My overtime is back!

I get all excited on Friday evening when I learn that overtime was available for the weekend. But what I dislike most about it is the fact that I learn it by another co-worker that overtime was available. Some co-workers had been called, other where tell at the work place itself that overtime was available, but no general announcement was made. Since December, I have been working roughly 50 hours per week at that job. So I really didn’t like at all to learn it by somebody else that overtime was available. Like if I was not a good worker or something like that.

But another is that they required that we do the whole shift, a 7.5 one. Usually, on Saturday and Sunday, I only work part-time shift. I don’t want to burn myself to dead, since I work also part-time in a survey job. It might be the reason why I didn’t learn about it, since they are use to see me working part-time shift on Saturday and Sunday. I would have appreciated it if someone had told me that overtime was available anyway, since there was none available for quite a while now. Anyway, I plan to stay at that job for a year. After what I will probably have my 50 000$ and I will be able to move forward. After what I will have gain experience and be able to find a job someplace else that pay better.

So yesterday, I went to work, I did the whole shift and I was very tired. I have a cold and I had been sick lately. I have a bad headache. I slept late today and stay in bed.

So it’s why today I slept late and stay at bed. I didn’t want to work today. I find it already hard to go to work yesterday, even if I only begin at 11h. I could have work again today, but I am too tired and prefer to stay home and write on my blog. I miss blogging everyday like I use to do. But it’s kind of impossible now, with that work schedule from 9 am to midnight. I find myself quite lucky to find a part-time job that fit in my other full-time job. I just hope things remain they are until the end of the year.

Up, up, up!

Wow! My mutual funds are doing so well at this time. And I didn't any money I have invest yet in my TD Waterhouse account. I was planning to maybe add an extra 2 000$, which made 6 00o$ in total. I have too much money in my banking account and that money is doing absolutely nothing. And I really think the iShares are a good place to start. I couldn't start with the real thing right away, even if I read Derek Book's. I am not completely feeling secure about stocks because I didn't do my own search.

And also about that DRIP thing he explains in his book, I am not feeling that sure about it. It's too difficult for me to invest monthly. Just like for my RRSP. I prefer to invest all in one time. I didn't register to any DRIP yet.

I had been quite busy at all kind of things. And since I work from 9 to midnight from Monday to Friday, there's not too much I can do during week days. But I like it because time pass really quickly and money just keep coming in my bank account. I work at really low salary job and for the studies I made, I deserved much more. But at this time, let say everything fit well together and I don't mind too much.

Next week is going to be better because I have Saturday and Sunday off and I will be able to do my search and maybe, purchase my first iShare units. Finally.

Getting close to my first 50 000$

I am only missing a bit more than 13 000$ to reach my first 50 00$. I pay my credit cards each month, everything is going smoothly. I have more than I expect in regular saving. Which is good, because for next year, I exactly have 7 120$ that I can invest in my RRSP. Knowing I invest the max that I can in my RRSP each year, I need to have 7 120$ ready for next year. And 7 120$ is a lot of money.

It’s been my first weekend off since a really long time and I enjoyed it at… the Library lol. I didn’t get a card from there, so I subscribed myself and borrow some DVD and books.

I have registered myself to the eServices of TD Waterhouse, to avoid those fees for inactivity. I once get confuse because I am using the French site and on the French site, eServices is being translated by CyberServices. They should had keep the same name, would had been less confusing. Anyway, I went thought the whole site and it’s appear to be really easy to sale and buy shares. I have 4 000$ in there, ready to get started in the wonderful word of stocks.

I had an eye on the iShares for quite some times now and I would maybe like to invest 4 000$ in one type of iShare. The trick is that I will pay 29$ for any 1 to 1 000 stocks being bought or sale, so it didn’t worth it buying 1 000$ in about 4 iShares, because it will cost me 116$, before taxes… I am so used to buy a little over here, a little bit over there… Those times seem to be over for me. I just now to do my search on the iShares more seriously and get ready to buy my first stock.

Another week

It’s been my third week working at my full and part-time job, all during week days. It’s not as bad as I taught it will be. I can actually wake up at 6h45 to hit my job at 9, work there until 13h30, run to my full-time job. My work schedule had changed at my full-time job so I might be able to set an appointment at the RBC to open my free banking account. That way, I will finally be able to take a look at my investments and see if the money is still there….

I use to work at another job during the weekend, which was my third job, but recently, I really begin to dislike it there. Today I was passing by the office and it’s seemed like they were close. I did some overtime at my full-time job today (my overtime is back). I prefer to do some overtime than continuing to work at that part-time job. Once, I had call to cancel a shift, I wasn’t able to work. But they finally never cancel the shift and they call me to know what was going on… Which I find very unprofessional since I had call and speak to someone about it. Anyway, it’s been 2 weeks since I didn’t work there.

But things are going pretty well for me anyway. I just need to keep going on like this and I will probably reach that famous first 50 000$ before the end of 2008.

Because it's all about money

Everything is going so well at this time for me. My mutual funds are doing ok, my TD Waterhouse is now open, I am about to bought my first stocks, I have a part-time job, I might have overtime available at my full-time day job on weekends and I am only missing like about 15 000$ to reach my first 50 000$. Finally.

But, I had purchase clothes, 150$ for a spring jacket…. So expensive but so pretty, I couldn’t just not buy it. I got my hair cut, it cost me something like 10$, and buy 2 pair of jeans, and a new t-shirt, and a night cream of Yves Rocher that I didn’t even applied yet… All for 219.81$. Dutch.

I know it’s not that much, but I try to manage everything with really tight budget…

I get my taxes done, it will be done by next Saturday, and it will cost me 160$... I calculate my income after taxes, and I almost reach the 45 000$. I made around 43 000$.

So my extra expenses for this month is about of 379.81$. Not too bad. I am just missing a pair of sandals for this summer. After all, I will be done with shopping.

I now have an account with TD Waterhouse

It wasn’t that difficult to open an account with TD Waterhouse. It was not difficult at all. But the funniest part was when the girl asks me what I wanted to do with the account. I told her I wanted to buy one stocks of all of the above (I had my list I show her). Than, she tried to understand me, saying that it will cost me 29$ for each stock I buy. I didn’t provide more information on why I wanted to buy one single share of each. I wanted to open the account as quickly as possible. I told her I wanted to open the account on today, and that I had previously had purchases GIC and mutual funds with TD, and that I now wanted to purchase stocks.

Is it that difficult to understand?

One thing, TD Waterhouse has no connexion with the regular TD. When I presented my TD card, she told me she didn't need it, that she couldn't access it. That kind of information is always good to know.

I had a problem, like I don't have any Quebec ID. I couldn't find my license. And let say it, I don't want any Quebec ID. I don't like being here. Quebec is the worst province of Canada. So I told her I had invest in RRSP in Quebec with TD this year, and that she could verify my TD account if she wanted. But she told me she couldn't access to that account.

After she was done with her questions, everything went fast. And it was so quick that the girl at TD Waterhouse didn’t even present herself to me, she never told me her name. Wow.

Anyway, I don’t care, my account is now open, but I cannot access it via Internet yet. TD is too slow.

