My upcoming projects

It’s officially my last week of free-time and I there’s so much I want to do! Time is running too fast! I won’t be able to do it all in one week! Knowing this, I came with a taught... why not keeping things the way they are and just enjoy the summer time? How about that lol?

It’s a decision I will take at the end of this week. But I already have the answer in my head. I am not too much into money with the beautiful summer that’s coming ahead. I never really took the time to enjoy my summer those last years and having from the morning until 3 in the afternoon won’t be too great for my portfolio, but it could make a difference in my life, just to do whatever for 3 months during weekly daytime. It was so lovely today in Montreal! It was the perfect weather! I was working, as soon as I arrived from work, I clean my place. I did my laundry. And my tinny little apartment is now spin and clean. It’s a lot better know and I am feeling much better too lol.

But I still have so many things to do and it’s so annoying because the only thing I want to do when I am currently not working at one of my 2 jobs is well, to write on my blogs! Life can be that distractive!

One of my goal is to reach 2 000$ in dividend earnings by the end of the summer

I believe I might have talk about this before. I fix myself a goal to reach 2000$ in dividend earnings for the whole year by the end of the summer. The crazy girl that I am is going to make it happen even if, probably, I won’t be working during day-time this summer lol.

How I plan to make it happen

Here’s the plan. I already have 1 590.92$ plan in dividend earnings. I am only missing 409.08$ in order to reach my 2 000$ goal.

As next investment, I was thinking about Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN). Unfortunately, Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund is expensive. I would need at least 200 units of BA.UN and I will probably around 5 500$ to make the investment. I do not have any cash available at this time. I can save let say 1 100$ per month. At the end of the summer, it will be around 3 300$ top I will be able to save; it’s about all, without day-time job.

I was thinking as back-up Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN), but I will probably need at least 4 500$ I believe in order to do the investment. It will be 300 units of PIF.UN. At TD Waterhouse, units can only be purchase by 100 at a time, from what I understand.

I have just a little savings in ING Direct, not even 300$. I might withdraw it, but it won’t be enough. So now, what do I do?

At this time, the conclusion will be: I really need a day-time job lol!!!!

But since I didn’t decide yet, I modify the goal: instead of the month of August, I am giving myself until the month of October…

Whenever my 2 000$ dividend income will be reach, I set myself another goal.

200$ per month in dividend earnings

This one is heavy business. I had been thinking about this goal for a little while now. In order to reach 200$ per month, in a year, I need 2 400$. Once my 2 000$ dividend earning will be completed, I will only be missing 400$ in order to receive 200$ per month in free cash… 200$ is valuable money knowing that my cost of living is quite low.

I am really into this whole dividend deal!

And not to forget about my 2009 RRSP

Busy time! Summer is not yet over yet that I am already thinking about my 2009 RRSP… My goal for this one is to invest as much as possible into my RRSP once the 200$ per month in dividend earning goal will be reach.

For the taxes of 2009, I really want to pay very little extra taxes.

I have other investments rocks in my portfolio

I decide to do other things than blogging since this upcoming week since it’s going to be officially my last week without having a day-time job. I decide to do stuff I wanted to do for a long time, like to do some shopping, borrow books at the library, open a broker account with i-trade (I will get back to this one), going to take a walk in the Old Montreal and go swimming! I have no clue where to find the closest interior swimming pool of my area…

After feeling so much back pain, I decide it was time to get some exercise. I am basically in front of a computer maybe 14 hours – even more per day. Thinking about it, it’s very horrible! This evening, I didn’t exercise that much, but I went see a movie, Angels & Demons, very good, beautiful images. And as always, Tom Hanks is at his best.

This last Friday, I was able to see my team leader at my evening job. I am working full-time next week. There’s been a mistake in the work schedule. Bunch of people like myself actually had the same problem. But seems like my problem is resolved now and I am going to be able to fully enjoy my last week of free time.

I have still have a lot to do… My place is a big wholly mess right now lol. Since I had try very hard to make money with my different blogs, I didn’t spend to much time on cleaning. But get a time when cleaning is needed. I won’t be able to stand it too much longer. About my blogs, the funniest of call is title International Organization of Prepaid Workers, which I find completely hilarious. Another one is Advertisement for Blogs, Happy and Simple Living and, of course, The 200 Project Blogs, among other. I really had a lot of fun with all of those multiple blogs. But the key to become a successful blogger – or should I say what I believe can push and drive someone to become a successful blogging is too post regularly and one day, the blog become fully searchable. One idea I have as a next post for The 200 Project Blogs talk about the difficulty of being searchable on Google.

The Energy Savings Income Fund (SIF.UN) had been included in my portfolio since May 8. I said about Energy Savings Income Fund that it’s being considered as being an “investment rock” by its chief. Since I invest in 200 units, the unit didn’t gain any value. But this course, do no effect my perception of SIF.UN – I just like to rising the value of my investments.

Talking about my investments, I had received my Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) dividend for the month of May this last Friday. I had received 51.90$ in Pengrowth Energy Trust dividend. I now officially hold 525 units of PGF.UN. Which I really like. I just hope there will be no dividend cut coming from PGF.UN. They already reduce their dividend to 1.20$. But still, per month, I make 51.90$ – and even more since I DRIP – from the investment and I really like it! I just hope it will turn out for the best for me because I really work hard for my money. I accept the risk – but still, I want to be able to earn some money and earning dividend is one of the best thing that have ever happen for me in years! I just had to learn about stocks and units and voilà, I am a beautiful and rich young woman lol. And I all own it to the very marvelous Derek Foster. Except for my beauty lol.

Other great news about my investments

My fantastic Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund is up to 1084$! I like this fund! Isn’t cool to make money like that just from one investment? Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund had giving me faith on the value of investing again.

Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN) is slowly growing in my portfolio. The value of my Pembina Pipeline Income Fund units had increased from a couple of dollars. I cannot tell how as I cannot log in – again – to my TD Waterhouse broker account. I can actually access to my account, but I cannot visualize my investments.

I do not recommend TD Waterhouse to anyone! Both system and customer service are total craps! Distushting! I am paying 29$ per transaction and I got some system error problem. But like this is not being enough, I am being asked to call than… If problem persist, please call… I don’t have time to call! I am a blogger! Of course, I have sometimes received good customer service from TD Waterhouse. But not being able to access to my account whenever I want is unacceptable!

Let’s move on. Next…

Regarding upcoming dividends that I am supposed to received in May

I taught I was supposed to receive Fortis dividend earlier this month. But I didn’t receive anything yet. Next should be 4.28$ coming from Livingston International Income Fund (LIV.UN) and also 20.66$ from Energy Savings Income Fund (SIF.UN).

Unfortunately for me, it’s going to be the last time I will be earning some money from Livingston International Income Fund as the company had announced a suspension of their dividends for the next couple of months.

Those could be seemed as ridiculous amount of money – and actually it is – but knowing that those are the amount of my dividend earnings, it’s just not the same thing. This is powerful money!

What's going on?

Yesterday at my evening job, I took a look at my schedule, like I do for every week even if I work on a regular 16 to midnight basis. For next week, I am only schedule for Monday, from 16 to midnight. Seem like for next week, I will only be working 4 days! It’s going to be very rough on my budget if it’s the case. I was so shock by the news that I felt a heavy pain on my lower back. It was horrible. I am still having back pain at this time, but it’s not so bad. But still!

We are very busy right now with the calls. Just yesterday, calls didn’t stop from 16 to midnight. There’s no reason why my hours should be cut like that.

But the situation is not desperate yet. Maybe it’s a mistake on my schedule. I was not able to very as my team leader was not on duty yesterday. But he is in today, I left a not at his desk and I am going to see him at 4PM. I just hope it’s going to be ok.

For the month of June, I am going to be ok. I will be able to pay off all of my expenses. But problems could begin to show up in July. If I am only working on Monday next will, I will begin my job search this weekend. And for June, I might just do the minimum payment on everything, credit card and so on. Also, I had all those blogging projects I wanted to work on. I was supposed to be job searching only in June. In the meantime, I was supposed to be taking a rest and working at my blogs. All of my plans seem to be broken.

I am facing a very difficult situation right now. Cannot wait for 4PM…

Energy Savings Income Fund is an investment rock

The expression “investment rock” had been used by the Executive chair of Energy Savings Income Fund (SIF.UN) in her latest press release. I really like the expression “investment rock”. As a small investor, I am in great needs of solid investments. I truly believe that SIF.UN represents a good investment. I am very proud to have SIF.UN included in my portfolio.

Here is some of the context where the Executive Chair had used the expression “investment rock” to describe SIF.UN:

“I like to think of Energy Savings as the fund for all seasons. Since our IPO eight years ago, we have seen good weather and bad weather, skyrocketing commodity prices and collapsing commodity prices, good economic times, and the worst recession since the 1930s. I would like to think that Energy Savings has been an investment rock throughout the entire period, providing predictable, reliable and growing cash flow to our investors every year, just as I promised at the time of the IPO.”

