My first lense

I just create my first Squidoo lense with another super-good article of mine who - again - got rejected by Associated Content. I am not giving up and I am done with Associated Content lol. But in the meantime, I find another way to get publish on the net my fantastic writing: on Squidoo!

Take a look at my first lense, about My first 50 000$.

I am up to 46 206.25$ value and my life is wonderful

Another week passes by too quickly. This week, I was quite happy to clear out some of cedit card debts, cut off some necessaries fees related to my credit and finally, invest in 100 units of Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN).

Good news regarding my investments!

I am now at 46 206.25$! The best will be to reach the 50 000$ value in investment by August 27 (it’s my birthday and I will be turning 29!!!). I am having a lot of fun will this blog and all those little goals I am giving myself. Most of the time, I cannot reach them lol, but life is like that. At least, I will be reaching my first 50 000$ in investments very soon. Once the 50 000$ will be reach, it’s going to be just so special for me, especially in those recession times. It’s just something I will never forget. It will be even better if I could reach it just in time for my 29 birthday. I am getting soooo old.

Next step will be to reach my first 75 000$, and after that, my first 100 000$ and, of course, so on lol. At my first 100 000$, it’s going to be pretty great and my wish will be, of course, to be able to make a living out of that 100 000$ value in investment. After experiencing « in the deep » the violability of the market, I plan to continue working even after that. But I am such a dreamer. I didn’t even reach my first 50 000$ yet lol.

About my job situation

I received good news at my weekend job. I was told by a co-worker that there was work until October at least. I will probably be able to continue to work part-time at that job until that time. As for my evening job I have during weekdays, it’s going fine too. Everything is going so fine for me for at least one in my life lol. I would like things to remain the same, to have my mornings and me afternoons off during weekdays. My job situation is not one the best, but it’s not one of the worst either. I once wrote that about my portfolio…

I lost a great deal of money in my investment adventure, but I am looking forward to see the value of my portfolio increasing over time. I am just quite disappointed with Timminco and Sprott, but live goes on and I hope to reach my first 50 000$ very soon. Only problem is to figure out what will be my next investment. My next official purchase: 100, 200 or 300 units of BA.UN. I will have to be very focus for the next couple of months because I won’t be able to do anything on a monthly basis as investment if I want to be able to purchase some BA.UN units. Or I will have to get a third and fourth job lol.

An awesome investment: Yellow Pages Income Fund

As you can see, I am pretty happy with my newest Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN) investment. I just have money left to purchase 100 units of Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN). But even if I would have more money available to invest, I wouldn’t purchase more units of Yellow Pages Income Fund. Yellow Pages Income Fund title is quite volatile. Seem to me like Yellow Pages Income Fund pretty much follow the market. The title sem to be sensible to the market volatility. Regarding this point, Fortis (FTS) is all the opposite of Yellow Pages Income Fund.

I had been looking at Yellow Pages Income Fund for a little while now. Even if the title has its ups and downs, I find the dividend great, even if it had been cut off recently. The Yellow Pages Income Fund dividend is now at 0.80 cents per unit on an annual basis. A 530$ investment that can provide me 80.40$ in dividend money is like WOW! Fantastic! I am very please with my last minute investment.

Just before leaving my place for work, I really wanted to invest in something. And since I was thinking about Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN) for a while now, I told myself, why not now? And this is how Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN) had been adding to my portfolio, in a complete rush.

I am no longer a penny stocks. My interest in penny stocks didn’t last for long. I still own Blue Note Mining (BN.H) and Dumont Nickel (DNI), which are 2 penny stocks. But it’s about all. I completely desperate about Blue Note Mining and I wonder is the company will ever continue its activities. Regarding Dumont Nickel, I love this one much better. I believe Dumont Nickel had potential and I believe it can reach the old 4 cents its one had reach, not too long ago.

One thing I learn from penny stocks: it’s very hard to follow the market, no matter how hard you are trying. These last couples of days were quite exhausting for me. But still, I didn’t give up yet on penny stocks and we will see how far I can go with Dumont Nickel. If only Dumont Nickel can make another major announcement, I will be able to sell the investment at 4 cents and than make a profit of 175$. I am that ambitious lol.

Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN) will add 80.40$ to my annual dividend income. With this brand new 80.40$, my yearly dividend income is now at 1 671.32$ - totally insane!

It doesn’t take much to make me happy, but this new investment make my weekend a dream.

I just purchase 100 units of YLO.UN

I just purchase 100 units of Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN) at 5.30$!

I couldn't help it, I had 800$ available, and I was feeling like to purchase something... Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN) provide dividend. It's around 6$ each month that I will earn. This is very fun. I am happy with this little investment even if my goal was to purchase BA.UN as next investment. But BA.UN is too expensive for me right now. This is going to be a great weekend.

I am now the proud owner of 100 units of Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN)!

No more extra fees for my TD Visa

I was able to fix my problem regarding the insurance fee for my TD Visa. Of course, the guy tries to sale me a cheaper insurance. The cheapest one was at 17$. I am not doing to pay 17$ for anything each month. Not for anything of course, but for me, it won’t worth it. I was pretty happy to have this clear off. Yesterday I pay all of my bills. I don’t have anything left to pay on my CIBC Visa, American Express or RBC Visa.

Instead of paying 800$ on my TD Visa, I pay 800$ on my credit line and 150$ on my TD Visa, since I interest remain low until September. This actually mean that I have a brand new 800$ that I can invest it.. I was thinking a way to make money from penny stocks again but it’s just exhausted me.

And yesterday, I confirm the crazy news with TD. I had been offered a raise of 9 000$ for my TD Visa. I could have get a 14 000$ worth credit card lol. But gees, I was not even aware about it. I couldn’t see the offer online in my account, either on by latest statement. I was told it was an offer that we new only about when we were calling TD. I refused the offer for now but the end date to accept was yesterday. This is how TD is bad : not even letting me know about this promotion.

I am very angry at TD right now. I didn’t accept the offer because what I want to see increase is my credit line. But the guy didn’t want to increase it, I have to complete a form online and visit a TD bank. Just disorganize. I have more than 25 000$ in real value with them and those poor people are not even able to raise my credit line. I find it so bad. And not being told about the offer for my credit card until I call them, I fins it disgusting. Those banks like TD think they have it all, but their customer services are so bad and soo disorganize.

The problem with my CIBC Visa card had been resolved

Credit card problem

I call CIBC Visa yesterday to find out about their financial fees I got. To my surprise, I learn that I had been paying 29$ per year since I got this credit card because the card I got is a reward one with Aeroplan. I probably never notice the fee until now.

This mean that since 2005 or around, I had been paying 29$ per year for 5 years or so, for a total of 145$ - without ever noticing anything. I really need to be more careful with the fees I am paying for financial services. I really don’t want to pay any fees for any of my credit cards.

I request to change of credit card for one with no annual fees. I was told I could get the CIBC Dividend Visa, which pay 1% of all purchases on December of each year. I basically pay everything with my credit card. I might be able to get 40$ or 50$ per year from the credit card, which is fun.

At least this problem had been resolved and I shouldn’t get any fees in the future. At least. I always got a good customer service from CIBC, regarding this and also regarding my investment. Earlier this year, I had non-RRSP mutual funds with CIBC that I wanted to transform into RRSP. At CIBC, the transformation had been performed very quickly and efficiency in a one shouts over the phone. But it was not the case with RBC who insisted for me to get a loan to invest in my RBC – can you imagine the horror? I really had to insist and call over their customer service to get the job done after insisted and insisted. And not to talk about Desjardins who never wanted to perform the transformation for me.

From my experience, CIBC is way much better than RBC, TD Canada Trust and even Desjardins in many ways. I am still doing my banking with Desjardins, but it might be just a matter of time before I switch to another bank. And it might be CIBC.

At CIBC, they have understand that it’s their customers who are the boss lol and its look like CIBC staff is willing to do everything they can to please their customers. Like wow! I am a pretty easy going customer as long as everyone obey me lol.

About my debt management

My budget is quite sharp the month of July!

