My projects for 2008

Now that I am done with the 2007 RRSP contribution, I have other project I am thinking about, like paying that 2 000$ and something debt that I have in credit card and finding a second job. I have been able to get a regular schedule at work, so now it's going to be easier for me to find a part-time job.

I had previously found a part-time job, but at the time, my schedule at my first job was changing week from week. So the employer told me to contact him once my schedule get more regular, because he was only able to give a fix work schedule and once he gave a work schedule, that one is the one their employees have for 3 months. Anyway, once I got my work schedule fix, I gave him a call, but he told me he had all the staff he needed...

So now, I don't have a part-time job, only a regular work schedule. I continue my search for a part-time job, which it shouldn't be to hard to find I believe. But I am currently sick with a cold. I sleep in for most part of the day. I take a look at the performance of my funds, and I was surprise to see that everything had went up up up. I didn't completely recover from my lost, but it's a good start.

I finally got what I wanted with TD

I went back to TD yesterday. I finally was able to get the funds that I wanted. I invest 100$ in each of them, except for one, in which I invest 200$. I was really happy. And after what, I went to work. So in date of today, I am done with my 2007 RRSP and I am quiet tired, running all over the places for my investments. I got a cold and I have been sick. It's the reason why I wasn't happy at all when the advisor told me I will have to come back on yesterday for my mutual funds. But my hard time is finally over.

I believe I have made great choices. I invest in a mix of GIC and mutual funds. I didn't want to put everything in mutual funds. I wanted to have money put in risk free investment because I don't benefit of a pension plan of any employers. And since I also have money put in mutual funds as non RRSP investment, I wanted to put money in a capital guarantee type investment.

Last year, I try segregated fund with Manuvie. 2 of my segregated fund (on 5) had made well. I had invested in those because a couple of them are 100% risk free investment, other 75%. I was anxious last year about putting money in mutual funds for my RRSP, but not anymore, since I now understand more what it's all about.

About my experience with TD

I went to TD in other to place 1 500$ I have rest to invest in my RRSP. The girl I got as an advisor didn't let me buy the mutual funds I wanted. It's the first time ever I am getting that much trouble to invest in mutual funds. I now have more experience investing in mutual funds and I understand the risk and what I can lose. My profile was aggressive, since I have a high tolerance of risk.

She wanted me to put money in one of their portfolio who had a return, since date of creation, of 5 or 7%. That what she had to offer to me as growth portfolio. She didn't want me to invest in the mutual funds of my choice. She told me she would have to ask if I can possibly to so, and I have an appointment with her tomorrow morning. Usually, I do extra hours at work, I arrive always earlier. But tomorrow, I won't be able to do so because I need to deal with the most incompetent advisor of TD bank.

I wanted to invest in the mutual funds I had selected (see below post), but she didn't want. She was sticking to the idea of putting my valuable money in one of her placement idea. Maybe she get a higher commission if she sales a portfolio. Anyway, if it's happen that the poor girl doesn't let me do what I want to do with my money, I am going to complaint.

I had present to her my list of funds, saying I wanted to invest 100$ in each of them. I told her I understand if I am not able to get them all, that just a couple of them would make my happy. Anyway, she could had make the call for me immediately, but the jerk didn't want to.

I ask her if it was the TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth ($US) or the one in Canadian $ that had receive an investment award. She wasn't able to tell. Isn't hilarious, an advisor who doesn't even know which of her fund had win an award....

I had a similar experience with a TD advisor from Gatineau (QC). The advisor there didn't want me to invest in mutual funds.

I had a credit line and a visa with TD, and next thing I do on Monday morning is I go paying the little money that I have in there and after what I will close the credit line and Visa that I have at TD.

TD suck, and I don't recommend them to anyone.

I got a lot more service at CIBC and RBC, Caisse Desjardins also.

I understand I am a small investor, but I have another 2 or 3 thousands I would like to put my money in, but TD won't get any more money from me. I feel release, I have enough of TD.

I rock.