It was really easy to open a brokerage account. No appointment need, as I already had an account with TD for investments. I just need to present myself to a TD Waterhouse with 2 pieces of ID. From the date the account is creating, I had to wait 2 business days. And than, I call their IT team that have another name to combine both account – TD Waterhouse and regular TD. When I call, they also provide a password, which is a temporary password to buy and sell stocks. I only call this late Friday night, so the combination should be ready by Wednesday. I proceed with a first 4 000$. The only thing is that anywhere between the one to 1 000 shares, it cost 29$ per operation of that type. But I don't mind. I will buy and hold forever.

Once both accounts will be combined in one, I will be able to register to eService. That way, I won’t have any fees, and I will avoid the inactivation fees.

I just cannot wait for next Wednesday.

I want my overtime back

I was very use to do some overtimes at my job, as they offer overtime to everyone almost every single day since I begin there, around 4 months ago. But now, for a reason or another, they don’t aloud people to do overtime now, which very disturbed the employees I know there. A bunch of people had quitted the job, some during the training, other weeks after they begin at the job.

I am staying there only to get experience in a call center. I know call center are not being consider as good jobs, it might only be the case in India, but still, I love working in a call center because there’s always or almost always work that need to be done, as you receive calls most part of the day. I previous work at place, like in government places, and in another job in translation, which I quite because I find it terribly boring and I was tired, trying to please the stupidest people of the whole world.

I won’t say things are incredibly better now, but still, when I arrived to work, I connect and I deal with customer, not with unfriendly co-worker, at least. And at this point, I really don’t pay too much attentions to details that disturbed me, because the only thing I care really about is reaching my first 50 000$. I am no longer trying to please no one and when I am not happy with something, I almost yell. Almost.

So let say that the part-time job I am starting on Tuesday just came at the right time because I was getting ready to quite my day-time job.

I am just not happy at the workplace and I want to quite working as soon as possible. Please God.

I will probably be able to reach my first 50 000$ in the next 10 months

It's going to be crazy, but I had training on Tuesday for a job I had applied to about 2 months ago. I am going to work there in the morning. In the afternoon and evening, I keep the current job I have and in the weekend, I keep that part-time job that’s sometimes going on and off. I am going no where with those bunch of all jobs paying less than 15$ per hour, but I don’t care that much, because I plan to get an income of 800$ weekly after taxes with this, and I know there’s no way I will be able to get 800$ weekly from a job after taxes, especially here in Montreal.

I read in Canadian Business the story of a man who kind of did what I am trying to do and I find it very fun to read.

I don’t know if I am getting anxious or something, or maybe it’s because I drink too much coffee, but last night, I barely sleep, and I really wanted too, and when I wake up to go to work this morning, my back really hurt for a major part of the day.

The pain is gone and I didn’t take anything. I took a look at my taxes paper for what I wish will be the last time for this year. I plan to get my taxes done by tomorrow. Only problem is I might need to do a photocopies of the paper. I am a bit anxious because the way it’s work, you had to leave your paper there and they get it done within 10 days.

I no longer go to H&R Block as they charged me an extremely high fee, 350$ for my taxes last year. I do not recommend H&R Block, especially if you do work as a self-employed, because they charged too much. When they charged me that 350$, I had 30 000$ and something in total income.

I just hope my tax papers won’t get lost.

I finally find a part-time job

I had received a call today regarding a part-time job. I had an interview back in January, but back than it didn’t work out, since I already had an evenings jobs. The part-time begin next week. I just hope it’s an easy job, because when working full-time, with a part-time job at the same time is barely possible.

I now have to do my taxes before next week, because after that, it will make it too difficult. I just can’t wait to make it done. I find it so annoying. I just don’t know how much it will cost me this year.

I call today TD Waterhouse and it’s seem like the info I find in the Lazy Investor are still up to date because I ask a couple of questions and everything was just like it was explained in the book. And good news is no need to take an appointment, I can just present there anywhere I wanted. So I will try tomorrow for TD Waterhouse and next week will be my taxes.

I just hope it will be easy at TD and it will be done quickly and smoothly.

So for next month, I just hope to be able to make around 3 000$ after taxes, but it might be difficult to achieve.

A very occasionally part-time job

I went to my job interview today, I forget to bring a resume with me, but it’s seem like it didn’t bother, and no one ask me for a resume while I was there. Its want fine, but the job is only occasionally on weekend. Like they were open today, but are close tomorrow… I believe they pay the minimum wage, I didn’t ask. I fill out a form, and that was all. Let say my search for a steady weekend part-time job continue. And I won’t mind working a few mornings a week.

So I work from 13h to 16h, and on my way back home, I wanted to go to the Chapters to read magazines, like I usually do when I am downtown and, a few block away, I notice there was a bunch of people in front of a store….. The store was Browns, and Paris Hilton was inside! There weren’t that much people outside, but she had arrived at 15h and she was still there past 18h. Actually, I stay there for a while, I was able to see her, signing autograph. After a while, my foot where hurting, so I went to the Chapter. To sit a bit, than went back to Browns, after back to Chapters as I couldn’t stand staying there too long... And around 20h30, Paris left the store. It might be a very long day for her because outside the store, it was saying she was supposed to be there between 15h and 17h, but she only left around 20h30, and from what I heard, her mother was with her. But I didn’t see her.

I just calculate my income in date of today. I am not doing that extraordinary well, but I am doing ok. I just need more cash, and it’s not by working on Saturdays for 5 hours that I will make it happen. I need more important cash flow.

Trouble co-worker

I had a co-worker of mine who had a trouble past. She’s VIH and had a criminal record, she caught catch buying drugs. And I get very anxious when she told me she had applied to a job at CIBC. The things are that she can be very nice, but at the same time, I caught her taking very nastily in my back. I used to hang out with her a little and we did volunteer work together for a foundation regarding VIH.

So when she told me she had been approved by CIBC to get a job there, I was really anxious because I didn’t want her to get into my investments and my credit card. I didn’t want her to have access to personal information on me. So for a couple of weeks, I wasn’t doing to well, but I felt a lot more better when she told me she finally didn’t get the job at CIBC. We work together at a call center and myself, I would like to work in the call center of a major bank. For now, I am not doing the move, as I feel ok where I am right now and the salary is good with overtime, since I can do so. And I work so hard just to be able to learn only the basic tasks of the job, I won’t go now and anytime soon, unless I get fired.

My trouble co-worker continues to search for another job and she keeps sending me some jobs offer. But I won’t change of job only because she wants me to do so and that she keeps making fun of me on behind my back. During daytime, things are ok, as we receive many many calls and everyone is busy. Our breaks and lunch times are not the same, so I barely see her. She might believe I am a complete idiot because she kept asking me to do volunteer work with her. I went with her one time. After I caught her making fun of me, she asks me again. And I refused to go with her.

Another I don’t like about her is that she touches unemployment insurance while working. Of course, she caught catch, and now, she has more than 10 000$ to pay to the government. She has all the money she needs to pay off the debt, but she keeps it, because she wants to buy a car. I don’t know what exactly she was thinking when she told me that, but yeah, I am a tax payer and she doesn’t have the right to live like a queen when I am paying 350 weekly on taxes of all sort. I just hate her and I don’t understand people like her. Her father is a doctor. I don’t understand what went wrong with her.