I wake up early this morning to calculate my budget. I am able to pay off completely my RBC Visa, American Express and CIBC Visa… So many credit cards! I am paying 800$ on my TD Visa… and 150$ on my TD credit line. After all my bills being paid, rent and student loan included, I have around 52$ left in my banking account lol. Knowing how much I have money aside allow me to maximize the payment on my credit cards and debts. Now, the ultimate challenge consists in searching for a day-time job. And it’s very difficult for me. I only have to begin by the beginning right, send some resumes

Debts can be so annoying. I do not have any problems with my student loan debts or even with my TD line of credit debt. But having more debts that those 2 really cause me a problem and I find it difficult to live with too many debts. I am really getting annoying by my TD Visa debt and I want to clear it off as soon as possible, even if I have a special interest rate on it until the end of September 2009.

One solution to pay off my TD Visa debts could be the following: sell my Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund (which should provide me 1 050$ in cash) and also sell my Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund. Right now, my investment worth 996.05$. This is quite painful for me because Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund was my very first investment. I am way too emotional when it comes to my investments. I am not willing to sell anything out. I won’t sell for sure when I am loosing from my initial investment anyway, even if I am loosing only 4$. There’s always solution.

Why it’s important to pay off some debts

Even if my TD Visa is at a low interest for the 3 000$ debt I have, I am paying in interest (for the month of June). But want to see something even more frightening? I had been charged 29.34$ in insurance fees for my TD Visa. I am going to cancel this insurance right on today! I am just not paying attention to what’s going on with my credit card and I am paying the price. But better later than never…

I am also looking into increasing my TD credit line after all… Too much stuff is going on :)

About Methanex Corporation (MX) dividend

I had received 18.01$ in dividend income from Methanex Corporation. It’s just very nice to have this little extra in my portfolio. I earn one more stock of Methanex Corporation today. I am still waiting for Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) dividend to arrive. The month of June had been fantastic for my dividend earnings.

About my credit life

Today, I call TD Visa just to confirm when my special rate of 4.95$ I have for an amount of 3 000$ will end. The special interest rate will end at the end of September, just I taught it will. Than the customer representative announced me that I was eligible to get a 9 000$ credit card. I didn’t accept yet, I just told her to but the offer on hold and that I didn’t know if I wanted more on my credit card for now. Than I told her that instead, I would like to see my credit line increase. She was from the credit card department only, so I was not able to get any information regarding the possibility to increase my credit line. But I might call tomorrow, it might be the perfect time since I already received an offer to increase my credit card. I don’t care about my credit card (the regular interest rate is of %!!!). What I am mostly interested in is my TD credit line. The interest is of 8%. I had been with TD since 2005 or around. I always pay on time my « bills » with them. Like couldn’t they provide be a raise any time sooner. TD customer service is sooooo bad!

Here is what I have as credit card and their respective limits:

Zellers credit card: 500$

Old student credit card from Desjardins: 500$

TD credit line: 5 000$

TD Visa: 5 000$

RBC Visa: 10 000$

CIBC Visa: 2 500$

TOTAL: 23 500$

And it’s here where it’s getting pretty hilarious… Can you imagine, I have 24 000$ worth in credit card? Right now, I am able to manage my debts pretty well. If it’s happen my credit line limit is getting increase, I know exactly what’s going to happen, it’s going to be loaded to whatever the limit will be… I love to invest too much and any increase on my credit line will serve to invest in stocks, mutual funds and other.

My idea of getting more credit from RBC was a very bad one. I am happy with the credit I have right now and I am not looking for more. Even if its very tempting for me to ask for a credit raise for my TD credit line. Those banks can really be disgraceful. It’s not helping me at all to increase my limit on my credit card. On a long term basis, it can only destroy my financial health.

I got really bad news regarding my CIBC Visa. On April 24, I got charge 29$ for financial services! But of my whole life, I always subscribe to free credit card, who has no financial charges. I just find out about this fee… I should definitely take a look at my credit card statement for carefully. But hey, when you are rich like myself, does a 29$ really matter? The answer being YES. Definitely. Every penny counts. Now, I want to be refund for that 29$ and close my credit card if not, I am going to file out a complaint regarding CIBC Visa.

