Hello again New Brunswick?

For some reasons, I now had become a Quebecker. I had switched my New Brunswick medical card and driver license to a Quebec one. While living in Quebec province, its just a matter of formality, but I had to do the switch. Strangely, now that I did, my mom find a job posting for something in my area. Cool, but I will have to move again, and buy a car... And the job is located in a very small place, close to nothing. So I just wonder what to do in the present time, but the answer quietly present by itself. 

My Montreal job is not a fun one. I don't get any kind of recognition, I am not very much respected there. So yeah baby, if I have a chance to leave Quebec behind trust me, I will do so. I hate Quebeckers from the bottom of my heart. I hate Quebec province, but I like Montreal. But only the city.

Going through some very rough stock market conditions - while a lot of volatility is in the air and everything seem to dominated by stress and bad news - that make it the very perfect time to check out my investment portfolio very closely. Greece is on good track to resolve their problems, but its not at all anytime soon that the problem with fade away. Greece Prime Minister seems to be a bit too much revolutionary for my taste and unconscious, but it seem like he's doing what the international authorities are expected from his country.

This past Friday, when I saw that the TSX had lost closed to 100 points, I was desperate, I didn't want to face a non-registered portfolio down under $130 000. But nope, surprise, my non-registered portfolio closed to $131 266.03. I am slowly getting back on track. And I can afford to move in the middle of no where and I can afford to buy a car. F Quebec.

Your spending habits may ruined your investing dreams - or maybe not

How? Well, its pretty easy to understand. The more your spend, the less you have available to invest. And I am currently experiencing something similar to that, for several reasons.

From what I had experienced so far, the more I earn money, the less easier it is to actually save money. But shouldn't be exactly the opposite? Not in my case. I do not work at several jobs like I used to do. I make a similar salary than before by holding on - or trying to - one job + my dividend + my sometimes online income. But other than that, I don't have many sources of income, I work less, but I spend more. Why is that?

I have more free time. And having more free time on hands mean that I have more time to spend money. I don't do extravagant things, I go the movies, I usually go to all of the Montreal festivals you could imagine, I go out a lot, I drink a lot, I eat a lot outside, I shop, I buy clothes, jewellery, makeup, diet pills... yeah, but read it right, DIET PILLS. lol.

Generally speaking, I do spend more than what I used to. Now that I hold more or less 100k in net worth, I got very lazy, but I would say that I invest on a regular basis anyway and I am still good on shooting out good investments. Not including my RRSP money, my dividend income is at $6 200+. I expect to hit on the $12 000 income in the next 4-5 year or so. The overall picture is not that grey despite my current spending little nature.

Among my spending habits, ones are daily spending and other are what I name as generic spending if not over drive spending. I guess you never heard of that type of spending flare. Like you stop by a drugstore and buy a new lipstick but you really don't need a new one - see what I mean?

And comes the more or less daily expenses that I could live without, or maybe not. I cannot live without my daily coffee, a $2.60 in the morning, and an Americano in the afternoon, $3. And I really often buy 2 coffees per day. I discovered a new pleasure in life - be ready reader - aha - manicures and pedicures. Both cost $55 every 3 weeks. I have thin curly hair, but a lot of hair - and I need a hair cut every 8-6 weeks as the roots get dry and messy. That's a $28 right there. I also do my coloration at home, $14 a box - every 6 weeks or so because I had been coloring my hair since my mid twenties and I look better that way. And I start having white hair one or 2 years ago. I sometime wake up late to get to work - I take a taxi, its $10 to $14 the ride depending of the traffic. If I don't organize my lunch week during the weekend, forget about it, I will have to buy something to eat. I also really often finish work after 5 pm, what to you thing happen when I do so? I go get something to eat.

Not to turn into a wild beast, I go visit New Brunswick at least 4-5 times a year. Ticket is $175 + other expenses. I spend money on my folks for Christmas, Easter, birthdays. And I am very generous. Its $500 that do for Christmas. Certainly a $100 on Easter. And $100 on birthdays in not a bit more. My rent had been increased of $10 recently, its now $635 - but I am closed to everything including work, no need for a metro pass that might be close to $90 a month now...