But it’s true that Montreal is a big city and there’s all kind of people living in it.

I have an interview Saturday for a part-time job

And it was about time! If it works out, I might be able to work 6 hours on Saturday and another 6 hours on Sunday. It will help out to pay my bills. But the thing is that I will miss Paris Hilton! Paris Hilton will be in Montreal to promote her shoes....... She will be at a shop call Browns or something like that located on St-Catherines... It's too bad I am going to miss her.

I had received a call from my late part-time job, saying I could work Saturday and Sunday of next week. Which I appreciate, but at the same time, I am getting upset, since they didn't give me this Saturday and Sunday. Anyway, I am going to see how things will turn out this Saturday at the interview. It's just too annoying.

To change of topic, my mutual funds are doing great, but I still did not recover from my lost. For some I am doing really well, some other so-so.

I didn't do my taxes yet and I still didn't call TD Waterhouse. I just have too many other things to do for now. Buy I can't wait to get started.

Job job job

It's now the end of March and I did a few things that need to be done for a while, like paying my credit card debt, by just hoping I will ever again have credit card debt.

Everything is going fine at my full-time job for now. It will be my 5th month there and so far so good, I plan to stay there for a while, since I make an average of 1 000$ paycheck every 2 weeks. And that income is after deductions.

But things are not going that smoothly at my part-time job, as they cut me again from work. When I call to give my hours for next week, they told me they didn’t have work for me anymore. I work there for about 7 months last year. They had a major slow down on January, but in March, they email me, saying I could work for them during evening and weekend if I wanted. I couldn’t work during evenings because of my full-time work, but I told them I could work on Saturday and Sunday...

And now, we are the end of March, and they are telling me I won't be able to work for them anymore... I am very upset about this, as I believed I could work on weekend for the next couple of weeks for them. Anyway, let say that, once again, my search for a part-time job continue. I just need to get over this and stop working for them and go on with something else. I am willing to do anything.

I began my search last week, I applied at 2 jobs. The 2 places were interest, but one is on evenings only, witch I can’t because I already work on evening at my steady job. The second one seems to be ok for now, but the thing is I got a hard time to get in touch with the recruiter, since I only have a pager. I return the calls, try to reach him a couple of times, but I wasn’t able to reach, which is very frustrated. I just hope I will be able to reach him tomorrow morning and hope that part-time job will work out.

Getting ready.... to do my taxes

I contact Caisse Desjardins a couple of days go regarding a problem I had. I didn't receive a tax paper, for Fidelity Frontiere Nord, for the simple and good reason that, according to them, they were not in the obligation to provide one for a reason that I still don't fully understand. But the good news is that now that I have all the papers in hand to proceed with the taxes.

I wanted to do my taxes by myself, but knowing how bad I am at calculating some time, I might just give this job to a professional. I have dozens of papers: from jobs, non RRSP investments, RRSP investments, bank savings account. I also have to declare something like 3 000$ as a freelancer, etc... The only thing I had left to do is to find myself someone who will proceed for me. And I just hope it won't cost me too much.

I have this, and I still have that search for a part-time job that continues. I would like to be able to do those taxes first, and after the taxes, and after open the eServices thing at TD Waterhouse. I could actually do the application online since I already have investments with TD, but as usual, I feel completely lost and I want to make sure I enroll to the right thing, as suggest in the Lazy Investor. So I might want to try to see if I can do this in person instead. I don't have that much to do, but when you work 50 hours weekly, time go past really quickly and I find it difficult to do everything, in reasonable time.

I like the all concept of "lazy" thing because, as it shows in the cover, it's a "no-thinking strategy" and no need to think or to work hard at it, because I already work hard enough. I am just way too curious about the "share certificate". I can't wait to have my first share certificate in hands.

Getting ready to purchase my first stocks

I just complete my second reading of Stop Working and The Lazy Investor.

I now feel more confident about the whole process regarding the purchase of my first stocks. I plan to follow the method explain in the chapter 9 of the Lazy Investor. I just hope it will work out for me. This is the perfect time for me, as I begin to have enough of mutual funds.

Once I recover from my lost, it could be a good idea to sale my mutual funds part to purchase only stocks. Someone who will have understood something from those 2 books will probably do so. For the money I had invest in mutual funds so far, I might want to keep the money were it is for now. Because once enroll in the whole process, it could be difficult to sale stocks if I am in need of money.

I first need to open a brokerage account. For the rest, I follow point per point the investing method explains in the chapter 9. What a chapter!

Another week at work

I have receive my pay today, another 1 000$ in my pockets. Today, the weather was so beautiful, I would have spend all day walking around and stuff but I have too much to do this morning.

I had applied on today for 2 part-time jobs and I received a response for one of them. I wasn't able to call back since I notice I had received a call around 4h30 this afternoon and I was at work at that time. So I will call tomorrow morning. I just hope there will be something for me for Saturdays and Sundays and maybe even a few mornings per week. I would like that. Because the part-time job I have right now is not very good, I am only working there this Saturday.

I notice price of units of my mutual funds want up again. I just hope it will continue like that for a while. I would like to recover from my lost. I didn't calculate my overall value for a long time and I am waiting for the good time.

In the overall, things are not going so bad, only thing is that I haven't did my taxes yet. I have one problem to resolve regarding a mutual fund, non RRSP investment I have with Desjardins. The problem is the following: I didn't receive any tax paper for the Desjardins Fidelity True North ® Fund. I have initially invest 1000$ in 2005. For 2007, I didn't receive a tax paper. So I call ACCES-D. I talk to a representative that told me that if the fund had produced an income less than 150$, than, they (Desjardins) don't produce the appropriate tax paper.

And how come?

I am a small investor, I am paying high fees for that Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund and I should receive the help I need in order to be able to fill the forms for my taxes properly. Or at least be able to make it done by someone else with the appropriate information. The problem is that the representative couldn't (or wouldn't, I don't know) provide me the information. The representative told me to call my Caisse Desjardins.

Which I did. But at the Caisse Desjardins, they told me who was kind of in-charge of my field at their Caisse. I call yesterday, left a message to the one I was supposed to talk too and in date of today, still no answer. How come an institution like Desjardins doesn't provide help to their small investors. How come they don't provide a proper tax paper?

At some point, I dislike RBC service (for a reason I didn't write about yet, but I will soon), TD (see previous post... outch) and now, it's Desjardins.

Now than ever, it's time to buy stock, following whatever strategy, and be no more under the authority of some whatever so call financial institution and declare my financial institution free freedom for the rest of my life. No more credit card debt, no more bank stupid mutual funds. JUST NO MORE.

It's going to be quite something for the tax, but I am going to do like Brian Mulroney, I won't declare my income. So it's not going to be really that of a problem next year. My hard time is over.

Of course I am not thinking a word of what I am saying.

Tomorrow, I will call ACCES-D, and ask to speak to a supervisor and drive everyone crazy with what might be an unusual request for them.

When I keep thinking about it, there might be plenty of small investors who, like me, had invest in non RRSP mutual funds. For those, when no paper is given, what are we supposed to do? Am I suppose to do like what I did for my ING Direct acount in 2005 and 2006, not to declare the income because no one ever send me a tax paper, as previously explain...

It is so complicate and I am so complicate myself.