And the good news just keep rolling and rolling through the rest of the press release. According to RM, SIF.UN fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 had been, to repeat her words: “the strongest quarter in the history of the company”. Is there anything better that can be said about SIF.UN?

While being in a major recession, SIF.UN declares its best result ever. Those are good news for unitholders of SIF.UN like me.

Just like Sprott Asset Management (SII) who had provided a special dividend to their stockholders, SIF.UN had paid a special distribution to their unitholders. In 2009, the special distribution of SIF.UN had been of 16.5 cents per unit.

But isn’t strange that SIF.UN had also a net income loss of more than 1 billion? Is it normal for the Executive chair to publicly declare that SIF.UN had its best result ever when they had at the same time a net income lost of exactly 1 107 473 000$? This is the most complicated part and I don’t know for sure – for this specific reason – if SIF.UN really represents a good investment.

At this point, it does begin to become just a bit too much complicated for me lol.

I finally received part of my May dividend

I just take a look at my broker account and I finally received my Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN) dividends. I earn 13.13$. Unfortunately, it was not enough to cover the cost of one unit. The value of PIF.UN is currently of 14.07$.

At this time, I am still waiting for my Fortis and Pengrowth Energy Trust dividend.

I am still waiting for my dividends

For the month of May, I should received about 129.36$ in dividend money.

I didn’t received my dividend from Fortis (26.26$), Pengrowth Energy Trust (51.90$) or either from Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (13.13$). It’s because I had enroll to a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP). I begin to worry for Fortis, because the distribution date was back on May 8 and I didn’t receive anything yet. A while ago, I was told by a TD Waterhouse representative that to receiving dividend when enrolling to a drip could takes a couple of days before actually receiving the new stocks. So let’s be patient for once lol.

The Benefits of participating in a DRIP

The dividends I am earning from Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), Methanex Corporation (MX), Fortis (FTS), Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) and Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN) allow me to earn new stocks at the same occasion as receiving dividends. I enroll in a DRIP for those companies by calling TD Waterhouse. I ask them to register to a DRIP for current investments. I was told that all new acquisitions will automatically DRIP – if eligible.

Its unfortunately not all companies who offer a DRIP program. There’s no DRIP available at this time for Sprott (SII).

The DRIP is a very good program for me. I am still at an early stage in building my portfolio. Later on, I might just cash in the dividend money and it will go directly to my pockets.

I find an ad for a part-time job in a newspaper. The hours are flexible and the workplace is located downtown Montreal, close to my evening job. I had been giving myself off until the end of May. But I will apply to this job tomorrow. I really want to earn more money in order to purchase at least 100 units of Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN) as soon as possible.

What will be my next investment?

I just have left 2 weeks until the beginning of June, than I will begin my job search for a day-time job. I just hope to be able to find something what will fit in my schedule. I am available at anytime from 8am or even earlier to 3:30pm. I would very much like to find something. The extra money made will allow me to increase my portfolio and I cannot wait to reach my first 50 000$ in investment. It’s getting interesting.

Those last few days had been quite chaotic. I really work hard at trying to make money online and currently, most of my free-time is being giving away on trying to make money online. I now reach over 700 followers on Twitter and I continue visiting my followers’ blogs from time to time.

I start a couple of blogs. Lately, I had been trying to make money online like crazy. I started a couple of blogs all over the place. One blog that I just started but I already like very much is a blog call The 200 Project Blogs. I am very proud of that blog even if I am still at the early beginning. If you like, you can check it out. I start out multiple blogs lately, but the funniest one is a blog that I title this way: International Organization of Prepaid Workers.

All of this of course have nothing to do with investment, but if it happen I can earn just a bit of money from those blogs than, automatically, they will become part of my investment plan. I would very much like to make money from Google Adsense program. I cannot believe I am going to be job searching in about 2 weeks from mine. The whole job searching process is already plan now and I wrote it down in my calendar…. Seem like I have no choice.

As for my next investment, I would very much to invest in 100 units of Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN). BA.UN annual dividend is of… 2.90$ per unit!! And BA.UN latest had been very strong and I truly believe it’s a good company to invest in. I might only be able to make another investment in 2 months from now…. Running out of cash…

Doing more with less: budgeting!

I am doing a lot better today than yesterday. I slept in very late. I actually wake up at 13 pm… The TSX is burning me. Today, the TSX gain some points and is now at 9 849.2. It’s part of the reason why I am feeling better today. It wouldn’t be the case if the TSX would had drop points again for 2 days in a row.

I took my day-time off until the month of June and it’s going to be very difficult for me to start getting up early in the morning again. But I might continue to sleep-in if it happens I can’t find a day-time job. I just got terribly lazy among the way. But not that lazy as I am trying very hard to make money online. I would very much to make a 200$ per month with Google Adsense. It’s the goal I gave myself.

For now, and let’s say if it happen I couldn’t find a day-time job in June, I would probably work at paying some debts of mine instead of investing. I am making 1460$ per month at my evening job and my weekend job is giving me an average of 620$ per month. At 2 080$ per month, my income is not that much, but its making enough to pay my usual expenses and pay-off some debts.

By “doing more with less”, I mean to minimize my expenses in other to maximize the payment of my debts. And to do so, I need to respect a tight budget.

And here it is:

Rent: 535$
Internet: 35$
Metro pass: 67$
Student loan: 150$
Groceries and coffees: 250$
TOTAL NEEDED: 1037$

2 080$ Income - 1 037$ Needed = 1 043$

This makes 1 043$ I have available to pay on my debts each month (this is the reason why I seriously need to begin job searching in June lol). I do not carry heavy debts, but it will be better if I could begin to pay-off some of them. At this time, I have 800$ in my bank account. I just received my pay from my weekend job. I currently have a balance of 645.46$ on my American Express. I like to use my American Express to received Air Miles, but at 19.99%, the interest rate is extremely high. Almost scandalous…

Anyway, I am going to send a check tomorrow to pay the balance I have on my American Express credit card. The remaining money of 154.54$ will go on my credit line at TD. For this month, it’s about all I can make as payment. But I guess I am going on the right direction.

Falling in my skin

The TSX had falled again… and I am falling too…

Just when I taught everything will get better, the TSX fall, again lol. Now, I truly understand Derek Foster who sell most part of his portfolio back in March. Seeing the TSX drop like this is quite awful and alarming. After spectacular gain, spectacular looses. Since I had been closely watching TSX ups and downs since 2005 – each time for whatever reasons – I shouldn’t be too shock about the whole situation, but each time, same destroying feelings and each time, same question: should I continue investing?

For me, it’s never been questioned to sale any of my assets under the impulse of some of those destroying feelings. The question being asked is if I should continue my journey and continue investing on a regular basis like I am doing right now or should I just sop and take that money in a ING Direct savings account.

But I never asked myself this question for really long as the TSX move a lot – maybe too much actually. But this is what expert call “market volatility”. That’s what I hate the most about investing but I am still able to manage it after all.

It’s soooo difficult just to be there, watching, without being able to do anything about the whole situation. And thing is I was really hoping the TSX would stay outside the trench of the 10 000 points for a while – I really had enough to see it under 10 000 points. As I am use to write: enough is enough lol.

On May 6th, when TSX was at more than 10 000 points, I was carefully looking at my portfolio and I saw an extremely potential and I was seeing 75 000$ on my overall portfolio. I was more closely looking at my Sprott Canadian Equity Fund investment. I originally invest 7 000$ in the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund. I was looking at the fund value just a couple of days ago. At that time, my investment in Sprott was at more than 4 000$. Which I was quite good. I was only missing 3 000$ to reach the original amount of my investment. But now, all those marvelous gains might me lost by now. It’s a very frustrating situation for me. But I am able to live with it.

I am still into this investment deal. It’s just a bit shack up by all those ups and downs. I completely exhausted. Good thing I gave myself the whole month of May off of day-time job. I am really in need of a rest but at the same time, I have so much to do and I have great ideas for other blogs and I want to start… Right now, I am in a flux of creative, angry and exhaustive mood. If not to say explosive.

In those difficult time, hope TSX Web site is making good money out of their Google Adsense ads. There’s actually Google advertisements on the TSX Web pages – which I find just so funny…

Building by portfolio one share at the time

I am currently waiting for my Fortis (FTS) dividend; I still didn’t receive anything yet, since I registered to a DRIP. In the meantime, I start working on another blog of mine, Advertisement for blogs. I had a hard time to find a nice template, but I am quite happy with my final choice.

The month of May should be, again, lucrative for my dividend earnings. For the month of May, it’s 129.36$ that I will earn in dividend income. I am still proud of the whole result, even if Livingston International Income Fund (LIV.UN) had announced yesterday that they had suspend the distributions to their “unitholders”. And I am one of them.