Next 1 500$ investment for RRSP

I am now all set up for my RRSP. I only begin at 15h tomorrow, so I hope I will be able to see someone tomorrow morning for at least one of my two plans. I look around most of my afternoon for my RRSP. I had another 1 500$ to invest…

With Caisse Desjardins, I decide to invest 500$ in the Natural Resource Guaranteed Investment. It’s a 5 years GIC. It will probably provide me a good return.

The other 1 500$ will be with TD:

500$: GIC Plus (according to TD, the “return linked to the performance of the S&P/TSX 60”.

1 000$ between those mutual funds:

TD Entertainment & Communications
11% since inspection

TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth ($US)
8.8% since inspection

TD Latin American Growth ($US)
24.1% since inspection

TD Precious Metals
13.9% since inspection

TD Dividend Growth
11.4% since inspection

TD Monthly Income
10% since inspection

TD Canadian Bond
8% since inspection

TD Emerging Markets
9.3% since inspection

TD Energy
11% since inspection

What’s fun at TD, is that the minimum allowed per funds, when investment is RRSP, it’s 100$. So I probably be able to invest in all of the above, I just need a genius as advisor who will be able to equilibrate the hole thing with the standard of the Authority. After, I will be finally done with my 2007 RRSP.

I didn't lost that much after all.........

I finally had the courage to calculate my total income and investment value in date of January 28, 2008. I haven't calculated my total value since December for my investments. Since I am off today and I have nothing to do since I didn't find a second job. So I proceed and I am quite surprise, I didn't lost that much money with the major crash we had.

I now have in my possession 32 260.73$. I am waiting for my pay this Wednesday after midnight. I should have around 1 000$. I did a bunch of extra hours, since I currently have no place else to work. So we can say 33 260.73$...

I cheat on my "no expense" goal for last week and this week, but that doesn't really matter. My total expenses for the month of January are only of 1 160.65$. If I could make 1 000$ after taxes every 2 weeks, I will be good and I will keep the same job for quite a while. It's almost 1 000$ per month that I could put in savings.

I still have 2 500$ to invest for my RRSP, so I hope I will be able to do that tomorrow, at Caisse Desjardins or TD, I don't know. I am quite tired and I just hope it will turn for the best.

I place a total of 2 500$ for my RRSP so far

And I have another 2 500$ to place. I still wonder where I am going to place the money, but I still time. I wanted to do everything yesterday and today regarding my RRSP investment for 2007, but let's say I have done what I could for now. All those things have exhausted me, plus, I went to a job interview (for a second job).

So yesterday, I had an appointment at CIBC. I went there, the representative was cool, and he was ok to give me what I wanted. I invest 1 000$ in the CIBC Monthly Income Fund for my RRSP. I also invest 500$ in the CIBC Dividend Fund (non RRSP) and also 500$ in the CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund (non RRSP). I haven't invested in mutual funds since a while now, and I just wanted to put some money somewhere, even if I know what's going right now in the US and everything.

So far, for my RRSP, I have invested in, yes, mutual funds, but also in GICs. Since my situation is not very stable and, let say it, that I don't have a good situation, no pension plan coming from any employers, etc.... I decided to invest in some GIC. But knowing that I have both RRSP and non RRSP investment, it won't hurt that much I believe to put money in a save place, like RRSP. Dividend funds and Monthly Income Fund are pretty save too.

So today, I went to the RBC, have buy 1 000$ in a GIC, 3 years, Canadian market and 500$ in RBC Dividend, both for my RRSP. I still have a 1 500$ to invest and I don't know yet where to put the money.

One step at a time

So far, I stick the plan of not doing any more expenses until the end of the month. I still have a few pennies left in my purse, but it's about it. I find it quite important to be able to stay I am going to stop spend my money, at a certain point, and be able to do so, until it's reasonable.

I finally take rendez-vous today at the CIBC to buy the fund I wanted. I might try to fix another rendez-vous at the RBC for my free account tomorrow, so that way, I will all be set up.

Good news also, I have an interview Wednesday for a job, hours seem to be pretty flexible, and I can't wait to see if it's going to work out.