Last payment I made on my CIBC Visa was on March 17 and it was to clear everything off. Since that date, I taught it was totally clear out. It was, until those stupid people of CIBC Visa decided to add a little extra… a 29$ fee. But it’s just now that I find out that I had been charged for a 29$ financial services fee. This is totally distushting. I have to take care of this tomorrow. I don’t think I have ever been charged on that credit card any financial fees before.

Tomorrow, a customer representative from CIBC Visa is going to have a really bad time when I will be calling lol…

To sell or not

An idea quickly cross my mind, I could sell the investments that are doing well in my portfolio and quickly pay off some debts. But selling for now is just out of the question. I plan to get a third job, seriously job searching and watch out my expenses. My only problem: I didn’t begin my job search yet lol.

Guess the only thing left to do is budgeting… I decide to slow down on my expenses for a while. A cool new tool should help be to calculate my budget… You will learn more in about 2 weeks from now! Stay tune.

Dividend earning day: 4.28$!

I was quite happy to received 4.28$ in dividend earnings coming from Livingston International Income Fund (LIV.UN). I really taught that Livingston International Income Fund had cut their dividend for while. Anyway, it was a happy surprise this morning, to see that little 4.28$ in dividend earning. Also on today, June 30, I am expecting dividend from Methanex (MX) and Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN). I am expecting 20.77$ from Just Energy Income Fund and around 15$ from Methanex.

So far, my portfolio is doing ok. I won’t say I am doing super great because of all that money I lost from Timminco (TIM) and Sprott Inc. (SII). But in all of my investment life, I did 2 majors mistake, and it was those 2 investments. For the rest, I can life with it. It’s very tempting to sale out those 2 investments, but if I sell out, no recovery will be possible. Really annoying.

I didn’t begin my job search yet. I am just too into blogging and these days, I had been closely watching the fantastic TSX who had lost points today, but I was expecting it. For the TSX there’s ups and downs and from what I see so far, it can’t never just go up-up-up for a couple of days in a row lol. But that’s life.

Because of a lack of financial resources, I now wonder how to handle my whole debt things. I currently have a bit more than 1 000$ extra that I can use to pay off my debts… or to invest. It’s a painful decision to make. But I really need to work at paying some debts.

My best investments pick and why I love them

Precious Fortis (FTS)

I am very proud of my Fortis (FTS) stocks. I own 102 stocks of my own. Fortis was a pick of my very own after reading about the company in the Globe and Mail. My initial investment of 2 548.36$ now worth 2 642$. A small 93.64$ profit had been made, but it’s not what mostly make me proud about this pick is this current fact: within the last 52 weeks, the lowest value for Fortis (FTS) had been of… 20.70 and the highest… 28$. The difference between the lowest and the highest is only of 7.30$, which provide a certain stability to the investment. When I first find out about this, I was really impressed by Fortis (FTS) top-value. And knowing that Fortis (FTS) pay out dividend and have activities in Newfoundland, this was definitely a company I wanted to add to my portfolio. Maritimes rock!

Proof of Fortis (FTS) top-value reside in this: in recession time, I had been able to make a capital profit of 93.64$ from a couple of months only investment… and to what I will add: I was able to make 93.64$ profit in a recession time!

Fantastic Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund

I cannot say how much I appreciate all the strength of this mutual fund. So far, I didn’t lose any money from this investment. I will never stop blogging about Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund. Magical and powerful investment. I initially invest 1 000$ in the Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund and the wonderful super cool investment now worth 1 111$... How about that?

Magnificiance = Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN)

I had purchased 100 units of Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN) when its price was at 12$ per unit: it’s the best decision I ever took in my life! Solid dividend: 1.56$ annual dividend. This investment idea is coming from Derek Foster.

Need another good news? Check out Just Energy Income Fund

This investment idea comes from me after reading about the late Energy Savings Income Fund (SIF.UN) in Canadian Business. I decide to invest in Just Energy Income Fund after several readings. I had read about Just Energy Income Fund solid dividend. But JE.UN title is volatile and its keep loosing-and-gaining on a regular basis. Very volatile investment for the capital value but good investment for its dividend. See what I mean? Lol…

I am getting use to the new name which is not so bad after all. Just Energy Income Fund is THE INVESTMENT. Want to know why? On June 25, the “Just Energy” Income Fund had announced it’s dividend for the month of July, which will be of $0.10333/unit. And thinking about it, $0.10333/unit is more than the current value of Dumont Nickel, which is currently of 0.03 cents lol.