Reading Derek Foster Books

I have been quite busy this weekend with work and it didn’t give me too much time to do what I really wanted to do: read Derek Foster two books I have bought from the Chapters located downtown on St-Catherine. It’s a good thing that it’s Eastern tomorrow, because I really need a brake and I really need to continue my reading.

It’s getting hard on me, since I finish work at midnight at my full-time job. And I had quite a few things to do as I didn’t receive the tax paper for ING Direct and for my Fidelity fund I have with Desjardins. As for ING, I find out that since I only made a few bucks with their interest, I won’t receive a tax paper. But the thing is I have that account with them since 2005 and since 2005, I didn’t declare any of the interest income I had received from them because they never send me a tax paper. But for this year, for a reason or another, I worried; I call, and give me the amount of the interest over the phone. So I don’t know what I going to do for 2005 and 2006, since I didn’t declare the interest gain. But does it really matter for less than 20$ per year of interest gain? I am all confused, as usual, and I don’t really need to do about it. Anyway, I am going to talk about it when processing with my taxes. So a lot is going on for me.

Unfortunately, my part-time job do not allow me to work both weekend days next week, which I don’t understand why, as they call be to come back to work. I was going to complain about this to them, but I decide to keep my mouth shut and keep them as backup. It’s really mean to them since I really was hoping to pay my complete rent with that money, but now, my hope is gone. I plan to take the day of tomorrow to apply to some part-time job. But at the same time, it’s not that a bad thing that I only work one day next week too, it gives me a little break. But at the same, I want a part-time on weekend really badly.

I was quite impress with my 2007 income, since I have earn more than 40 000$ in total. It’s quite nice, knowing than about 2 years ago, I barely hit the 25 000$. I really had a difficult time for work, as I once was in Ottawa, and before New Brunswick. I was quite happy to leave Ottawa, as I dislike their temporary contract with government agencies and their low pay. I wouldn’t like to work for the government for anything in the world. I get through a few contracts in Ottawa and I find them all extremely boring and poor work experience, as there was nothing much to do.

I want to post that final check to American Express to pay what I have left to pay, about 65$. So by the end of March 2008, I will be finally free of credit card debt. I continue to pay my regular expenses, with a Visa (I love Visa, it’s not like American Express, which seems to barely be accept where I go shopping). Only places I where able to pay with my American Express is at Wal-Mart and Reitmans. Otherwise, groceries store do not accept AE. But I like AE because of its Air Miles. And I don’t give a damn regarding that report that they didn’t want to translate in French. I just dislike living in Quebec sometime. I don’t like the mentality they have here and their law is too complicated. I just hope I will be able to do like Derek, retired early and move in another province, someplace near the sea. In a cool hot place in the Maritimes.

I really want to follow the strategy of Derek Foster to buy my first stocks and this time seems to be a good time to buy bank stocks. I begin to read The Lazy Investor, which I really like, as it’s describe step by step what you need to do to follow his strategy, which I won’t explain in much details here, as it’s his strategy. I wasn’t able to finish the book yet. And I have trouble to fully understand each steps. But anyway, I am going to study more deeply his books tomorrow. I also buy last week Stop Working, but I wasn’t able to begin the reading. Those two books are the first one I have buy since I graduated. It’s too bad I didn’t pay more attention to his work before because I could have done much better on reaching my first 50 000$. Tomorrow is Easter and it’s a good time to read, but as always, I have other thing to do. And it’s too bad stores are not open because I would had like to shop over for bargains; I need a new pair of jeans lol.

Not easy to work 7 days a week

I was so used to have my weekend off, I find it hard now to adjust and work 7 days per week. And with those taxes thing that need to be done and everything else, I can barely catch my breath. But one good news is that it's look like my mutual funds are not doing so bad, I got my pay yesterday and I am working this weekend, and also next weekend at the part-time job.

And another good news is that I only had left 62$ to pay on my credit card. If only I had known, I would have pay that 62$, I just send a 1 000$ check a couple of days ago. But it doesn't really matter, I will pay that 62$ on this month too and I will be finally over with my credit card debt. It's so easy for me to save money that it make it very easy to pay off that credit card debt I had for too long.

It's been a too busy week as I try to do one thing per day, before hitting back to work. It's not always easy. I had plan a bunch of things that were need to be done today, and I wasn't able to do all of them, but at least I am able to go through.

How to purchase stocks

I don’t know. I am ignorant on a lot of subject and especially finance, even if I have been doing kind of ok for now. I really don’t know how to proceed to buy stocks and what’s the safest and cheapest way to proceed. I really want to buy some of those Visa stocks and I just don’t know how to make it happen.

And here am I, browsing the Web, since I cannot sleep, just thinking on how I can purchases those Visa stocks. I might post a topic in Canadian Business and as usual, I going to eat a …… of ………… and I will be rude. Once again. Sometimes, I just like the way things are for me.

To change of topic, Caisse Desjardins were kind enough to reply to the email I send them about if my money was protected with them…. Of course the money is protected. I don’t know exactly what’s going on that day. Some women get bad temper, for me, around that time, I getting scare about loosing my money. I don’t know………

The fear is a little bit less now. But I can’t realize sometimes on how much I have money and I am currently making 650$ weekly after taxes and the only thing I do with that money is saving it and investing. It’s just not making any sense.

On my first 7 days of work for quite a time

I am used working 7 days a week, but this week that had just passed was once 7 days of work since last January. Let say I was used to sleep on weekend. I remember sleeping in on both Saturday and Sunday while working 50 hours weekly at my main job. But no more good sleeping in, I now get back that part-time job I used to have. And when I really think bout it, I don’t know if it really worth it because sometimes, it’s seem like I am going no where. But those taught never last for long, as I might the busiest smallest investor of all. :)

Anyway, I can sleep on Sunday until 10h30, 11h latest, without shower, as the work place is near where I live and because I only begin at 12. Time past really quickly at that job and I enjoy it. Whatever I do, I seem to enjoy, and I am so not difficult.

As we were working mailing stuff, a co-worker start telling on how much it was difficult for her to save money, as she like to shop too much. Than I told her it was easy to save money, as she just stop hanging up in shopping mall, that way she will begin saves more her money. I like to shop myself; I can shop for hours and hours in Montreal malls. My way of shopping is basically looking around, and not buying. I don’t like to spend my money around for nothing; it’s just the way I am.

We just caught on of those storms yesterday on Saturday. When I get outside after work, I went for groceries, and it was crazy, that mix of snow and wind. I also went to a book store for quite a time, I was looking for the books of Derek Foster, but I didn’t find them.

Budgeting

I try to figure out if I can reach my first 50 000$ this year without too much trouble. My new part-time is paying 10$ per hour. It’s not that much, but I couldn’t find better. Anyway, I will work on Saturday and Sunday, 7.5 hours. After taxes, I believe I will made 130$ weekly. At my full-time job, I made around 1015$ bi-weekly after taxes.

I calculate for one year to be positive, it make an annual income of 33 150$. From those, let say I take an average of 1 000$ for my living. 33 150$ - 12 000$ = 21 150$. I love to calculate, even if sometimes I made mistake. So yes, I will be able to make it for this year! I only wish I can continue working at both places for one full year. Not that I am difficult as an employee, but it happen I get fired because lack of work at some place I previously work. Last time it happen was at that part-time job I have, but they recently call m back. I now back there working on Saturday and Sunday.

