Ups and downs

I didn't blog here since a long time. I am having problem with my laptop, which just doesn't want to go under the Wireless anymore and I am pretty upset about the whole situation, as I will probably have to pay a technician for this, since I am no longer living close to my brother, which could had take care of the job. I don't really need the Wireless, but its just I like to surf in cafe and now I cannot do anything.

And just to make things worst, I am loosing money like crazy with my investments. I just don't know what is going on, but its hurting my portfolio! I do not plan to sale anything, as always, I just keep everything but I would like to have the chance to make some money from my stocks and other. Like I was planning maybe to pay off a trip to New York or Toronto, or maybe both, since I never visited and I didn't travel for quite a time. But know, I don't think I will be able to do anything at all and it could happen I lost everything.

Two people get fired at my full-time day-time job. For once of them, I truly understand the reasons why he got fired and I was quite surprised he didn't get fire any time sooner. For the second one, it was actually the person I was having difficulties with, the one with VIH, she got fired too. But for her, I was quite surprised, as she was really good and her productivity has very high. And another person left, I don't know what happen to him. Anyway, things are pretty change.

I got a big emotional break down because of that job, not because of people I know get fired, but because I had set a fix work schedule with them and they didn't respect it. The problem was resolve at the end, but the night before it get resolve, I start crying in the middle of night and I try to calm myself as I need to wake up early at 6h45AM the next morning. I was desperate no to be able to combine my part-time job with my full-time job. But know its resolve. But I keep asking myself am I next on the people-to-be-soon fired? I take it one day at a time. I am always trying to do the best I can at work, even if its a low paying job. So we will see at the end what happen but I will be very sad if I get fired too. It's just an idea that is stock in my mind...

Just to make things worst, my part-time day job is cutting on in my hours, and not only for me, for a couple of others to. At least my weekend job is still ok for now. With all 3 jobs combines, I make almost 800$ weekly after taxes. And I just want it to continue like this. Everything was going on so well, and now, it's kind of going so-so and I am kind on getting a bit depressed by looking at my overall situation at work and at my investments.

I now have 100 Timminco stocks

I purchase other Timminco stocks this week. This time, I purchased them online, it was very easy to proceed, and it only cost be something like 27$. I purchase those stocks at 23.70$, which I believe was a good price for.

For the rest, the market is not super great at this time. I just can’t wait to make some big bucks from my Sprott Asset Management funds. So far, so good, since I am still working at my 3 jobs and I still making almost 800$ weekly. I am just looking to purchase more and more stocks and my next purchase could be Bank of Nova Scotia, but I will need at least 5 000$.

I don’t know too much on buying stocks, but I think the minimum per transaction is 100 stocks and Scotia stocks being not cheap, I might need at least 5 000$ before I can purchase them. I would like to purchase stocks that provide dividends. I was planning maybe to sell a couple of my non RBC mutual funds to purchase stocks.

Cleaning my banking account

I had most than 7 000$ in regular savings in my banking account. But the money is no longer there... I recently invest in stocks and mutul funds of Sprott Asset Management. It might be my last investments I will make for a while, since I don't have too much left in my banking account, barely enough to cover my expenses for next month. Anyway, I am pretty please with everything, except the service I receive from TD Waterhouse. I am getting a bit closer to my 50 000$. But it require so much work, I wonder if I ever could reach my goal.

I might be able to purchase other stocks by the end of August. For incoming project, there some investment I would like get rid off, but I don't want to lost the initial investment, so I am waiting.... but how long will I have to wait? Another one will be to have my credit check. And the last one to look around for stocks, for my next buy in August.

Another mutual fund....

I call TD yesterday to see if there was any fees related to the purchased of some units of the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund (SPR001) and there's none. I was told that for some funds TD charges fees and for other, they don't. Which I really don't understand, because I believe they get a compensation on a way or another from the company where individuals like myself purchase funds. I know how it works.

I don't really follow what I write on this blog. I first taught about the iShares, now stocks, and now back to mutual funds, when I just told myself I will not purchase mutual funds ever again... Anyway, that Sprott Canadian Equity Fund is a mine of gold and I would like to invest in it, even if the management fees are high (2.5%). And they also request that we keep the investment for 6 months, minimum investment is of 5 000$, which I currently have in my Waterhouse account. If not hold for 6 months, there's a penalty. But in case of need, I could always pick in my non RRSP mutual funds I have everywhere else. Because it's really investment all over the place. Like if I was willing to try anything kind of investment for money. This is the case. And it's really only for money.

But so far so good, as I stick to my 3 jobs to make near 800$ per week after taxes. I get kind of tease at one of the job. But I don't really care, as I never really care about what was going at my different work places. At one of my job, some idiots keep talking to me in English, while I am French and speak a some kind of broken English. Anyway, I don't pay too much attention, I reply in French. I don't care for anything else than the money I can make from different jobs. I am so not such difficult that everything is going very smoothly. And I am pretty good, as it been going on for a while now and money is coming like crazy, I just have to look at my expenses carefully.