I have been doing extra hours at the job. During those last couple of days, I give like an extra 2 hours each day. I try to have a good pay just like the last one. Last pay was bigger because I have been working on January 1. I might be able to make 940$ after taxes for 2 weeks of work next pay. The job is not too difficult, I have been working there since middle of November. What's funny about it is that it's mostly in English all the time so let say I get a lot of practice and I am learning to speak a proper English at the job... lol

Seriously, my English is not that bad I believe, if not, I wouldn't have the job. Everything is going fine so far, I just have comments of my dear follow workers on the extra hours I am doing, but as long as I am authorized to do extra hours, which I have been so far, I don't give a damn about my charming fellow workers....

It's seem like there's a lot of jealousy but I don't care because the one who gave be negative comments are the most stupid and ignorant one and I never give a damn about them since the beginning. I just don't response to their comments, I don't want to make them feel too happy about themself.

Anyway, from my side, I am happy, because when I arrive ealier and ask if it's ok with them if I do extra hours, it's the way it's working there, and that I get a yes as an answer, I quickly find a seat to work and I start receiving call 5 minutes later..... lol

The job is easier now and I enjoy it more, since I now understand what it is about.

I cannot wait to be done with my RRSP. I try to do everything that week in case it's work for my second job and that I can actually begin working there next week. I just hope it's work! I did my job aplication last Wednesday, and I got a response today, finally. And there too, the job is mostly in English...........

It's strange. I am in Montreal and I mostly use my English most of the time. It's a good thing I know English, even if it's a basic one.

No more any expenses until the end of January

I now have 1 065$ in expenses for the month of January (which include money put in credit card, student loans, rent, etc...) and I will try to spend any more money until the beginning of February. I spend a little bit more than the 1 000$ I was projected to respect, but once again, I went eat out junk food again... It's kind of hard to control all those ridiculous expenses, but I am really determine to stick to the plan and not do any other expenses. I should have enough food for the rest of the month. I have evreything I need, tea, coffee, bread, milk, rice, chicken and so on lol.

So there's no reason why I should spend any more money around.

I did my lunch for next week. After that, it will be the last week of January and I think I will be able to make it without any other expenses. After rent, food is my major expenses and, if I cannot cotrol my rent expense, since it's a fix price every month, well, I can control my food expense. It's really demanding, controlling every penny.

But I told myself that since I only have a job now, I should discipline myself if I want to continue to save. And I am kind of surprise pf the reasult because in regular savings, I now have close to 7 000$. I should be the minister of Finance of Canada, I could do miracles (I am just saying that in order to keep myself motivate...). :)

RRSP investment

I have calulate my total earning without changing anything of my mutual fund amount. For the mutual funds, I kept the same amount like the one I had in December, because I don't want to cause myself an emotional breakdown.

I now seriously thinking about where to invest my RRSP money. As I previously wrote, I have about 5 000$ to invest. There's at least 2 mutual funds that I want. For now, I was thinking to put a 1 000$ in the CIBC Monthly Income Fund. It's a well-known fund with a strong background. Since inception, the fund gave 10.3% of return each year. I will definitely put money in there for my RRSP. I never buy CIBC mutual funds before and I just hope I will be able to buy that fnd without any problem.

I was also thinking to put RRSP money in a mutual fund that I already have: Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund. This fund his awsome. Even with the big crisis that we have now, I didn`t loose any money of my initial investment. I invest 1 000$ in 2005 in it, and in date of today, I now have something like 1 200$ in the account for the Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund, which I really love. So I believe that the fund is strong enough to be consider for my RRSP. In the Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund, I will invest 500$.

It's the only 2 ideas placement I know I will invest for sure for now. I still have a 3 500$ to invest for my RRSP. I have until the end of February to think of it.

It is now easier than ever for me to save my money

And I will explain why. I now only have one source of income. Before, I was spending a lot more on going out, going to the movies, clothes, eating out, etc... Now that I only have one source of income, I cut on almost everything that I could cut. I find it easier than ever to save, because I now discipline myself more.

And it's about 800$ to 900$ that I can put in saving monthly. Which is really good I believe. My expenses are now of about 1 000$ monthly. So I can say that I cut on almost everything. I eat out from time to time but it happen rarely. I fix the goal of 1 000$ not more not less for this month, and February too...