I become very passionate about reaching my first 50 000$. Absolutely no one I have as close friends, or relatives know I am trying that hard to reach my goal. No one have any idea of what my goal is. I prefer to blog anonymously about it as a hobby and keep it private. And as I don’t have TV, I like to blog when I have nothing else to do.

Something else I would like to do is buy stocks. I would like to buy those Visa stocks when they will be available in Canada. I believe it’s a good investment since almost everyone has a Visa credit card. I have a Visa credit card myself that I try to pay off. I just excited about the idea of buying stocks in a near future.

I now have a part-time job

I had received the confirmation by email that I had a part-time job at a place I use to work. I was quite happy about it. I am going to work on Saturday and Sunday, but no longer than about 8 hours each day. I wonder if a lot of my late co-workers will still be there. For myself, when it happen they had a lack of work, I immediately began my search for something else and I receive my vacation pay, which help a little.

Because of this part-time job, I plan to give an extra 500$ tomorrow on my credit card and than, in 2 weeks, I will pay the rest that need to be pay and I will be finally be out of credit card debt for now. I hope to remain debt free for a long time. At least I will try.

Time pass way too fast and I just hope I will keep working at the 2 jobs for the upcoming weeks. I really need it.

Are Caisses Desjardins covered by the CDIC?

According to the CDIC Web site: “Some financial institutions that take deposits are NOT members of CDIC—for example, credit unions and caisses populaires, Canadian branches of foreign banks and some Canadian chartered banks. Your deposits with credit unions and caisses populaires may be covered by provincial deposit insurance programs. Canadian branches of foreign banks, and those Canadian chartered banks that are not CDIC members are required by law to inform you that they are not CDIC members and that your savings at such banks are not insured.”

So, are “Caisses populaires” are covered or not by the CDIC? My savings are with Desjardins, and I wonder if the money I have in my bank account is insured or not. I ask the question via email to Desjardins. I just hope to receive a response. If they response “NO”, I just don’t know what I am going to do.

In the list of institutions covered by the CDIC, I notice “Desjardins Trust Inc.”, but not “Caisses populaires Desjardins”.

Why does it have to be so complicate? :))))))))))))))))

Diversify, diversify, diversify……..

I had post a thread in Canadian Business Forum, which title was Mutual funds and bank bankruptcy: is there a risk?

I invest quite a lot in mutual funds offer by major Canadian bank. But always a fear remains: loosing my money. And not loosing it because of a recession or because of natural ups and down of stocks, loosing it because of another reason. And than came the idea of “bank BANK-ruptcy” lol or something else. But my first taught was bank bankruptcy because I had read in the forum that CIBC could face bankruptcy or something similar to that. Anyway, my only fear is to loose money in something similar that some small investors, who could have been myself, had live with Vincent Lacroix and other lost personalities of Quebec finance. I read quite a bit on those. Never from my life I want to loose my money in such a way.

So, I ask in my own little words if there was a risk of losing money if it happens that a bank declared bankruptcy. It might be seen like a stupid question to ask, but I just post it anyway. But I was happy that I did, because I learn interesting things. I got good responses. I am not scared of looking stupid, the only thing I am scared is about loosing money, but not loosing money because of ups and downs of the market. By loosing money in another way.

Anyway, from what I understand, GIC and money being in bank are safe if they are secured under CDIC. For savings and GIC, I am probably ok. Regarding mutual funds, the money remain mine since it’s money invest in stocks and not into the bank itself. And it’s make it more appealing now to buy stocks. I might start a thread on the really basic stuff about buying stocks. It’s seemed like the most important things of life haven’t been explained to me.

The reason I only invest in mutual fund offer by major Canadian bank is I believe it’s saver to invest through a bank than from a private institution, not to name them. The only way to be sure that my money is put at safe is to invest my money in different funds offer by different banks, and diversify, diversify, diversify…

I finally find a pat-time job! YE!

I didn't really find it actually, I got call back by the place I was working before. It's seem like they got a new contract or something, and they are now in need of people. I appreciate the fact they call me back to work, because I wasn't able to find a part-time job. I was going to apply to several job offers when I notice their email, at the old place, that they had send in date of today.

So I am going only work there on Saturday and Wednesday, for which I will made after taxes I believe something like 130$ weekly, which will cover my rent. I was getting tired of looking around for a part-time job and it's seem like my search is finally offer. I don't know for how long their contract will last for, but I am willing to take what they have to offer for now.

I wouldn't like to work more there than Saturday and Sunday because I already work 50 hours weekly at the other job. So let say I will have from now on a weekly income of 650$ after taxes, which is cool.

Doing it by my own

I get another 1 000$ paycheck for 2 weeks are work. And for the next pay, I am only missing 6 extra hours to reach 1 000$ for the next pay. So things are not going so bad after all. I also notice an ad in a newspaper for a part-time job that could match my present work schedule. I just need to apply to it. Since January, I have been looking around for a part-time job, but I wasn’t able to find one. So I really hope this one is the good one. I am getting use to the job I currently have, so it will make it easier for me to get another part-time job. Nothing really work out like I wanted in 2007, I just hope 2008 will be just a bit better for me, for jobs, investments, debts.

I was quite surprised to see my Visa bill of the past month: I only spend 170$ on my Visa. Which mean I only spend 170$ in groceries and other. I actually pay all my expenses with my credit card; I pay it all when I receive the bill. Or it’s what I am trying to do and I have been doing so. I scrapped my credit when I was about 24-25 by opening too much credits at the same time. Now I am 27, I don’t know what my credit is, but I keep paying each month my credit card bill, which was quite low for this February.

I am really getting good at the « non expense » thing; I am quite impressed with myself. I didn’t need to cut many things. I buy less coffee at cafe; it’s doing help a lot. I try to save as much as possible and I not having too much trouble to stop spending money around. I never had been a huge shopper, which help. I really cut on everything I could cut, that’s why my current budget for March is less than 1 000$:

Rent: 520$
Metro Pass: 67$
Other (food…): 170$
Student loans: 165$

That’s all…… It’s an inexpensive little living at 922$. I can make it with 922$ or less. Even if for this month, I would like a hair cut… ;)

Conclusion: it’s possible to make it and life with about 1 000$ if not less, even with a hair cut.

There are a bunch of things that I don’t have and I sometimes think of buying, like a microwave, a TV, a sofa, DVD, MP3, a new digital camera... But each times, I just keep looking, and I never buy. I keep thinking on how much I had to work hard for that money: that is what stops me of buying what I don’t really need. But I have to say, it could be nice to sit on a nice couch, instead of that chair that I am currently sitting on right now.

Anyway, I believe life won’t remain like this forever. The biggest challenge for now is to pay off that terrible credit card debt and to remain debt free. Even if I wrote earlier that I wanted to invest in more mutual funds, I prefer for now to just pay off that credit card debt first and after, I’ll see. I just need a part-time job and it’s too bad I cannot get quickly what I want.

On how I will benefit from the Tax-Free Savings Account

Yesterday, the Canadian government presents his budget and they came with something that similar to RRSP but in better: a Tax-Free Savings Account. In better because it will be possible to withdrawn at anytime and the money taking from the Tax-Free Savings Account will be.... TAX-FREE! Wow!

