Dividend Growth and Givenchy Lipstick Dreams

The TSX closed today's session on a strong note at 24,106.79 points. Personally, I consider anything over 24,000 to be quite good—especially these days.

My non-registered portfolio closed today at $149,025.12, my US portfolio at $6,230.36 USD, my RRSP stocks-only portfolio at $85,959.40, and my TFSA portfolio at $123,496.39.

I currently estimate my net worth to be around $446,000. That’s about $23,000 below my highest net worth ever, which was $469,000—just in case you forgot. That peak was back in January of this year. The fact that I’ve experienced a $23,000 drop between January and April just shows how volatile the stock market has become under Trump’s leadership.

I recently updated my Excel sheet where I track my dividend income. I’m now earning the equivalent of $931 per month in dividends from my non-registered and TFSA portfolios. That’s a solid amount—it could cover my rent ($770), internet and cable (around $110), and cell phone bill ($40.24)... While living in Montreal, my overall minimum viable budget is exactly of $1,552. So I’m just $620.73 short of covering that entirely with passive income.

Very nice—but keep in mind, that’s only enough to cover the basics. It doesn’t include clothes or… Sephora makeup. Speaking of which, I recently ran out of my beloved Givenchy nude lipstick—Rouge Interdit Intense Silk Satin Matte Lipstick. The refill costs $45 before taxes at Sephora. It’s pricey for a lipstick, but I’ve never enjoyed wearing one as much. It’s hard to explain, but I love how it feels on my lips. I am addicted to that lipstick.

Not that long ago—back in the years 2008 or so—I remember getting by with just under $1,000 a month while living in Montreal. But those days are long gone.

I should get my tax return filed within the next few days. I really hope for a good refund so I can treat myself to that amazing lipstick. I also went to Simons recently and bought two tops—over $100 total! I still have the tag on one of them, and I’m seriously thinking of returning it. It’s pretty, but I can do without. And honestly, if you asked me to choose between the Givenchy lipstick and a Simons top… I’d go with the Givenchy lipstick 😊

That said, I want to stay mindful of my spending. Some choices need to be made. At a certain point, how many clothes do we really need to be happy? Still, with all the tempting stores in Montreal, it’s easy to give in.

Today, the Bank of Canada decided to keep the key interest rate unchanged—which I think was the right move. Rates should only be cut when we’re in an actual recession. And in my opinion, we’re not in a recession yet. The economy is fragile, yes, but it’s not broken. Is it really worth cutting rates just because we think a recession might come due to Trump’s tariffs? Take a breath and let things unfold. The Bank of Canada made a smart decision today.

We’re lucky in Canada to have institutions that know how to handle things properly. We should also appreciate the fact that we have high-quality politicians—across all political parties. In this election, I lean Liberal, but I may vote NDP. Usually, I vote NDP in federal elections. But even if the Conservatives were to win, I know I wouldn’t have to worry too much. It wouldn’t be the end of the world. And that’s something I truly appreciate about Canada—we have good people. The U.S. can’t really say the same.

In the U.S., Donald Trump has been pressuring for rate cuts, which isn’t very wise. Politicians should stay out of those decisions. That’s how it works in Canada, and it should be the same in the U.S. Key interest rates are serious business and need to be handled with care.

I’m just very grateful to live in Canada. No matter what happens, I know we’ll get through it. It’s rare in today’s world to have the level of quality—in both people and services—that we enjoy here. We are not all fuck up like in the US. I know things are not perfect, but I appreciate how things are being handle in Canada, and our way of being.