After this investment (5 000$ in the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund, non RRSP), I won't be able to make any more investments for a while maybe, as I need to save 7 000$ for my RRSP of January 2008. And it will be good if I could pay off those stupid loan debts.

I feel lost in the finance world and stocks are tricky. Sprott Canadia Equity Fund appears to be a good solution. It's been well ranked by MorningStar even if the fund doesn't appear in the Analyst pick. Maybe because of its high fee. And it's also a bit volatile, but I am looking for a long-term investment. So now, I only have a phone call to place to make myself super rich with the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund. It is soooooo simple.

Making my first bucks from stocks

If it wasn't because I am working, I might spend the whole day in front a computer, looking for my SII stocks.... In date of yesterday, I made 75$ from those Sprott stocks. It just now I am realizing how much I can make if I can just be lucky for once in my life.

I also have an eye on Rogers stocks, the B ones. I just put another 1 000$. I also would like to invest in Sprott Canadian Equity mutual fund. It's just too bad I didn't find about this fund earlier. There's like too much I want to invest into and I just have too little money. I also have to thing about my RRSP.

Stocks are a lot of fun. Regarding Rogers stocks, I believe they are a good investment. I learn that the dividend will go up to 1$ per share in 2008, from what I read in their financial statement. I had been looking into them for a while, and they are a buy for a short term period, as previously, Rogers share went up to 52$.... And now the price is 40$ and something...

I purchased my first stocks yesterday

I just purchased my first stocks yesterday. I purchased 500 stocks of Sprott Inc. (TSX: SII) at 9.74$ each. I believe I made a good investment and I plan to keep those stocks for a while. I am too curious too see after one year how much will be the dividend and also the return. I prefer to invest in stocks that cost less than buying stocks of major banks which could cost me as much as 50$ per stock.

I was quite surprised to learn about Sprott and when I discover their mutual funds, I was even more surprised that those funds don't appear in the analyst pick of MorningStar. I read the article of the Globe and Mail that I find on Sprott Web site and from what I understand; their way of investing might be too different than others. That's why I never new about them before I saw that magazine at the Chapters. And I learn about it just at the right time, when I was desperately looking for stocks to invest in.

I just hope I made a real good investment. But only time will tell.

Some good news

I had a couple of things done I wanted to do during those last days. I had opened a banking account with RBC. That account is free for me since I had opened a credit card (that I never used and don’t plan ever to use by the way lol) + mutual funds with them. I just went to the RBC site earlier, and I can see my investments. I can also sell my investments at any time. Which is great, because I can wait to get ride of the RBC O'Shaughnessy International Equity Fund. Other than that, I plan to keep the other mutual funds I had with them.

I understand I should probably get ride of them and sale them all, but I prefer to keep them as I feel I don’t have that much money to invest in stocks and if something would had to happen to my stocks whatever the reason could be, I wouldn’t like to be out of money. But I might no more invest in mutual funds.

Regarding my account at TD Waterhouse, I decide to keep the account and use it, even for the reason exposed in the previous post, I really wanted to close it. The thing is that I investigated. If I decide to close the account TD Waterhouse staff will have access to my information for a period of 1 or 2 years. After what, my account will go into their archives for 7 years. After 7 years, but only after 7 years, everything disappears. This is the difficult part for me. That’s the only reason why I will keep the account. And another reason is that since I subscribed to eService, I won’t get any fees for being inactive. So I decide to keep the account. I won’t do what that poor Lisa O’Toole tell me to do (I suggest to read the previous post to understand). I know I shouldn’t complain, but investments are the only thing in my life I have totally the control on, and I want to keep it that way. I don’t want idiot to tell to send my SIN and another ID via the mail. Which I find totally stupid, knowing I had presented those items once I open the account. Anyway, I understand. And no one else seem to understand, especially TD Waterhouse agent, I have to tell. And I have a lot to tell. I won’t put my trust in them to get some advices on how to invest my money. Because I worth more than that.

I had good news this last Friday; I got a call from the place where I used to work on Saturday and Sunday. It’s seemed like they now have work for me… And I now will have 3 jobs. It’s really too bad it’s coming back now, especially during summer time. But I don’t care that much, the only thing I care about, as usual, is the money. I expect to earn 761$ after taxes weekly. This is very good. So this weekend was my last off weekend. I went to the movie and I did a bit of shopping and it was all, after doing the usual.

I also put an extra 4 000$ in the TD Waterhouse account. So now I have 9 000$ to purchase stocks. And I am kind of lost at this point. So iShares or stocks, I am kind of desperate. The best option should be stocks I believe, and maybe I should stick on the ones of Derek Foster book, even if after what happen at TD Waterhouse, I really begin to hate the man. The thing is he explain that he start with a TD Waterhouse account and the eServices, without suggesting his readers to do the same. At some point, the guy has responsibilities toward his readers, even if his books start with a disclaimer. And especially knowing his books are bestsellers. I just hope he is saying right.

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.