I read from here and there about this new product. And some had in opinion that only rich will benefit from it. I am not rich, and I am able to save a little bit less than half of my income every year on an average of 30 000$ after taxes income. So if I can do it, a lot of people can too. I just don't like the idea that only rich can do this or that... Whatever..... I invest the maximum in my RRSP, pay off debt and invest in non RRSP.... Desjardins had this kind of idea regarding the Tax-Free Savings Account and it is my bank. Would it be time for me to switch of bank?

I am really excited about it. The Tax-Free Savings Account will be available starting January 2009 and I can't wait for next year. The maximum aloud for 2009 is 5 000$. I just hope they will let everyone invest 5 000$, no matter what are our income. I have thousand and thousands of dollars in investment and savings, it will be so good if a part of my investment will be put in a tax-free account!!!! On a short term basis, I might not see a huge difference, but in a long term... WOW! I can't wait for January 2009!

Proudly Canadian :)

On how it's important to pay credit card debt

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

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

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

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

Non RRSP investments and taxes

I find MorningStar very good to find any kind of information regarding mutual funds. As I previously post, I would like to invest a little 500$ in a mutual fund that still have a good return after taxes. I was than thinking of the CIBC Monthly Income Fund.

To find information, I consult the MorningStar Quicktake Report. Each Canadian mutual fund has one. I really enjoy Morningstar because their Web site exists in both French (yes!) and English. When I don’t understand something in English, I just switch for French… and vice versa… lol, since I do most of my financial reading in English.

I try to consult their articles as much as I can but one time, I invest in the RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund without doing any search. I didn’t do any because I told myself if it’s an O’Shaughnessy, it’s a good fund. And it’s happen that the author of the review of this fund in Morningstar, David O'Leary, believe that the management fees of the fund are too high, and as highlight at the beginning of the review “We are disappointed by this fund's higher fees.” And just to let you know, the same analyst in saying the following about my super RBC O'Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity: “Don't let the recent dip in this fund's performance concern you.” I plan to keep that fund forever. I am all proud of that fund, even if my initial investment of 3 000$ drop down to near 1 000$. This fund is now close to new investors……

In date of today, I regret that choice because since I acquire that fund, I lost my initial investment, which was of 1 000$. In date of today, my 1 000$ now only worth 762.78$. So why should I pay higher fee if the fund is not doing well? I believe O’Shaughnessy magic trick to invest might only work well in countries were the economy is in good shape. From what I notice, International funds don’t have a very good return since inspection, Canadian mutual funds are way better. I would like to invest in Canadian mutual funds only, but I understand it’s important to diversify a bit my portfolio. That’s also the reason why I also invest more than 2 000$ in the RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$, a US funds. I don’t really like to invest outside Canada, because I believe the best funds are here.

What I dislike about RBC is that they ask too much for non RRSP investment. They ask for a minimum of 1 000$ for non RRSP investment. Compare to TD who just ask a cute little tiny 100$, the difference is huge. And CIBC only ask for minimum of 500$ for non RRSP investment. So why should I stick to RBC? The only reason why I begin buying funds at the RBC is because of the O’Shaughnessy mutual funds.

While I was doing some search in the Morningstar Web site, I was quite surprise to find out that a mutual fund I previously invest in, the RBC Global Resources fund, was quote five stars for after taxes value. I have a good return after taxes for that fund and I didn’t even know.

Still no part-time job yet

I am so disappointed, I didn't find a part-time job yet and I am in need of one now. I went to a Linkin Park concert at the Bell Centre on February 22. I gave 40$ to my friend for the ticket, but to that 40 bucks, add money for beer(s), a t-shirt at 35$, and 10$ for stickers… At the end, it do cost a lot, and I gave 1 000$ this month to pay on my credit card. It’s a good thing I don’t go out too much often, it do cost a lot. I am just thinking about my New Year Eve, when I finish the night in an hotel room with the same friend because we couldn’t find a taxi….. or were too … to find one…….. “Taxi, taxi, we need a taxi….”, that’s the way I call for a taxi when I am … But the taxi never come, so we had to find a hotel room, which was easier to find than a taxi…lol!

My 1 000$ check for my credit card, had been taked. I had to say bye bye to a 1 000$. I have been with that debt for a long time now so it was about time I get serious about getting out of credit card debt.

I should be ok to get another 1 000$ on my next pay check. I just hope things will remain the same for the next 2 months. I really want to pay off that credit card debt for goods. But what appear difficult for me now is to remain debt free. Once that credit card is pay off, my student loan will remain. That one doesn’t bother me that much. There was a period of time, was before I start blogging, were I pay 1 000$ per month on my student loan. I did so for about 6 months. Which shortly after I invest in my first fund, Fidelity Frontière Nord. I know I can stay debt free, I just have to stay focus.

My search for a part-time job continues. I had found some part-time job; it could have work out if not of my work schedule. I didn’t really try that hard to find a part time job. I am going to look more seriously this evening. And than, I hope it will work out. I was thinking maybe just work on Saturday and Sunday. During weekdays, my shift at work only begins at 3 pm.

I am off today from my job, but I sleep most of the day. I begin my day at 3 pm, and I have a funny taught, I would like to invest 500$ in the CIBC Monthly Income Fund, non RRSP of course, I don’t want the nightmare to continue… (see previous post “RRSP nightmare” )

My TD 2007 RRSP Portfolio: the best of the best

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

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

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

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

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

Missing 18 000$ to reach my first 50 000$: can I make it this year?

If I want to reach my first 50 000$ this year, I will have to save an average of 1 500$ per month, which I find quite difficult to do, since for now I have to work 50 hours each week to receive bi-weekly a 1 000$ paycheck. Unfortunately for me, I cannot live on 500$ monthly. My average expenses for a month is about 1 200$. So I am currently able to save something like 800$ per month for now, with the one and only job I have. I now only have one job.

Starting from next week, I will have a regular schedule, which I ask for a long time ago. I am supposed to get a regular schedule, with weekend off. It will make it much easier to get another job, a part-time one. I was also thinking about trying to make money from Internet. I try it before, but it didn’t work out. But I can’t say that I really try.

To be able to save 1 500$ per month, I will need to have a monthly income of 2 700$ per month, which is not impossible and it’s quite realizable to make an extra 700$ by having a second job.

But the problem is that we are almost at the end of February, and I know I won’t be able to save this month, March and April that much. I ma trying to pay that 2 381.17$ debt I have in credit card. I paid 1 000$ this week, I will pay 1 000$ in March and in April, I will pay the rest, which should be around of 400$ or so…. It’s even more difficult to save because of this credit card debt, but fortunately, it’s not a major credit card debt.

It will be quite difficult to reach my first 50 000$ this year, but it’s not impossible. First step is to find a part-time job as quickly as possible.

About the CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund

I had invested 500$ at the end of January and ever since them, I just keep making money on that fund. At the date of January 22, I had 501.75$; January 23: 502.38$; January 28: 518.22$; February 1st: 505.94$; and February 15: 523.54$. In less than 2 months, I made 23.54$ with the fund, which is very good, considering the market crisis we are currently on.