Back in March 7th, I had wrote about Livingston International Income Fund difficulties and on the fact that they should cut off their distributions instead of hurting their employees with hours cut. Seem like what I wanted to happen have… happen lol. But it’s not a huge surprised and I was expecting a dividend cut from LIV.UN.

I am fortunate enough not to have invested massively in LIV.UN. My overall dividend earnings for the year of 2009 won’t be too much affected.

But for sure, I won’t invest anymore into LIV.UN.

My initial 1 000$ now worth 1 080$: the magic of Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund

Thanks to the Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund my one time investment of 1 000$ made less than 4 months ago now worth 1 080$! I didn’t know what to expect back than when I invest in this fund. I was actually ready to loose some money – but it’s exactly the opposite that happens. And all around it is so mysterious. Like how in the world is it possible?

My answers:

-The fund is extra well managed.
-Their managers might have graduated from Harvard or something like that lol.

But who’s behind the top mutual fund of…. could it of all time? This fund will probably do history. Reason why? While facing recession, while Sprott Canadian Equity Fund and RBC O'Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund, among other, were falling and falling and falling again, the Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund was closing the year of 2008 with a 142-per-cent gain. And it’s not over… so far, 2009 results had been as great. But watch it out: results since inspection are of 190.20%!

And the manager of the fund, Steve Martin, is only 28 years old…. This is my age! I am 28 years old too lol. How impressive is that! And from my point of view, it could be the reason why the fund – having extraordinary results – is only managing 23.7 million. I am saying “only” because funds like Sprott Canadian Equity Fund, RBC O'Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund and CIBC Monthly Income Fund I invested manage billion of dollars.

I plan to keep Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund for a very long time and the age of the manager should not stop investor.

Another interesting fact: since the manager of Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund is so young, it make it a valuable investment for RRSP – probably the manager that is currently in place will remain in for a couple years – let’s wish until I reach my own retirement age – so I can benefit of his skills as long as possible.

For me, it’s Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund all the way.

My portfolio is looking good!

With the addiction of Energy Savings Income Fund (SIF.UN) into it, my portfolio is looking better than ever. And I have to say, I have added so far in my portfolio the majorities of companies I wanted to be a shareholder. I believe my portfolio is complete. Or almost. I am very happy at this point even if I have canceled my vacations at Halifax.

My next investments…

I would very much to purchase BA.UN units and other units of Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN). When I took a look at PIF.UN this morning, the value was 14$ per stock, but now, the value false down to just a bit less than 14$. PIF.UN is a good company to invest in. I really want to own more than 100 units of it.

A good reason to invest more in PIF.UN for me is that they have announced that they will maintain 1.56$ annual dividend for a couple of years from now. A raise have not been announced, but I prefer stability other than some other companies that provided big dividend earnings and who, later on, reduced their dividends whenever something happen, like a recession.

And I am thinking here about Harvest, Canadian Oil Sands Trust Units (COS.UN) among others. I one quickly read in the Globe and Mail that for companies paying too big in dividends come with risks. I do not know what’s the risk are about – but it might be in the sense that higher you pay, less you have in your pockets and in recession time, being generous in dividend might not be a good thing for companies. Again, it’s my interpretation.

I would also like to purchase 100 units of Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN). I really like Aliant.

What’s next…

And now…

I am pretty use to get up late and go to bed in the middle of the night now – its going be tough to wake up each morning. Only if it happens I can find a job for weekdays – half of the day or until 3:30pm. Having a day-time job will allow me to invest more in PIF.UN. I also want to begin to pay off some debts of mine. But for that, I need $$$ and it’s not my online revenue who will allow me to pay off some debts.

About my latest investment: 200 units of Energy Savings Income Fund (SIF.UN)

Earlier today, I purchase 200 units of Energy Savings Income Fund (SIF.UN) at 12.10$. At the end of the day the unit’s price was at 12.17$. I made a profit of 14$ on one day – not bad. This investment had increased my dividend income of 247.92$. For a total of 1 590.92$. I am almost at that 2 000$ goal of mine in dividend income I have.

Everything is good my now. For the next investment, I would very much like to purchase some more units of Pembina Pipeline Income Trust (PIF.UN).

I do no longer plan to go to the trip to Halifax as my friend plan to stop for a night to our hometown and I really do not want to stay for a night at my parents place for different reasons. So I cancel everything. The trip would had been a bit expensive anyway as my friend was playing to stay in Halifax for 2 tips. And it would be expensive for nothing. At this time of the year, it’s still a bit cold and I would prefer to take a beach vacation, not a moving one. Most parts of the day would have been spending at looking for an apartment for her.

As for now, I plan to take the rest of the month of May off until 4PM from Monday to Friday. After what, I will begin my search for a day job.

Potential dividend earnings

Best thing about stocks is that some companies provide to their shareholders dividend.

Currently, my annual dividend earnings for 2009 are:

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) 102 stocks
[1.96$ annual dividend]: 199.92$

Fortis (FTS) 101 stocks
[1.04$ annual dividend]: 105.04$

Livingston International Income Fund (LIV.UN) 102 stocks
[0.504$ annual dividend]: 51.41$

Methanex Corporation (MX) 102 stocks
[0.7975$ annual dividend]: 81.35$

Sprott Asset Management (SII) 500 stocks
[0.10$ annual dividend + 0.15$ special dividend]: 50$ + 75$: 125$

Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) 519 stocks
[1.20$ annual dividend]: 622.80$

Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN) 101 stocks
[1.56$ annual dividend]: 157.56$

TOTAL: 1 343.08$


If, luckily, everything return to what its used to be….

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) 102 stocks
[1.96$ annual dividend]: 199.92$ (no change)

Fortis (FTS) 101 stocks
[1.04$ annual dividend]: 105.04$ (no change)

Livingston International Income Fund (LIV.UN) 102 stocks
[1.704$ annual dividend back on March 2006]: 173.81$

Methanex Corporation (MX) 102 stocks
[0.7975$ annual dividend]: 81.35$ (no change)

Sprott Asset Management (SII) 500 stocks
[0.10$ annual dividend + 0.15$ special dividend]: 50$ + 75$: 125$ (no change)

Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) 519 stocks
[2.70$ annual dividend]: 1 401.30$

Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN) 101 stocks
[1.56$ annual dividend]: 157.56$ (no change)


My dividend earnings could be of: 2 243.98$

Up of 900.90$!

I could possibly earn an extra 900.90$ in dividend earnings if everything could return to what it use to be. TSX is up to more than 10 000 points right now. Which mean everything is possible and everyone should be investing massively in the markets.

A second article of mine had been declined by Associated Content!

Oh no! Not again! It’s so…….. FUNNY, especially knowing that I received comments on my blog previously about my poor writing skills. But of course, I didn’t believe them and in result, well, of course lol, my article got rejected by Associated Content.

English is not my mother tongue and I only learn in English when I was attempting high school. That’s my excuse. I taught for a little while to open a My first 50 000$ Web site in French – it might be a good idea – without having a duplicate Web site of this current one.

Anyway, no worries, I plan to work again on the same article and resubmit it to Associated Content – one day. Like gees, those guys at AC are really reading the stuff that we are submitting… LOL.

I am not too sad about it. But just disappointed. I am going to review the article. I need someone to review the grammar and the spelling for me. The only reason why it’s been declined it’s in reason “Content must exhibit correct grammar, sentence structure, spelling and punctuation per our Submission Guide”. The article is about me trying to reach 50 000$ in investment. So I cannot just go and ask someone to review the article for me as I don’t want everyone to know about… my secret. LOL. I am can of stock here, me and my poor English. But I might be able to do it by my own. As I said, one day.

Maybe I am not that of a writer – but I am one of those super good investor lol. My portfolio is doing quite well! And I am so regretful for Derek Foster! But will see if this is just a temporary “good” situation or if it will continue this way or – if stocks market will go crazy again. But for how…. it’s EXTRAORDINARY. Awesome to see TSX flying to close 10 000 points again. It’s been so difficult for me during those past years to make money from my investment. I think I did a good thing to begin to invest back in 2008 – in the middle of worldwide recession crisis. This might actually made of me one of the best investor of all time lol. As always, just making fun of the whole thing. Don’t forget I am almost lost myself with that Associated Content dudes who don’t want of my article – but which I can fully understand. My writing is just way too creative for Associated Content. Anyway, let’s move on.

Now, no matter if I am going to take vacation or not, I decide to purchase stocks anyway… but now, I hesitate between SIF.UN or PIF.UN… PIF.UN is quite tempting knowing that the dividend is higher than SIF.UN. I am just confused as always.

Let’s take a quick look at my stocks portfolio:

Sprott Inc. (SII): 500 stocks
April 19: 2 155$

Today at 12:14AM: 4.65$/stock: 2 325$

+170$

Timminco (TIM): 200 stocks
April 19: 760$

Today at 12:14AM: 2$/stock: 400$
-360$

Blue Note Mining (BN): 12 000 stocks (the company almost belong to me!)
April 19: 120$
Today at 12:14AM: no change.