Despite all of this dramatic degeneration, I had a bill of $985 on my credit card last month. Its not too bad knowing that it included my Internet and cell phone bills. I like putting everything on my credit card because it help me managing my expenses. For last month, my expenses were about $1 700, but I still had left $800 in free cash for savings - and that does not included the money earn in dividend. So life is all good. Why should I say no to manicures and pedicures???

Meet my new favorite stock: Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (BIP.UN)

I knew that my non-registered portfolio wasn't going to look good, but I was curious. I found a disastrous tiny little $126 454.80. It doesn't look good at all, but I am thinking of it as temporary situation. In those very rough time, better to invest in stocks that can stand without falling. By this I mean, its better to invest in stock that haven't lose in value much instead of running over some bargain stock. Its not like we are going to get out of this mess anytime soon. A recession had been announced and our Financial Minister is just too stuck up to see clearly what's going up.

CNR could be a good bet, but I have a new favorite, its Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (BIP.UN). I had been holding into BIP.UN inside my TFSA for the past couple months, and it already gain 7% in value! This is quite spectacular knowing how bad are the stocks market right now. BIP.UN almost pay 5% in dividend distribution, which is very great.

My idea is to stop buying clothes and makeup and to invest another 1 to 2 thousands in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (BIP.UN). I think I had found my new gold mine.

Greece acting like gansters crew. The no to the referendum: revolutionary or a dumb show?

I didn't post anything in quite sometime, I had been busy, got a few vacation days and now I am getting back to the usual. I had been away, but I kept an eyes on what was going on. It was with no surprise that I learn that the No had won the referendum in Greece. Its a poor country and its residents are desperately trying to the get out of hell. Imagine having to live with the fear of not being able to access to your very own money. Not to be able to withdraw money without having to face long waiting lines and, even worst - having to face the lack of available cash.

Greece debt shouldn't be erase, but I hope the Euro zone will take in consideration all of the craziness that those people have to endure. There's no way out, but a long term solution need to be taking and Greece need to make commitments and have an in deep control of their finances.

With all that activity, my non-registered portfolio is down to $128 365.67 - far from the old 135 something... I really hate it when the stock market get so volatile. There's just no way out and there' seem to be no proper way to do things, no investment seem to be stable and strong enough to face the eventuality of a stock market crash.

The strangest thing ever is to actually have money, but the problem is: in what to invest in, is now a good time to buy? At this point, in the hot summer heat, after a cold winter, I do not really care and the strangest thing ever is actually not doing nothing with my money, for the really first time of my life. Like a big f off to the whole universe.

The Dividend Girl is about to turn into a Quebecker. What???!!! DAMN.

Even after now 3 years that I am back in Quebec, I still had my New Brunswick health card. I didn't want to get a Quebec one. My reason was that I don't need any cheap Quebec doctor to take care of me, I am never sick, I am not in need of any health care. I am invincible. We all know that of course. However, a few weeks ago, I decided it was time to get my Quebec health card, even it was only to cover my ass in case of an emergency, in case an accident arrive or something. Or in case I become pregnant. LOL. I tried to be intelligent, I place a call, said I arrived in Quebec in April (whatever!), got the form and than I went to a CLSC to depose the papers and it was about it.

Its the step I didn't want to make because it kind of make of me a Quebecker now and I am not too proud about that, but I needed to be practical so here am I. I definitely needed a Quebec health care because I am way too far away from my hometown now. Its just an administrative thing, its not because I will soon be holding a Quebec health card that I considered myself a Quebecker. A wild thing like me is way too smart to be define as a Quebecker.

I think the tragedy of my entire existence is not able to get what I want, not to do what I want and not to live where I really want. It a life I have no control on. My other lives must had been very bad because this one really suck so far.

Still bitching like always sexy, but I have to say, Montreal turn to be a magical place during summer time. I went to many free concert during the Francopholies and took many videos like this one that I will soon post, but it take forever to download. Ok, so enjoy this first one - but just prepare to change position at one point.

This was Radio Radio. They open the Francopholies of Montreal this year. We'll talk about money in another post sometime.