Things are not so bad, but I still didn’t recover from the money lost in January. I had lost the amount of the initial investment for many funds.

I just keep thinking of what would have happen if only I could have invest about 10 000$ or more in the CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund, instead of 500$. I would have made 470.20$. And than I keep thinking of why didn’t I invest more…. One thing I would like to do is to invest 10 000$ a little bit around, keep the money in the fund for the minimal period without getting any penalties, which is I believe 60 or 90 days, but I will have to verify that, and than, as soon as I begin to make money in the fund, sale my parts, all of them, and continue like that to invest for short period only… If I want to invest that way, I know I will probably tell to buy stocks and sell them whenever I want, but I still prefer mutual funds at this time.

When it will get to point where I will notice I have a lot of money, which will probably be when I will reach my first 50 000$, I than probably buy my first stocks. I don’t know how to proceed to buy and sell stocks.

I hit the magic 1 000$ on my pay check....

I work 100 hours in 2 weeks, but it had worth it, I just receive a little bit more than 1 000$ as pay and I really appreciate it. I am going to be able to pay 1 000$ on my credit card. After what I will only have left 1 300$ to pay. I plan to pay another 1 000$ next month, and the other month, 300$. In another 2 months, I will be done with this credit card debt. Finally!

I could pay it all immediately, but for security reason, I prefer to pay a little by little. And a 2 months basis is a good schedule. After what the next money will be put for RRSP.

I just refresh a little bit my blog. I believe it look better this way rather than the all pink blog.

RRSP nightmare

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

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

I calculate and calculate again......

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

TOTAL: 5 637.78$

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My projects for 2008

Now that I am done with the 2007 RRSP contribution, I have other project I am thinking about, like paying that 2 000$ and something debt that I have in credit card and finding a second job. I have been able to get a regular schedule at work, so now it's going to be easier for me to find a part-time job.

I had previously found a part-time job, but at the time, my schedule at my first job was changing week from week. So the employer told me to contact him once my schedule get more regular, because he was only able to give a fix work schedule and once he gave a work schedule, that one is the one their employees have for 3 months. Anyway, once I got my work schedule fix, I gave him a call, but he told me he had all the staff he needed...

So now, I don't have a part-time job, only a regular work schedule. I continue my search for a part-time job, which it shouldn't be to hard to find I believe. But I am currently sick with a cold. I sleep in for most part of the day. I take a look at the performance of my funds, and I was surprise to see that everything had went up up up. I didn't completely recover from my lost, but it's a good start.

I finally got what I wanted with TD

I went back to TD yesterday. I finally was able to get the funds that I wanted. I invest 100$ in each of them, except for one, in which I invest 200$. I was really happy. And after what, I went to work. So in date of today, I am done with my 2007 RRSP and I am quiet tired, running all over the places for my investments. I got a cold and I have been sick. It's the reason why I wasn't happy at all when the advisor told me I will have to come back on yesterday for my mutual funds. But my hard time is finally over.

I believe I have made great choices. I invest in a mix of GIC and mutual funds. I didn't want to put everything in mutual funds. I wanted to have money put in risk free investment because I don't benefit of a pension plan of any employers. And since I also have money put in mutual funds as non RRSP investment, I wanted to put money in a capital guarantee type investment.

Last year, I try segregated fund with Manuvie. 2 of my segregated fund (on 5) had made well. I had invested in those because a couple of them are 100% risk free investment, other 75%. I was anxious last year about putting money in mutual funds for my RRSP, but not anymore, since I now understand more what it's all about.

About my experience with TD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I rock.

Next 1 500$ investment for RRSP

I am now all set up for my RRSP. I only begin at 15h tomorrow, so I hope I will be able to see someone tomorrow morning for at least one of my two plans. I look around most of my afternoon for my RRSP. I had another 1 500$ to invest…

With Caisse Desjardins, I decide to invest 500$ in the Natural Resource Guaranteed Investment. It’s a 5 years GIC. It will probably provide me a good return.

The other 1 500$ will be with TD:

500$: GIC Plus (according to TD, the “return linked to the performance of the S&P/TSX 60”.

1 000$ between those mutual funds:

TD Entertainment & Communications
11% since inspection

TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth ($US)
8.8% since inspection

TD Latin American Growth ($US)
24.1% since inspection

TD Precious Metals
13.9% since inspection

TD Dividend Growth
11.4% since inspection

TD Monthly Income
10% since inspection

TD Canadian Bond
8% since inspection

TD Emerging Markets
9.3% since inspection

TD Energy
11% since inspection

What’s fun at TD, is that the minimum allowed per funds, when investment is RRSP, it’s 100$. So I probably be able to invest in all of the above, I just need a genius as advisor who will be able to equilibrate the hole thing with the standard of the Authority. After, I will be finally done with my 2007 RRSP.

I didn't lost that much after all.........

I finally had the courage to calculate my total income and investment value in date of January 28, 2008. I haven't calculated my total value since December for my investments. Since I am off today and I have nothing to do since I didn't find a second job. So I proceed and I am quite surprise, I didn't lost that much money with the major crash we had.

I now have in my possession 32 260.73$. I am waiting for my pay this Wednesday after midnight. I should have around 1 000$. I did a bunch of extra hours, since I currently have no place else to work. So we can say 33 260.73$...

I cheat on my "no expense" goal for last week and this week, but that doesn't really matter. My total expenses for the month of January are only of 1 160.65$. If I could make 1 000$ after taxes every 2 weeks, I will be good and I will keep the same job for quite a while. It's almost 1 000$ per month that I could put in savings.

I still have 2 500$ to invest for my RRSP, so I hope I will be able to do that tomorrow, at Caisse Desjardins or TD, I don't know. I am quite tired and I just hope it will turn for the best.

I place a total of 2 500$ for my RRSP so far

And I have another 2 500$ to place. I still wonder where I am going to place the money, but I still time. I wanted to do everything yesterday and today regarding my RRSP investment for 2007, but let's say I have done what I could for now. All those things have exhausted me, plus, I went to a job interview (for a second job).

So yesterday, I had an appointment at CIBC. I went there, the representative was cool, and he was ok to give me what I wanted. I invest 1 000$ in the CIBC Monthly Income Fund for my RRSP. I also invest 500$ in the CIBC Dividend Fund (non RRSP) and also 500$ in the CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund (non RRSP). I haven't invested in mutual funds since a while now, and I just wanted to put some money somewhere, even if I know what's going right now in the US and everything.

So far, for my RRSP, I have invested in, yes, mutual funds, but also in GICs. Since my situation is not very stable and, let say it, that I don't have a good situation, no pension plan coming from any employers, etc.... I decided to invest in some GIC. But knowing that I have both RRSP and non RRSP investment, it won't hurt that much I believe to put money in a save place, like RRSP. Dividend funds and Monthly Income Fund are pretty save too.

So today, I went to the RBC, have buy 1 000$ in a GIC, 3 years, Canadian market and 500$ in RBC Dividend, both for my RRSP. I still have a 1 500$ to invest and I don't know yet where to put the money.

One step at a time

So far, I stick the plan of not doing any more expenses until the end of the month. I still have a few pennies left in my purse, but it's about it. I find it quite important to be able to stay I am going to stop spend my money, at a certain point, and be able to do so, until it's reasonable.