Blue Note Mining is now from TSX-V and I don’t know what’s going on with it for now.

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 102 stocks
April 19: 3 411$

Today at 12:14AM: 37$/stock: 3 774$

+363$

Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 300 stocks
April 19: 543$

Today at 12:14AM: 2$/stock: 600$

+57$

Methanex Corporation (MX): 102 stocks
April 19: 1 290$
Today at 12:14AM: 15.21$/stock: 1 551.42$

+261.42$

Fortis (FTS): 101 stocks
April 19: 2 303$

Today at 12:14AM: 22.74$/stock: 2 296.74$
-6.26$

Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 519 stocks
April 19: 4 065$

Today at 12:14AM: 9.23$/stock: 4 790.37$
+725.37$

Livingston International Income Fund (LIV.UN): 102 stocks
April 19: 435$

Today at 12:14AM: 5.50$/stock: 561$

+126$

Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN): 101 stocks
April 19: 1 411$

Today at 12:14AM: 13.74$/stock: 1 387.74$

-23.26$

TOTAL:
April 19: 16 493$
Today: 17 806.27$

+ of 1 313.27$!!!

TSX, you rock my world.

It’s may be the right time for a vacation

Talking about pager… a friend of mine call me 3 times this evening on my pager. I couldn’t call her right away because I was on calls. When arrived my lunch time, I finally gave her a call. I learn that she was planning to go to Vancouver this summer and wonder if I wanted to come. She plan to use the train, she had been giving away a free ticket because she’s military. The cost of the ticket for me would had been of 900$, and this being for the transportation only. I told her it was a bit too much for me. Than, she told me she was moving to Halifax to work at the base out there. She’s going at the end of May for 2 weeks. I told her I could go if my vacations will be accepted.

I fill out the form in a hurry this evening. I just hope to have an answer as soon as possible so I plan something for the accommodation. Halifax has actually 4 universities. It makes it pretty affordable to stay in for 2 weeks in a 2 bedrooms place. Its look like I am now going to use a bit of that more than 1 000$ I have in vacation pay!

I went to Halifax one time in my life when was a teenager and I would very much like to go once again. The delay is quite short to plan everything put hopefully it will work out. It will be very fun if I could also receive my vacation pay from my weekend job.

Now, knowing this, by next investment I wanted to make with Energy Savings Income Fund (SIF.UN) is being put on hold for now. Until I decide what to do and see what happen next.

Associated Content Team had answered to one of my post on Twitter!

I was so surprised to receive a response to one of my post from Associated Content. An inconvenient with Twitter is when someone answer to a post, the answer do not show up on the profile of the user. When I notice Associated Content had added me as follower, well, of course, I add them too… Just a few minutes ago actually. After what, I took a look at Associated Content profile… And there I saw it, a reply to one of my post…

Associated Content actually answers to the post were I was saying that I wanted to become a verified member of Associated Content in order to be eligible to receive payment. But the problem being that I only have a pager (I am old fashion) and the activation code being left on my voicemail only remain active for 5 minutes. On the post, I was saying that 5 minutes wasn’t long enough for me to run to a pay phone, listen to the message and go back to my place to than after enter the verification code on the Web page… Chaotic situation. Very kind of them to have answer to my post!

Which show just how miserable I am. But I like to have a pager for now because it’s cheap. One day, when I will be reaching my first 50 000$, I will get myself a cell phone and if possible, it’s going to be a pink Blackberry lol.

TSX is doing better

Investing in stocks had been a crazy adventure. Only 3 days left and I am going to be able to make my next investment – which may be the one and only one for the month of May since I have to deal with a lower overall salary until I decide to hit again the workplace and begin my job search. As announced previously, I plan to purchase 200 units of Energy Savings Income Fund (SIF.UN). This is the investment that will make me become a real investor :)

I had been looking into the TSX in this beautiful afternoon and my portfolio is doing well. Stocks price are going higher, for major part of my portfolio. SIF.UN had been falling to 12$, but is now at 12.10$... I look like to purchase 200 units of SIF.UN at 12$. A net value of 2 400$. And not to forget the very high commission of 29$ being charged by TD Waterhouse for the transaction.

I am definitely going to be job searching really soon.

I do not want to be slow down because of a lack of financial resources

I am almost there – I am missing less than 10 000$ to reach my first 50 000$ in investment. I am so close to my goal; it’s almost scandalous to be suffering from one lay-off and just, a few weeks ago, another bad news, a cut in my hours at what was my morning job. Anyway, I have to move forward. I am not the type who remains static for very long. I like to move and take actions. For now, I am still enjoying free-time during my morning. I am currently trying to make money online. OH YEAH lol…

And trying to make money online is… a painful experience… exhausting… frustrating… but, at the same time, very fun. See, I am using the word “trying” to make money online because fact is, I didn’t make any money online yet. Actually, if you check somewhere on the right column of this page, you’ll see a new paragraph title “Online revenue…” and under it, you will see 0$, that I put in green. A wealthy 0$ lol. It’s my way to have fun with it.

I really like what John Chow says on his blog about making money online. John Chow explains that his blog is not his main source of income and that he sees the money he makes from his blog as bonus money. By thinking the whole “making money online” type of deal over and over again, I begin to think (for once lol) and what John Chow said really made sense to me. For now on, this is exactly how I am seeing the whole “make money online” deal, as a hobby. On an upper scale, the deal is to turn the hobby into a dollars-machine-give-me-some-money-for-free lol. I really enjoy John Chow blog and I like to “Tweet” his posts all over the place on Twitter. It’s crazy.

I am not a big fan of CashCrate, pay-per-click programs or others of the same type. I just don’t like to complete online surveys. And I cannot stand being on front of my computer and be clicking on some ads or completing offers. Look like I am going to be job searching soon lol.

I way prefer to work on my blog. What I love about blogging is writing. And about writing, just yesterday, I submit an original article of mine to Associated Content. It will be the second try-out for me. And I hope this one will be the one! Stay tune and take a look at my profile on Associated from time to time. Maybe one day you’ll see one of by article being publish under my profile. One day... lol...

About my next investment: Energy Savings Income Fund (SIF.UN)

Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) and Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN) are both great, but I guess adding another company to my portfolio cannot hurt. Since I do not have that much money, I prefer to diversify my investments in different companies. It makes me feel more confident about me, my little money and my investments.

I had been thinking about Energy Savings Income Fund (SIF.UN) for a while now. I will soon take actions – but not before my next paycheck, which will be next week. Last Wednesday came that good news for SIF.UN with the acquisition of Universal Energy Group. I was expecting a major boom around SIF.UN after the agreement was made, but it was actually not the case. On this last Friday, SIF.UN was loosing 2 cents to close at 12.48$. But why? Shouldn’t be the complete opposite that should happen?

I am never going to understand the stocks market.

Another good example of the non-sense of stocks market: on April 29th Pembina Pipeline Income Fund announced an agreement with Talisman Energy Canada to acquire its Cutbank Complex midstream gas gathering and processing facilities. Fantastic! And I was expecting a major BOOM around my wonderful PIF.UN. But it’s quite the opposite that happens. Pembina Pipeline Income Fund value is now down of 63 cents to be now at the value of 13.45$ per stock. I will be surprise to see the price false down under 12$ – which is the price I purchase units of PIF.UN back on March 13th of this year.

In both case, 2 super great companies had announced acquisition. After what, their value haven’t rise.

The stocks market definitely does not make any sense at all!

Updating my debt situation

Life was great when I was making more than 3 000$ per month after deductions in salary. But now, things begin to be rough, for the first time ever since I am in Montreal. I didn’t have too much problems to find work in Montreal I have to say. My situation had been good and 2008 had been a wonderful year as I almost reach 45 000$ in income. But now, with massive job lost of mine – one lay-off and one job were my hours had been cut, I felt almost desperate about the whole situation. Great thing I have this blog it help me to focus and keep my mind clean.

The whole situation is not that bad as I plan to be able to make just a bit more than 2 000$ per month. I will be able to meet ends and my bills, but as my goal was to. Earning an average of 3 000$ per month was the perfect situation for me – I have enough to pay my expenses and I have enough to invest in stocks every 2 months or so and so on. I guess I will have to slow down until I find another day job. As for now, I am getting lazy – I stay up very late at night and wake up… late… just like I love to do.

I still be able to invest in 200 units of Energy Savings Income Fund (SIF.UN) next month, as soon as I received my next pay check. So far, I am happy with my overall portfolio and dividend earnings are super good. I just cannot wait to see my dividend earnings rise over time.