This blog title could had been: How to deal with the volatility of stock market without too much pain? Do it with a ganster spirit

I don't know if Greece situation will ever get better. With all those millions and millions of dollars won, where are they going to find the money to pay back - especially now. And I don't understand why the FMI let Greece go so down so badly. In fact, that so call organization is not capable to prevent crisis, it only deal with shit once its obvious that there is a problem somewhere... Anyway, if you want my in deep and very honest opinion, we cannot change the world, but we can certainly play things on our favor. Fact is, small investors are sometime way smarter than any government.We prove that we can do a lot with the little money we earn every single day.

One of the hardest thing to deal while investing is how to deal with such shit. Each time, my portfolio survive, but this is no fun. One of the most scary thing ever is when that nuclear thing happen in Japan. My opinion was that the stock market - mine - the Canadian one - was going to go down badly, but it didn't. So try to understand that shitty place that is the stock market - your going to turn crazy. I stop a long time ago trying to understand anything related to the stock market and this is why I am still on the run.

The honest answer to that wonderful question: How to deal with stock market shit without too much pain? - IS: DON'T GIVE A DAMN. Do your nails, have your coloration done, exercise, do something, move on, BUT CERTAINLY, DO NOT sell anything.

Et voilà. That is how to deal with market shit. :-)

Taking a good breath might help as well.

Currently, my non-registered portfolio is down to $128 876.57. Unfortunately, when the TSX go down, my portfolio take a hit and its a pain each time. I have a left margin value of $13 705.45, which is not to bad, but I am far from the usual 17k. I need to keep track of the situation just to watch out because in my case, I have a margin. And since I don't plan to pay back my $66 000 margin debt anytime soon, I need to watch what is going on, because in result, my portfolio value go down, as well as the value.

In 10 years from now, I hope that I will be able to look back and say, all that worth it after all. It still worth it in the meantime. I am pretty sure that my net worth still exceed the $100 000. I didn't do too badly. But I could had done certainly better, that's for sure. And its the reason why I am doing my best to stay in control of money. My newest investment in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (BIP.UN) done well so far, I gain a 1.22% on the money already. I love when a new invest grow quickly like that. I am after all a pretty smart chick. And I am turning 35 in August!!!!

** DRAMA**

Other than looking myself carefully in the mirror each day, just like usual, I am still questioning myself on what will be my next investment and I have a pretty good idea. Once again, I will do just like Derek Foster. This one won't bring in the immediate a lot of dividend cash, but since the game is to invest for better tomorrows, maybe Canadian National Railway Company (CNR) is a good investment move. I am a fan of that stock. I made thousands on CNR inside my non-registered portfolio. Can I make possibly a thousands more on the stock? Probably. I didn't see CNR trading so  low in a very long time. I still have contribution room left in my TFSA, I feel this could be a good fit.

Life is really only about money

I guess you all wonder what meant the allusion to "Redwood City" in that post. I had been approached by an organization located in Redwood City. Someone from their social media team approached me, asking a few questions, which result in that post. And following what, the representative came back to me asking to add a link in my post to their free online calculator. I explain I could do so with a monetary compensation, but no cash had been offered. Sorry, but I don't sell myself for free. 

Fact is, the world of personal finance is a super HUGE business and its good business niche. Its not for nothing that a guy behind PayPal is the CEO of that X organization that I won't ever publicize for free on this blog because on my blog, I am the only star.

The TSX is doing doing very well lately and in result, I had lost a few thousands in value.

Welcome in my TFSA portfolio Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP (BIP.UN)!

Recently, Derek Foster invested in one of my top favorite: Canadian National Railway Company (CNR). I hold CNR in both my TFSA and non-registered account. In my non-registered account, CNR pop up to a +84 profit. I haven't been holding CNR in my TFSA account long enough to see a result., I am at -4.78% there. I agree with Derek with this new one, Canadian National Railway Company currently trade at a low value and it worth it to buy now - if possible inside your TFSA if you have any contribution room left - and hold on for many many years and just watch the capital gain going higher and higher.

I was excited to see that Derek Foster is finally getting back into Canadian stock, but unfortunately, CNR is nothing new to me, thanks to Susan Brunner. So I had been checking around for a new stock. Despite having a few thousands at my disposal since Glendel disappeared from the Canadian stock market, I haven't invested a penny, which is very unusual. At my early beginning, it was easier to invest because I wasn't holding nothing. But after investing for a few years now, it became harder and harder to invest. One reason being that I already hold many good stocks. And another reason is that I want to make sure I am making the best investing moves. 