I finally take rendez-vous today at the CIBC to buy the fund I wanted. I might try to fix another rendez-vous at the RBC for my free account tomorrow, so that way, I will all be set up.

Good news also, I have an interview Wednesday for a job, hours seem to be pretty flexible, and I can't wait to see if it's going to work out.

I have been doing extra hours at the job. During those last couple of days, I give like an extra 2 hours each day. I try to have a good pay just like the last one. Last pay was bigger because I have been working on January 1. I might be able to make 940$ after taxes for 2 weeks of work next pay. The job is not too difficult, I have been working there since middle of November. What's funny about it is that it's mostly in English all the time so let say I get a lot of practice and I am learning to speak a proper English at the job... lol

Seriously, my English is not that bad I believe, if not, I wouldn't have the job. Everything is going fine so far, I just have comments of my dear follow workers on the extra hours I am doing, but as long as I am authorized to do extra hours, which I have been so far, I don't give a damn about my charming fellow workers....

It's seem like there's a lot of jealousy but I don't care because the one who gave be negative comments are the most stupid and ignorant one and I never give a damn about them since the beginning. I just don't response to their comments, I don't want to make them feel too happy about themself.

Anyway, from my side, I am happy, because when I arrive ealier and ask if it's ok with them if I do extra hours, it's the way it's working there, and that I get a yes as an answer, I quickly find a seat to work and I start receiving call 5 minutes later..... lol

The job is easier now and I enjoy it more, since I now understand what it is about.

I cannot wait to be done with my RRSP. I try to do everything that week in case it's work for my second job and that I can actually begin working there next week. I just hope it's work! I did my job aplication last Wednesday, and I got a response today, finally. And there too, the job is mostly in English...........

It's strange. I am in Montreal and I mostly use my English most of the time. It's a good thing I know English, even if it's a basic one.

No more any expenses until the end of January

I now have 1 065$ in expenses for the month of January (which include money put in credit card, student loans, rent, etc...) and I will try to spend any more money until the beginning of February. I spend a little bit more than the 1 000$ I was projected to respect, but once again, I went eat out junk food again... It's kind of hard to control all those ridiculous expenses, but I am really determine to stick to the plan and not do any other expenses. I should have enough food for the rest of the month. I have evreything I need, tea, coffee, bread, milk, rice, chicken and so on lol.

So there's no reason why I should spend any more money around.

I did my lunch for next week. After that, it will be the last week of January and I think I will be able to make it without any other expenses. After rent, food is my major expenses and, if I cannot cotrol my rent expense, since it's a fix price every month, well, I can control my food expense. It's really demanding, controlling every penny.

But I told myself that since I only have a job now, I should discipline myself if I want to continue to save. And I am kind of surprise pf the reasult because in regular savings, I now have close to 7 000$. I should be the minister of Finance of Canada, I could do miracles (I am just saying that in order to keep myself motivate...). :)

RRSP investment

I have calulate my total earning without changing anything of my mutual fund amount. For the mutual funds, I kept the same amount like the one I had in December, because I don't want to cause myself an emotional breakdown.

I now seriously thinking about where to invest my RRSP money. As I previously wrote, I have about 5 000$ to invest. There's at least 2 mutual funds that I want. For now, I was thinking to put a 1 000$ in the CIBC Monthly Income Fund. It's a well-known fund with a strong background. Since inception, the fund gave 10.3% of return each year. I will definitely put money in there for my RRSP. I never buy CIBC mutual funds before and I just hope I will be able to buy that fnd without any problem.

I was also thinking to put RRSP money in a mutual fund that I already have: Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund. This fund his awsome. Even with the big crisis that we have now, I didn`t loose any money of my initial investment. I invest 1 000$ in 2005 in it, and in date of today, I now have something like 1 200$ in the account for the Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund, which I really love. So I believe that the fund is strong enough to be consider for my RRSP. In the Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund, I will invest 500$.

It's the only 2 ideas placement I know I will invest for sure for now. I still have a 3 500$ to invest for my RRSP. I have until the end of February to think of it.

It is now easier than ever for me to save my money

And I will explain why. I now only have one source of income. Before, I was spending a lot more on going out, going to the movies, clothes, eating out, etc... Now that I only have one source of income, I cut on almost everything that I could cut. I find it easier than ever to save, because I now discipline myself more.

And it's about 800$ to 900$ that I can put in saving monthly. Which is really good I believe. My expenses are now of about 1 000$ monthly. So I can say that I cut on almost everything. I eat out from time to time but it happen rarely. I fix the goal of 1 000$ not more not less for this month, and February too...

On my situation at this time

I lost a great deal of money lately and I didn't calculate how much I have lost not to do a major depression... lol

Anyway, I lost hundred and hundred of dollars. The situation is very terrible for me at this time, knowing how much I work hard for that money. And now is harder than ever because I do no longer have my second job, because of a lack of work. I search to fill similar positions, but unfortunately, I didn't get any responses yet. I did my search earlier this weeek. Time is passing slowly and I would like to see all my problems resolve. Anyway, the good news is that I have been able to make extra hours at my job, I am able to do extra hours if I arrive earlier than I am suppose to at my regular shift. But it make it hard at the end, doing the same thing for about 12 hours or near straight. It's easier for me to switch of place and work someplace, but at this time, I have no other solution. Regular shift are of 9 hours, and I try to do an extra 2 hours daily, but it's not everyday that I can do so because I have to admit, I sometime have problem to get up of bed, so it's hard to wake up earlier to show up earlier at the job and do those extra hours.

Other than that, I follow the news, and I have to say that I will definetely set my account shortly at the RBC to buy mutual fund by my own, I will actually set a time Monday because wow, all the units of mutual funds are so low, it's a good time to buy. Too bad the RBC O'Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund is now clos because now, the units are only 15.23$ each....

And I prefer not to think too much about it because I have lost about 7$ on each unit so far....

Let's say that fo now, I didn't sell anything and I am very proud of that. No matter what, my money will stay there, until I reach my first 50 000$ at least....

I am loosing big bucks in mutual funds

If it wasn't for my good nerves, I will be in a major depression right now lol

The units of my super mega fund, the RBC O'Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund had past from about 22$ to 16.20$. Even during the crisis regarding the credit thing, that fund wasn't doing so bad. It's just recently that things had been rough, that I begin to loss the money that I initialy invest.

I barely look at my other funds, but I know I might had lost a couple of hundreds of dollars. I just pray thing will get better. And in the meantime, I don't touch to the money, it's the best thing to do I believe for now. My situation is not that bad knowing that I invest that money for a long time basis. And I have like about more than 10 000$ put in save regular saving bank account. So let's say that things could be worst than what they are now.

So I won't calculate for now how much I have for now in mutual funds because I know I might have lost a lot. And it's terrible knowing how hard I work for that money. The situation is very terrible for me. And like if that wouldn't be enough, I only work 9 hours at my second job this week. So plus the bad news regarding my investment, I also have a bad news at my second job, lack of work. I am looking for something else because when I was working nearly full-time at a second job, it was 300$ after taxes that I could make weekly.

I am still not set for my 2007 RRSP, I plan to do so in the following week. It make a lot to take care of and it's hard some time to get organize in a way to make it happen.