in 2-3 years and, why not, even earlier.

In result of today latest purchase, my non-registered portfolio is at $117 825.94, +10%, $10 700+. And now, let keep things that way!

That's nice! However, keep in mind, I had lost a couple thousands on the losers I had transferred over my TFSA. The reason why I transferred them over is that I didn't want to sell them. And since SII, DGI, CHR.B had lose their loan value, I decided to transfer them to my TFSA. Its a decision that can be easily critical, but it is my decision.

I made a great deal of money on Stella-Jones Inc. (SJ) inside my RRSP account, so I decided to repeat the experience in my non-registered account. I also decided to let know Derek Foster about Stella-Jones because time had come for the man to get back on the Canadian side. See what I mean? So does Derek Foster knows Stella-Jones? And if so, does he likes the stock?

Do you want to find out?

Me tooo!!

Ok so here it goes:

"I am familiar with the company (railway ties and utility poles).  Good, simple business and very low-tech, which is great.  I just don't know what keeps competitors from competing and undercutting their price?  Is their comparative large size a benefit that keeps costs down?  I don't think customers seek out their products specifically, so they need a cost advantage with a commodity product...  I feel I've mostly missed the boat already - up almost 100% over the last year....but the whole market has been on a tear the last year or so...

 

Thanks for emailing and hope you enjoy your summer also.  Cheers, Derek"

Well, one fact for sure, I haven't miss the boat because I had been on Stella-Jones case for the past couple of months. Did I pay too much today for my new investment in Stella-Jones? I don't think so. Future will tell is sexy kitten was right or wrong on this one.