Another interesting that I find about myself is that I really like to work in call center. Lately, we had been receiving calls like crazy. Time pass very quickly and one thing I pray for is for having my overtime back at my evening job. I am so in need of money right now! The problem with me is I want too much. I plan to take a couple of weeks off of morning jobs and just enjoying the rest for now.

About my debts situation:

Student loans debt: 10 627.99$

Credit cards debt: 3 000$ at 4.99% for 6 months

Credit line debt: 2 992.74$
Total: 16 620.73$

Having to manage 16 620.73$ is not that bad. But can online money be of any help? That’s what I want to check over. I plan to take the month of May to invest my time on my blog and other way to make money online. Will see if I can make money online.

Investing like a pro of Bay Street with no or little knowledge: possible or not?

This is basically my own personal challenge at this time. I had the time of my life since I begin this blog back in 2007. Even before that, I had done my first investment with Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund. It was a 1 000$ investment back than. I will never forget – first, all the misery made by Desjardins over me just for one little investment. It’s just they are trying to cover themselves through too much paper works and investor profile. And after what, I am supposed to be satisfied with the quality of their services?

I do not recommend Desjardins financial services to anyone. As for myself, I remain as far as possible of whatever is call a “Desjardins advisor”. Annoying, inconvenient, bad services and the list could be longer. I actually live another bad experience with Desjardins not too long ago for my 2008 RRSP. I just didn’t get the change to write about it yet. But it shouldn’t be too long.

Anyhow, for me, the real fun begins when I purchase my first stocks earlier in 2008. Back than, it’s 500 stocks of Sprott Asset Management (SII) that I had purchased at almost 10$ per stock. In date of today, this investment could be seen as a mistake as SII stock only worth less than 5$ each but – there’s a but – SII provide dividend and they also provide a one time special dividend of 10 cents per stock. Overall, the investment was not too bad made from my part, I could have done worst. But I did worst with Timminco (TIM).

My biggest mistake was when I purchased Timminco – now worth less than 2$ per share – just to follow the natural investment flow. There was a time in 2008 when Timminco was very popular – it had been called the “TSX darling” and so on. I was stupid and I invest in Timminco just to do like the big guys. And talking of big guys, I am thinking of Sprott Asset Management who own 16.9% of common shares of Timminco, AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (50.7%!!!), and Fidelity Management & Research Company (14%!!). Again today, I had received another “voting package” coming from Timminco. All of those Management Information Circulars I had received lately are just too much reading for one person.

Let’s say that for now on, I stay away from “popular” stocks. In order to get a good portfolio I copied Derek Foster portfolio. From my portfolio, Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN), Livingston International Income Fund (LIV.UN) and Pembina Income Fund (PIF.UN) are directly coming from Derek Foster portfolio or from what use to be Derek Foster portfolio. As for the rest, like Fortis (FTS), Hanwei Energy Services (HE), Methanex Corporation (MX), and also Sprott Asset Management (SII), they come from my reading and other.

I don’t know for sure if it’s possible to invest like a real pro without having any good knowledge of the whole investment deal. But for sure, what I know, is that no major mistake can be made if instincts are being followed and if not too much money is being involved in each investment. By “not too much money” I mean an investment of less than 5 000$. As a small investor, 5 000$ represent a lot of money.

Like nothing is easy. And especially now, as my revenues had been cut because of different factors – job looses and other. And also add to this the fact that I had to pay almost 3 000$ in income taxes. This year, the Canada Revenue Agency had received a big paycheck from my little person. And knowing how much I had work so hard, well, it’s not fair! I am not giving away my precious money so our Governor General Michaëlle Jean can travel the world on myself! I would just like to travel alone without her husband – it will make it cheaper for poor Canadian tax payers.

Anyhow, I guess it is possible to invest like a pro if diversification rules are being followed – the same one that had been ignored by Henri-Paul Rousseau former CEO of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. And just to thank you more, we are offering you 378 750 $ so you can live with your peace of mind. I do not have any investment made at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and I do not plan to invest any of my money with Caisse de dépôt – even with their new CEO Michael Sabia who had gave up on almost everything he had for Quebec. Quebec Province does not deserve someone like Michael Sabia to be in charge of a major part of its finance. Quebec just deserves what happen in 2008 - a $40-billion drop. I won’t ever invest in the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec because it’s too much of Quebec stuff in a one investment and their new CEO Michael Sabia – who’s a look-a-like Woody Allan if you ever notice – won’t remain CEO of the Caisse forever. After Mr. Sabia, a new CEO will come one day and will do what Henri-Paul Rousseau did – screwing up everything!

That’s why since I start investment – I pick my own fund and do what I want with my money because when it’s come to my money, I do not trust no one, especially Quebeckers. I am just not open to any suggestions at all and if it happens that I find another fantastic mutual fund like Crestsreet Alternative Energy Fund, I will, again, invest in mutual funds. I am not closing the door to mutual funds. Because I find Derek Foster too much into the market and in his books he literally closes the door to any mutual funds.

My Crestsreet Alternative Energy Fund is one of those funds! The minimum investment to be made is of 1 000$, which is pretty affordable. The only inconvenient is at the time of the selling – if it had to happen. It cost 50$ to sale the investment, no matter how much you have at the time of the selling. Crestsreet Alternative Energy Fund is the type of investment you made for the long run.

Amateur can bet the pro without any trouble if simple rules are being followed. And for this, the reading of Derek Foster books had been more than helpful. In my life, I never read anything else related to finance other than Derek’s Foster books. I recommend them to anyone even if he had decided to sale out EVERYTHING and almost kill me along the way lol. An interview of Derek Foster with the very good looking George Stroumboulopoulos host of The Hour can be view at:

http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/videos.html?id=1063578735

And what if amateur investor like me would have more gut and be more powerful than the Henri-Paul Rousseau and Derek Foster of this world? I guess I have the answer to my question lol. But on this, of course, I am only joking. And only time will tell if I can beat, if not the TSX, the pros.

Being out of morning job is not that bad after all

I was first quite frustrating about loosing my morning shift, but now, things are getting pretty easy as I begin to really have enough of the job. But for now, I keep the weekend shift. Their surveys were long, a lot of answering machine along the way – and than they cut my morning shift because of my low productivity. But it’s not my fault if I was always reaching answering machine.

Anyway, it’s been 2 days now that I haven’t been working during the morning and I quite enjoy the rest. I would very much things to stay the same for a while. Working at my evening job and there at the weekend give me something close to 550$ after deductions. I will have enough to reach ends. But knowing myself, things won’t probable remain the same for too long. I am in need of money and my first 50 000$ is waiting for me. I also more than 10 000$ to invest in my RRSP of 2009. This year, I am going to invest in my RRSP as much as I can – I do not want to pay around 3 000$ extra in taxes again this year. NEVER AGAIN.

This makes it a good opportunity to take a break and after begin a job search. I will try to look for a better job – something else than surveys. My evaluation of last week at my job was quite better and do not fear anymore. The month of April has been quite something and I hope May will be better. I also plan to purchase 200 units of Energy Savings Income Fund (SIF.UN) on the first week of May. I couldn’t do anything with my money in April because of all those taxes I have to pay. Very annoying. And now I am going to work again for my evening shift.

My first vote as a shareholder of Methanex Corporation, Fortis, Sprott Asset Management and Livingston International Income Fund

I received the voting package one after the other through the mail not too long ago. The last one I received was the one coming from Livingston International Income Fund. And of course, none of the annual general meeting of shareholders is taking place in Montreal. I suppose I will vote through the Internet.

Strangely, for me who is French, I had received all of the above documentation in English. Last time, for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), I had received the voting package in French, which I quite enjoy because I find the reading interesting. It was of a good reading and easy to understand – even for beginner like myself. I find it disgusting for those companies to send me their reports in English as my broker account is set-up in French. In consequence, I might vote against all directors.

As for the rest, I find the reading of the other report I had received pretty reading and I actually gave up on the reading. The one coming from Livingston International Income Fund is the worst one as its do not content any picture of its directors, among other things. As for the Methanex documentation, I quickly gave up on the reading. How annoying! The documentation coming from Bank of Nova Scotia was much more enjoyable. At least, there not too much things shareholders have to vote for. One question I find pretty annoying to vote for is the verification the company hired. Please, just be smarter and hired the cheapest one and no one will actually have to vote on such stupidity. The question appears on all documentation, including the one from Bank of Nova Scotia.

I just hope to be done with the reading and the voting very soon.

Another bad news or when enough is not enough

When is it going to stop?

I won’t be able to do any more hours during the morning at what use to be my weekend job. Look like my weekend job will remain… my weekend job. Everything went well for about 3 weeks. It just this week that I learn I won’t be able to do any morning shifts because of my productivity. But the worst is that I am not alone in this situation. I was told I could go the night shift. Since I am already working at night, I stick with the weekends. Which mean that my weekend job will remain… my weekend job.

