Budgeting budgeting budgeting

I am getting sloppy with my expenses! It’s been 2 months in a row that my expenses reach more than 1 400$! What’s going on with me!!?

I took a lot of my expenses for the month of May so far…… and it’s not looking good at all:

Various expenses put on credit card: 674.77$
Rent: 520$
Student loan: 165$
Metro pass: 67$
TOTAL: 1 426.77$

I know I could easily save around 360.85$ in those expenses. I just need to be more vigilant about eating out and I need to slow down on coffee. At some point, I buy 2 coffees per day, one for the morning, and the other one before I hit my full-time shift.

It’s a good thing that I don’t have a phone, cellular, Internet and cable bills to pay, it will just ruined by budget. For the Internet, I am quite lucky, I get thought it the Wireless, and instead of a phone, I have a little pager. Its working fine for me, as I purchase a 20$ card to place calls. One of those cards last for about 3 months.

This week is the last week of May and I promise myself not too spend a penny more that what I have spend so far. It won’t be that difficult, knowing I had about 100$ in cash. A part of the money will go to my metro pass.

About my TD Waterhouse account

When I first open my account at TD Waterhouse, I invest 4 000$ in it. I invest an extra 2 000$ not so long ago, for a total of 6 000$. I was planning to invest an extra 2 000$, so it will make a final 8 000$. But now, I do not know and I don’t know which direction I should take. And it’s all because of a stupid letter I receive from TD Waterhouse.

I also have that 7 000$ to invest for my RRSP, so starting next month, I will begin to save for that RRSP. I just hope to be able to save enough money to follow all my plans. I am getting better with my cold and since I was off this morning, I slept in and later on I try to do some search in those iShares I am so interested in. I had an eyes on the iShares for quite some times now, but I could never invest in them, since the only way to purchase them is with a brokerage account, which I now have, but I do not know anymore if I should stick with TD Waterhouse.

TD Waterhouse or not, I plan to purchase 8 000$ in iShares:

2 500$ in iShares CDN LargeCap 60 Index
2 500$ in iShares CDN Materials Sector Index
3 000$ in iShares CDN Energy Sector Index

Each transaction will cost me 29$ each, if I stay with TD, for a total of 87$ (and does taxes applied??). There’s still a lot I don’t know about my TD Waterhouse account, like will those fees will be bill to me or will they send a somewhat invoice. I have been giving a brochure, but it doesn’t worth nothing, it’s not like a step by step guide and there’s nothing there that can help me.

The only reason why I get a TD Waterhouse account is because Derek Foster has one. At least it’s what he said in his book. And than I kept wondering if TD had paid him to be there in is book…. Anyway, so far, I don’t have many great things to say about TD Waterhouse. A big plus for me is that there is no fees related to inactivation, like if no investments are made for a long period of time, I won’t get any fees because I register to the eService. This is perfect for me because all the investments I made are for a long term basis. I begin to invest in 2005 and since that time, I never pick money in one of my mutual funds or other.

But I cannot say I do recommend TD Waterhouse because their customer service is really disgusting. A clear example of that: whenever you call to have information regarding your account, they don’t ask for security question. For a call I made, the last one actually, I call, and ask question to the customer representative about a letter I receive. I provide my account number and my name, and than I begin to discuss about my issue. Than, I was shock that the representative begin to answers to my question, without asking any security question. Than I told him, you’re giving me information on my account without asking any security question to confirm my identity? He told me that no transaction was aloud, so for him, it was ok to answers my question, check my profile without asking any security question. What a loser. What if one of the letter they send me get lost over the mail, someone else get it, open the precious letter, than, another person than myself has access to my account number and my name. After what that person can call TD Waterhouse, and ask question regarding my account……

If you have taught of TD Waterhouse for your brokerage account, beware. I am thinking of switching to someplace else. I was told that there were no fees for closing the account. So bet what I am doing to do?

The reason of my call was simple, I receive a letter from TD Waterhouse telling me they wanted to confirm my social insurance number and also, they were in need of a piece of identity. They were asking me to send via mail my social insurance number and a piece of ID. I was very upset, since I had presented those pieces when I first open the account. It doesn’t make any sense for me to send my valuable social insurance number to some of the biggest losers of the world via the mail, knowing it can be lost.

And that letter was sign at the name of their Vice President, Lisa O’Toole. I couldn’t believe a Vice President was asking me to send my social insurance number and my piece of ID, which was a birth certificate, by mail to them. I find it so unprofessional. And I am not even talking about the service I receive at the TD Waterhouse located in the Eaton Centre of Montreal. Because no one wants to really know about it.

At this point, I don’t know if it will be better if I close everything, knowing TD Waterhouse agents do not care about giving information to the right person and their Vice President Lisa O’Toole doesn’t care if my ID will get lost in the mail or not.

I hate TD Waterhouse.

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.