As for the best investing move, nothing is never sure. However, I am always confident of all my investment choices and I never have any doubt when I decided to finally make that next investment. Another extraordinary life moment happen today when, after a couple of days, not to say a couple of weeks, I decided it was time to buy something new for my already very good looking portfolio.

I decided to invest in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP (BIP.UN). This new investment bring my annual dividend income to $6 201 and 92 cents (and I am not counting here my RRSP dividend because they are out of reach). Another cool investment could had been Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM), but at this time, I found CM not cheap at all and since its more expensive, I decided to go with BIP.UN for now. My order will go on tomorrow morning.

Can dividend income help you take control of your money and life? In Redwood City, money means everything

It is now that I will be turning 35 in August that I realized that money never been a very fundamental part of my life. Yes, I am what you could considered a financial blogger, I do care about money, but not to point where I am searching for real richness or anything technically even near. My domain address is myfirst50000.com, and its not for no reason. All I ever wanted is a $50 000 net worth, after that, the money experience could take me to whatever.

Someone came by this blog saying that the "20s are typically the perfect time to start planning for retirement, but sometimes life gets in the way." You bet! LOL. Well, to that I can only reply, that the 20s were meant to be live, and not to care a minute about a financial future, but not to jump in excessive spending either. I studied until my late twenties, but I never came across a career path or something specific that I wanted to do. I am not a very career oriented girl, and I don't care about most stuff that society around us want us to care about: flashy big house, flashy big car, fancy clothes, expensive vacations and so on. 

In my twenties, what help me the most with what I have today is making very smart choices regarding my education. Most of young people finish university and other with huge student loan debt. It barely make any sens at all to start your live so heavily handicap by already owning so much when you barely had time to live. And young people get easily stuck in the pattern. They enroll into debt because its the way things are. But the choice is always there no matter what. I stop trying to understand a long time ago.

I don't think I could be in a better financial situation now, but I don't think a lot of people will agree on that for sure.

 

My new $10 000 credit line at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM)

I already wrote about this one, a few days ago, I received a call from a CIBC representative saying I was pre-approved for a credit line. I went to a CIBC branch to have it open. Without having to even ask for it, I got a brand new $10 000 credit line, just like that, at an interesting interest rate compare to the other credit stuff I have. The interest rate is less than 7%. Fine with me. No credit check was required, so why not. 

Glentel Inc. (GLN) is now out of my portfolio for good and doesn't exist on the TMX anymore. I had received cash for all of my GLN stocks in both my TFSA and non-registered account. And of course, like usual when I have money available, I am thinking of my next investments. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) itself doesn't seem as a bad choice. CM stocks are super expensive, but its yield of 4.59% is not leaving me indifferent. I am still thinking of my old crush Northland Power Inc. (NPI). Another cool stock seem to be Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP (BIP.UN) on which Gordon Pape hugely publicized in the recent past weeks. Other than Gordon Pape, BIP.UN seems to be an interesting investment.

For now, my 2 top picks for my TFSA are: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) and Northland Power Inc. (NPI). I should hurry up and place my investment orders, but I didn't do nothing since received cash for my GLN shares.

I am currently waiting for my JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN) investment to hit on the $2 500 value so I can sell some units and bring on a $500 cash, like I did in the past. However, this is not going to happen anytime soon. I was curious to see what the investment manager of JFS.UN, First Asset Investment Management Inc. have to offer. And I find this page interesting. One of the most profitable EFT presents on that page is First Asset Morningstar National Bank Québec Index ETF (QXM). QXM is a five stars Morningstar EFT. Its management fee is only of 0.50%. Its surprising, but QXM is one that brought in most of cash since its inspection and on a one year. But when looking at the holding, I see a lot of stuff that I don't like: Yellow Pages, Dorel, Power Financial, SNC Lavalin... No thanks. I pass. NEXT.

I am not in a hurry to invest because I am not exactly sure of what I want. I cannot mess  up with my next investments. I think CM will be my next investment in my TFSA. I will announce when it will be finally done.

For June - that is tomorrow... my rent is getting increased of a $10, making it to $635. I am really not very happy about it.