It’s just not enough having to pay an extra 3 000$ in taxes, not enough to be working around the clock, not enough to be laid-off from my old day job, now, something else had to happen… and I am just wondering what’s going to happen next. Like the word is falling under my feet and I am following the gravity – I am falling too. I can handle a lot, but now, the situation is pretty chaotic and out of control. And I just cannot control my work situation. And this is exactly part of the reason why I am so into what used to be the Derek Foster strategy because I find it exciting and full of possibilities. I do not want to suffer all my life from poor work situations.

If it happens that one day, I can make enough money from my investments to stay off the workplace for a couple of years in my life, well, I will be the first one to be running into the possibility and sticking to the plan. But now, whit almost 3 000$ gone in taxes money (it’s hurt!), I begin to feel a bit desperate here. It’s not tomorrow that I am going to be able to quietly leave the workplace.

I finally receive my Pengrowth Energy Trust dividends

I had received 51.20$ in dividend from Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN). The dividend had been roll over to purchase more stocks. And this is how I acquire 7 brand new units of PGF.UN at no charge.

As for the rest, I had my taxes done by a professional and I had an appointment this Monday. I made an overall income of more than 44 000$ in 2008. Life had been good for me here in Montreal so far. But more $$$ = more taxes to pay… And it’s actually the reason why it’s more than 2 900$ that I had to pay extra in provincial and federal taxes. It’s kind of what I was expecting when I did my taxes by myself on Easter day. But I really wanted my taxes to be done correctly and along the run, it was a lot of stress for me. I do not regret paying 75$ to have my taxes done properly. I am quite happy to be done with all this now. I already pay my taxes through my online banking account.

For 2009, I definitively have to invest more in my RRSP. And TD Waterhouse is very annoying for this part because there’s an annual fee to be paid to invest in stocks through them for a RRSP account. Isn’t expensive enough that having to pay 29$ per basic transaction? But this is how TD Waterhouse likes to do business. Unfair or not, at the end, the money will just be invested someplace else. And it’s something else I want to take care of as soon as possible. Time is running out so quickly. I sometime have a hard time to stay organize.

I only have 2 047$ available on my credit line right now to purchase more stocks. I will wait probably until next month to make another purchase. Right now, my marvelous Pembina Income Fund (PIF.UN) is at 14.03$ and SIF.UN is at 12.25$. I just hope prices will false down lol just in time for me to purchase new units next month. I probably purchase other units of PIF.UN. Right now, PIF.UN is at exactly 14.03$! Love PIF.UN!

I am only missing 9 153.28$ to reach My first 50 000$!

Today was quite a fun day as I was off all day and I really enjoy my free time. It was still cold in Montreal, but the sun was out. I wake up late and went… shopping! I might had spend 250$ or so lol. Among other stuff, I purchase a nice pair of Nike running shoes. They are black with a bit of pink, very comfortable. I was really in need of a band new pair as my feet were hurting on my old shoes lol. This day off had been so much fun that I was thinking about taking Sunday off on each week – for the whole summer. Which mean I will work 5 mornings and the whole Saturday for that job. As for the evening job, there’s ups and downs, but I decide to stop worrying for now and just take whatever come by to me – a lay-off (again?! lol) or not. I am just that tired.

I am now confident – I might be able to reach my first 50 000$ in investments by the end of 2009. Of course, I have a bit more than 16 000$ in debts, student loans for the major part, as 1 000$ had been borrow to pay my taxes (that will be done and completed by tomorrow) and also a 5 000$ on my credit line that I use for leverage (another good idea of mine). After my first 50 000$, I will focus on paying my debts.

My real overall value is only of 24 227.03$ (40 855.02$ - debts of 16 627.99$) but I plan to catch up later on about debts. For now, investments are too much fun and I really want to invest in the Energy Savings Income Fund (SIF.UN).

I had received my Pembina Pipeline Income Fund dividend for April

I had received 13$ in dividend from Pembina Pipeline Income Fund. And this is how I earn a one “free” unit of the ultra-ultra fantastic Pembina Pipeline Income Fund! I still wonder how Derek Foster could let this one go from his portfolio. But for myself, I know one thing; I am certainly going to purchase more units of this marvelous Pembina! Way too hot. I am still waiting for Pengrowth dividend, but I didn’t receive anything yet.

Since I registered to an automatic DRIP, I was told it could take some more times to receive dividend sometimes. It’s something I am always looking into, just in case… Because with TD Waterhouse… well, with TD lol. Just joking.

My nightmare with 2008 taxes is almost over. I have an appointment on Monday and after what, everything will be complete. I have everything prepared in my bank account just in case I need to pay big in taxes. I have a bit more than 3 200$ ready. I just cannot wait to see how much I will need to pay in taxes this year.

I had 1 600$ of my own money ready – I took a 400$ from my credit line at TD and another 1 000$ from my 10 000$ credit card I have with RBC. I withdraw the 1000$ from the bank machine and pay off immediately after with a check I had luckily received a couple of weeks ago from TD Visa – an around 5% deal for 6 months on balance transfer. I have a 5 000$ limit on my TD Visa.

And I actually have another 3 000$ I could take way from my RBC Visa and pay it off with Visa TD check and I was willing to do so and purchase SIF.UN or PIF.UN that way lol. Like at a point, it’s just doing any sense. I just cannot stand it too much longer. I want to make another investment. My last investment with Pembina was on a Friday, on the 13 back in March.

If I decide to move on with this major move, I will probably be working on paying back credit cards for the next 6 months – or even more.

I almost already reach 5 000$ on my credit line. If I add 4 000$ to this amount, it make 9 000$ that is needed to pay it all off within the next 6 months. In order to do so, a payment of 1 500$ per month will be needed. Not impossible, but I will have to cut on my daily expenses.

I am self-confident with the whole investment deal and I thing I am doing well, even by looking at my broker account. I calculate and I actually lost more than 12 000$. But even if I had lost great deal of money, I still want to continue to invest as long as I have enough money to do so.

I am playing and playing, I just hope to win big at the end.

I finally gave up on my taxes declaration

I renew my taxes this last Sunday and at the end of the day, it was not 2000$ or something that I had to pay back in taxes… But it was 3000$. The more time I spend on my taxes declaration, the more I had to pay in taxes!

After what, I told myself it was time to get some help! I get organize and just yesterday, I bring my paper to the proper professionals’ lol. I still consider the fact that it cold happen I might have to pay 3 000$ on taxes, like if I had not paid enough already! Tomorrow with my newest pay, it’s 1 600$ I will have in my banking account, so I plan to use some checks I got form my credit card to raise the rest of the sum of money – in case I need it. This year is very awful for my taxes. But I will survive. Doing personal taxes can really be annoying and exhausting. The worst that can happen is that I actually have to pay 3 000$ in taxes, which I will be surprise. Nightmare. But is worst is paying taxes or having to give my $$$ away to some Quebec government that is now mine? LOL!

I learn a lot by trying to do my taxes and I am looking to share what I had learn really soon. Cool exciting projects coming on.

Go Hanwei go!

Hanwei Energy Services (HE) is up up up! Not that I stop believing in Hanwei, but it was a lovely surprise to see its value rise to 1.71$.

I cannot access my broker account at this time, but from what I remember, I had purchased 300 units of HE at the price of 2$ or so per unit. And of course, this investment – like other that I have – made me lost some money! Now, HE is at 1.70$ - which is extraordinary. I might even be able to make money from this investment one day. And one day, Hanwei Energy Services could even begin to distribute dividends to its shareholders. Maybe in a close future.

I really like Hanwei Energy Services and I believe it have good potential to grow over time. Hanwei is a BUY and HOLD forever lol!

Why? Hanwei has present in emerging markets, more especially in China and the company promote green energy. And this might be one of the reasons why Hanwei price had been rising lately. Among their activity, Hanwei deliver Wind turbines and had growing business opportunities in Asia. Hanwei is also having interests in coal power, among other.

I am looking forward to see the price rising in the upcoming weeks.

Dividend Joy in April… and it’s not over yet!

I was very happy to received 75$ in dividend from Sprott Asset Management. But great news – the dividend earnings for April is not over! In the upcoming weeks, I am expecting a 51.20$ from Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN), 13$ from Pembina Pipeline Income Trust, 4.28$ from Livingston International Income Fund (LIV.UN) and 49.49$ from Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS).

Which mean its make almost 200$ I will earn in dividend earnings for the month of April. Very great!

I now have a 1 300$ sleeping in my bank account but that’s money is taxes money. I did my taxes – all by myself – and it wasn’t too difficult. But very exhausting and very long, but the software I use is quite good and I plan continue to work on my taxes declaration this weekend and finish it up and move on.

I was entering the data and I was getting anxious while entering my T4 for my 3 jobs because once they were all enter – it was making almost 4 000$ I had to pay extra in taxes! From that point I told myself, I will continue to do it by myself and if I see I still that much to pay, I will make someone else do it for me. But at the end, once I enter my RRSP amounts for 2008, everything turn out well, as I only have to pay 1 800$ in taxes. Which of course, it’s a lot of money, but in 2008, by running everywhere, I make a bit more than 44 000$. After 41 000$, I get into a higher level for the taxes and from my point of view, the whole thing make sense.

But at the same time, I am quite disappointed in having to pay almost 2 000$ in taxes because I really wanted to purchase 100 units of Energy Savings Income Fund (SIF.UN), like next week or so. But it’s seemed it won’t be before next month. Life sometime is boring like that.

I just received a "free" 75$ on April 6th

I just come from my new morning job. Well, not exactly new because I was working there only during weekends. The supervisors seem to be surprise to see on weekday’s lol. The survey is ok and I hope to be working 36 hours at that job until the end of August. I just hope everything will go well. As for the rest, I still had my evening job. We begin to receive a bit more calls, and I am feeling better now as I was beginning to worry about loosing another job of mine... again lol. Look like recession is no more just "as seen on TV" deal for me...

Wonder what’s that free 75$ is all about? I received yesterday 75$ from Sprott Asset Management (SII). They had provided a special dividend – 15 cents per stocks. Since I own 500 stocks of SII, I just earn a fantastic 75$. It’s not that much, but it makes a nice little deposit on my credit line and around those times, I need money – whatever the provenance lol. So basically, I just transfer the 75$ as a payment on my credit line.

My first 50 000$ is now from Twitter

Check my cool profile:)

http://twitter.com/myfirst50000

Twitter is very fun to use. You write short paragraph and just post them, to whoever is reading you. I find out about Twitter first by watching Rick Sanchez on CNN. But it’s just very recently, yesterday actually, that I register. And of course, I am following Rick Sanchez on Twitter :)

My watch list

This post is about stocks and units I would like to purchase next.

I watch the index and of course, I am looking to extend my portfolio and invest more and more into current and other companies. Those are the stocks and units I would had purchased right away… if I would only have some money left.

My love’s one:

Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN)
Current value: 24.73$
52 Week High: 30.55$
52 Week Low: 21$
Annual dividend: 2.904$

Time to buy before it’s become unaffordable!

I really like BA.UN. That’s actually a real one from the Maritimes and it rock! The annual dividend is huge! Almost 3$ per unit. This is an optimum BUY and HOLD lol :)

Great-West Lifeco Inc. (GWO)
Current value: 18.58$
52 Week High: 35.94$
52 Week Low: 11.21$
Annual dividend: 1.232$

For me, it’s seem a good one. Great-West Lifeco offers services to other companies like RRSP along others. GWO is a BUY.

Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC)
Current value: 16.40$
52 Week High: 40.59$
52 Week Low: 9.020$
Annual dividend: 1.04$

A buy? Maybe, maybe not. Analysts seem not to thrill about Manulife. I personnaly prefer GWO rather than MFC. But other than that, if I had a lot more than what I have now, I would have for sure invest in MFC. But in the conditions that are mines, I prefer Great-West Lifeco.

Energy Savings Income Fund (SIF.UN)
Current value: 11.25$
52 Week High: 15.40$
52 Week Low: 6.32$
Annual dividend: 1.236$

This is a good one. SIF.UN is kind of like Pembina Pipeline Income Trust on the sense that they plan to keep paying dividend (and no plan to cut) to their shareholders and its sound – by reading different press release – very well organized and stuff. It’s all I kind say about them, with all the knowledge I have. Among other, I would also like to purchase some other PIF.UN units and Fortis stocks. PIF.UN is affordable and pay good dividend. I just cannot imagine DF at the moment he had sale his PIF.UN units! Unimaginable!

On what happen at the job interview

I had an interview this late Friday, on April 3 for the job I had been referred to by the place I used to work during the morning. It was not what I expected and I was badly hurt to be offering such job. I was expecting something better. It was my first job interview in about near a year now.

Basically, the job was as a self-employed and it was about calling CEOs, directors of bank (was TD in the list, I don’t know lol) and others like that. I was about asking questions; see if they qualified for a project and than, ask if they were available to come for a one hour interview on site. I find it incredibly stupid, asking such things to supervisor and other. I was very upset to be referring to such job. I left the job after saying I didn’t want to occupy a job as a self-employed – that’s a good excuse that cross my mind. That’s excuse came by after she asked me if I it was because I was not feeling like I could do it. Wow!

The job was very terrible like that and I cannot imagine one minute asking a CEO some questions but worst part being me asking them to come onsite and so on.

And the worst being that I wake up early that morning to print a copy of my update resume. As I was leaving, I was feeling a lot of sadness in my heart and during that time, in the state of New York, 13 innocent persons were shot to dead.

After learning those 2 bad news, I was able to catch up with my weekend job and by finally saying I was available to do some hours during day time. Which had been accepted.

On my lovely weekend

I just cannot believe such individual can posts such comments on my blog! Like this is not a professional blog or something like. It’s just something I am doing for myself and for the fun of it. And I really enjoy blogging. I have several blogs and it might be poorly written, but I am not looking into winning a literature prize. Some individual can really be disturbing. And I am talking here about a comment that I had been left on my last posts. Anyway, I got the picture right. But what actually I like about this is how much I can write and tell in this sort of basic by nature English of mine. It could surprise since I am from New Brunswick but I am not originally from the English part of the province. Anyway, let’s pass on.

But something worst disturb me this week. It shouldn’t be something disturbing but it did disturb me – because I had been very tired in the last couple of days. I am tired of my daily routine, tired of it. Of me working so hard for my money. And I got stress about the taxes I have to do. This is stressing me more than anything else. Sometimes, just the accumulation of different things just make it too much at the end. And for me, I meet the end when I received the package to vote for Methanex. Like enough and enough. I want some free time. And this remains me of the old days when I was only working on weekdays with one pay check. Like everything was nice and gees, what did I did with myself.

And this weekend was one of them, like I had the whole Saturday for myself. I was working – thankfully – this Sunday. I really need the money to pay off my credit line. In this difficult time, it might had been better if I would had just pay more on my student loan, but I am too excited about reaching 2000$ in dividend earnings – probably by the end of the summer.

I confirm the deal, I will be able to work 36 hours weekly at what used to be my working job. The plan almost got ruined because of my morning job. Where I used to work on the morning, they refer me to 2 jobs. First I got excited, I taught it was going to be a good job and all that but gees, it was 12$ per hour, « under the table » lol – as a self-employed and it was really just occasionally, very temporary work. But I didn’t accept the offer. It wasn’t paying enough and the reason I gave for refusing was because it was a job as a self-employed.

I do not care about the jobs I am doing or what so ever. What I need is continuous amount of money coming in my banking account. And for that, I need stable jobs, no matter are bad paying they are. But I do not complaint. I can easily myself go like this for another 2 years or 4, depending on how things are working for my portfolio. That occasion job I had been offered could had disturb the plan of me reaching 8 000$ in extra money by end of the summer. That make valuable money I can invest in Pembina or other if I want to. But I had other plan than Pembina Pipeline Income Trust. Those are from my watch list and I am going to write next about it.

My top performers: Pembina Pipeline Income Trust and Crestsreet Alternative Energy Fund

I didn’t calculate my overall value for quite a time (like do I really care), but I did it intentionally, knowing I might be close to the same amount of money – still after several weeks of waiting for the TSX to come up again. The market had move a lot like always, but no drastic change still in my portfolio. Pembina and Crestsreet are the exception for the rule and they are both very, extraordinary amazing.

Pembina and Crestsreet Alternative Energy Fund are about the only 2 investments who had took some value in my portfolio and I am still impress by the fact that, well, it had taking some value!!!! LOL.

I was very proud of my choices: purchasing 100 units of Pembina Pipeline Income Trust was one of the best ideas I ever had. I purchased 100 units of PIF.UN back on March at 12$. For now, each unit worth 13.42$. Since that time, the highest Pembina reach was something like 14.50$. I was like wow! Like its way too much fun! And for each unit, I earn 1.56$ per year, as the annual dividend is of 1.56$ per unit.

In date of April 3, my 1 000$ initial investment made in Crestsreet Alternative Energy Fund now worth 1 042$! I just hope it will continue this way. It’s seem like in my portfolio, Crestsreet Alternative Energy Fund had taken the place of Sprott Canadian Equity Fund. But that’s now wanted from me. It’s just how things went by.

For me (a while ago lol), Sprott Canadian Equity Fund was the "investment" or was supposed to be the one. Sprott Canadian Equity Fund was supposed to be my mine of gold. But nothing happen. Instead, I lost half of the money I invest in it and I am just upset about it. Anyhow, there is no – officially – no "money lost" until the investment is being sold, so for now, I stick and hold. But eventually, the goal would be to make a huge amount of cash from Sprott and than sell it to purchase high dividend paying stocks. But the question that remain is if Sprott Canadian Equity Fund still represent a good investment and to this question well, I do not have the answer.

Rock on :)

My first vote as a shareholder of Methanex Corporation

I previously vote as a shareholder of Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) a while ago. Now it’s the turn of Methanex Corporation (MX). Actually, my vote for Bank of Nova Scotia was my first vote as a shareholder. I wasn’t prepared to vote for another company any time soon and I was quite happy to have the opportunity to vote for another company… that I own lol. Most hilarious part is that I had received the voting package… in English lol. Very funny. But I understand English enough to take "clearly" decisions or what I believe will be a good decision.

I didn’t begin the reading of the document yet. I am way too exhausted on what had happen to me lately. I am going to explain it all. But for now, my portfolio is taking form and it’s beginning very interesting to be… an investor lol!! No matter how bad the economic situation is, companies like Bank of Nova Scotia, Fortis, Pengrowth Energy Trust, Livingston International Income Trust, including Methanex Corporation among other, continue to pay dividend to their shareholders. And this thing is real. I had received a little more than 300$ in dividends money and I cannot wait to earn more.

If small investor were doing the same thing as me, we could boost the Canadian economy. But unfortunately, it’s not something I can do by myself alone, me and my little thousands of dollars here and there. But the whole investment thing begins to be more and more interesting. The portfolio I own at a broker now worth an average of 20 000$ in value right now and I expect to see it’s growing over the next couple of months. If only the TSX could reach 15 000 points again, my overall value could reach 75 000$ and maybe even more. And what I like about the stocks market is that there is no discrimination of what so ever. You invest in a company, it give you automatically the right to vote for it, to earn dividend and so own. And nothing is done to stop the process by anyone among the way.

And there’s no more powerful tool than the stocks market. I saw it from my own eyes. In a day, I could had make close to 500$ or so by selling some of my investments. This is fantastic.

Earning New Dividends

I just received new dividend from Livingston International Income Fund (LIV.UN) and Methanex Corporation (MX). I earn one extra stock of LIV.UN and another one of MX. And I earn an extra 14$ in cash to pay off my credit line. I really can pay off the interest of a 5 000$ credit line following Derek Foster strategy as he explains in his latest book Money for Nothing. Now, knowing that, will I be able to follow his strategy regarding optons?

I previously wrote that I began to understand the "options strategy", but really, I find it still difficult. I once call the Options department of TD Waterhouse. I spoke to an Indian I believe. Cute accent, good explanations. But in date of today, I find it still difficult. Would I be able to live from my dividend one day? And no siminar are being offer regarding options in the Montreal area. So what do I do now? :)

Good news

I just got very good news. It was yesterday actually. But yesterday morning, I was so tired; I did not even take time to check who was calling. It was for a job offer – not permanent but occasionally part-time. I got refer by the person in charge of the human resources at was used to be my morning job. I was quite happy. I was finally able to reach the person who had call me just a few hours ago and we will meet tomorrow at 10AM, which is not too early lol. I don’t exactly know what’s the job about, but I will learn more tomorrow. As long as I am getting paid… This is better than today because I am still very exhausted. And the more I sleep, the more I am exhausted lol.

That’s terrific news as the job is located on the same building and I know the place pretty well. I just hope it will turn out ok. Which mean that for now, my weekend job will remain my weekend job. Like for now, it’s very funny because it’s all about jobs, money and socks. And I am running everywhere. I still have my taxes do to. I was thinking do to it by myself with a software, and I had my taxes paper of last year which can help me but I think the best will be just to see someone to do my taxes paper for me and I might go at the same place I went last year. I wouldn’t like to do any mistakes. But I am still thinking on what do to.

And yesterday, I was quite surprised to see Methanex Corporation (MX) to rise at more than 10$ per sock. The situation is not totally desperate :) And Sprott (SII) gone up a bit at 4.60$. If everything can remain relatively the same, it will be nice knowing how much I am working hard to gain money, which mean more money more stocks, if everything can just remain the same, I might be able to purchase more stocks. I was thinking of purchasing more PIF.UN and FTS. I plan to earn +/- 860$ in new dividends by the end of this summer. It’s going to be hot :)

This morning was my last morning

…at my 3rd job.

I did from 9AM to 3PM and when I was done, I said goodbye to ones who where still there and I left. And it actually did something to me when I left even knowing how exhausting the job was mentally and physically – mentally because for the past couple of months I basically never knew if, for the day after, there was going to have work for me – that was pretty exhausting. And physically well, physically burn out because I had to wake up early, latest 7h30 AM after arriving at around 1 AM from my evening job.

But I won’t complaint too much about it, I was able to make it anyway, it wasn’t that exhausting. And for a while – almost a year – in April it would had make one year I had been working there. The workplace was always super clean, in a beautiful building near a metro and really, it was quite nice but the pay was low. I wouldn’t have take it as a full-time job but it was almost a perfect part-time job, only part that was rough it not knowing how many hours I was going to work each week. If I would have working only there, I would have probably freaked out. It’s terribly difficult to work in those conditions. It does remain me back of the times I was in Ottawa working for staffing agencies. Just the worst part of my life I want to forget.

Now, I am almost in a vacation until April 6th. Until that date, I won’t be working during the mornings which mean I will have... free time! I also having this Saturday off and it’s going to be real nice to have all this free time for myself as I enjoy surfing the Web so much.

I wish to make 36 hours at my weekend job and work full-time and – I wish some overtime will soon be available at my evening job. As for the rest, nothing changes; expect I had given up on Gomez PEER. I had waited and wait and wait and the status of the registration was still pending. So what I did is that I remove the program from my laptop. I guess I will just have to find new ways to make money online lol.

Having fun with my multiple Tax-free savings accounts and why TD Waterhouse is not that bad after all

Because they are getting pretty good at dealing with people like me! And I will go through it all in this post.

I got sooo confused on the Tax-free savings account. I taught I had understand it all – but just one little thing that I didn’t understand correctly – I taught that withdraws made during the year could be reinvested during the same year in the Tax-free savings account. But unfortunately for me, withdraws can only be reinvest during the next year following the withdraw – and never on the same year the withdraw were made. Here was my mistake.

Back in January of this year, I open a Tax-free savings account at RBC. And in it, I transfer some of my non-RRSP investment. They were mutual fund investments and in total, the money I transfer in the account was very close to 5 000$ - which is the limit authorize for 2009. I was very happy with the transaction. Everything went well and smoothly, without any problems... until… I got this bright idea.

A couple of weeks pass – it was time to invest in my RRSP and I suddenly realize I didn’t have planned anything for my 2008 RRSP. What I did was the following: I took some of my investments I had in my brand new Tax-free savings account at RBC and transfer them into RRSP. Everything went fine, well not perfectly fine, but I post previously about this, let say “learning experience” with bad agents of RBC trying to make money out of me.

Anyhow, a couple of weeks after, I decided to open another Tax-free savings account, but this time with TD Waterhouse. I complete the form and a few days after, the Tax-free savings account was from my TD Waterhouse. Once I call to see if the account had been created (I barely connect to the Internet on weekdays as I am running from 9 to midnight at my jobs) – the agent at TD told me that the Tax-free savings account was now from my TD Waterhouse account. All happy that I was, I ask him to immediately transfer my Crestsreet Alternative Energy Fund in it. But I didn’t talk to him about what I had done previously at RBC. The agent proceeds. I really taught I was doing right, until I contact RBC later on – asking what was left from my Tax-free savings account and than – but only at that time – I begin to ask question and I find out that well, I have to say it, I had done a mistake lol.

After what, I call TD Waterhouse, telling them all about what I done. And I suggest if it will be better just to get the Crestsreet Alternative Energy Fund out of the Tax-free savings account and the agent told me no. That was during a weekday’s afternoon.

Later on during the evening, I call back RBC to confirm the information of what I had been told during the afternoon and after – once again I call TD Waterhouse and the answer was still the same – I didn’t have to take off the Crestsreet Alternative Energy Fund from my Tax-free savings account. How confusing! And than, I ask the courageous agent if I could had move my Sprott Canadian Equity Fund into the Tax-free savings account at TD (like I never get enough or something lol) but he told me… NO… lol

I still do not understand in date of today – why it’s ok for me to leave Crestsreet Alternative Energy Fund into my Tax-free savings account at TD. I just hope things will turn all right. I am kind of having confident in them now.

But what I dislike about TD Waterhouse and main reason I keep “bitching” after them most of the time is that even if I ask for general info, the agents – but not all of them – keep asking for my name, my account number… And one time, I get very mad and I told the agent that I didn’t want to provide the info since I was just asking for general info. But it never works… I had to identify myself.

And by the way, their TalkBroker do not work in French but exists in French… Like anything cannot be perfect.

(and especially not at TD Waterhouse lol!!!!!!!!!!)