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): good intern diversification

I never deal with the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS of my life, but it’s the only bank I have in portfolio. Bank stocks are quite expensive. When, after the big break p on the stocks market happen, I taught, wow, Bank of Nova Scotia at 44$!

I actually purchase 100 stocks of Bank of Nova Scotia at 44$ each thinking I was doing a good deal. But little that I know that the breaking point I was facing that day was only the beginning of the end… After the purchase I remember, I saw, from my own eyes, Bank of Nova Scotia at something like 27$...

And this is what is hilarious; this circus of the stocks market is truly amazing and fascinating.

I hope that Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) will one day reach its 50$ of the old days…

Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund: a mutual fund that I love

Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund never disappoints me. I had invest 1 000$ in Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund. This fund is that special for me as it’s been my first investment I ever made in my entire life. It was, I believe, back in 2005.

Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund is a powerful investment. Not that I was able to make money from this investment in our volatile market. But while I was hoping a recovery for my Sprott Canadian Equity Fund, Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund was recovering fairly well from all of this recession-misery. On June 2 of this year, my Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund was up to an extraordinary 1 031.86$. I was able to recover from my lost and make, at the end, a profit of 31.86$! Just amazing! Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund is an amazing fund!

Long road for recovery

Real-life story in recession time

On Friday evening at work, I had the call of this man after hours asking to refill his account… I proceed like I always do. After what, he told me about his recent laid-off. I could feel all the pain and distress in his voice. The eternal enthusiastic that I am told him not to worry, that he was in the Toronto area and that it will be easy for him to find a new job since he was in the Toronto area. In resume, I told him what I always taught of Toronto: Toronto is the best place in Canada for work. Don’t forget I also have my banking account on Ontario side.

My customer replied by saying that many people like him had lost their jobs in the Toronto area and that there were thousands of job seekers right now who were now searching for work. I continue to encourage him by saying, in my broken English, that everything will be find. I wish him good luck and we hang up…

My life in recession time: I could have it harder

Not that I am that disconnect of reality, I lost one of my jobs this year myself. I had been job seeking many times in my life and I find that the best way to go through a job search is to think that you are the only job seeker on earth and forget about all the others that may have applied to the same job as yourself… I always find my best jobs by sending resumes to company without asking a specific position and without answering job offers. I didn’t perform any job searching that specific way since I had been in Montreal. It’s been pretty chaotic since I had been here and I had been on an “emergency” job seeking about 2 years or so ago, and I had been working at the 2 jobs I have currently ever since. Problem became pretty rough when I was out of job and I didn’t to sale my investments for my living. This emergency job searching had been the best thing I had ever did even if I am not using any of my skills I got a student loan for. Anyhow, 2008 had been one those years and 2009 – which is not even close to be over yet – had been so far like a ride in a roller coaster.

I certainly can understand this man suffering. After repeating plenty of time that I will be seriously job searching for good job well, I didn’t. I send my resume to one place, got a call, I should be motivate by that – receiving a call after only sending one resume but it’s actually didn’t do anything. But its help my spirit.

My lazyness comes from several things:

-Hot summer weather
I have real problem to work in the hot summer weather. I cannot support the heat.

-I almost reach my 50 000$ goal in investment
And I cannot believe it!!! I find it almost enough for me. That’s another part why I am getting lazy.

-I enjoy being at home and doing nothing, blogging, surfing the net, watching the TSX among other. It’s almost better than watching TV.

But this laziness won’t stay in for long as I got myself organize this evening – usual home stuff that need to be done and by tomorrow or Monday, I should be able to send resume all over the place. I actually spot a couple of jobs offer in call center – as surprising as its sound; I actually just love to work in a call center.

I also recently calculate my overall debts. This is currently another job “emergency” kind of thing. Luckily, I don’t have too much of debts and I could be easily clear off within a year if only I work seriously into it.

My love for Montreal

I could have been refer to work for Desjardins. But Desjardins is way too much of Quebec b-u-l-l-s-h-i-t at the same SPOT for me lol. Did you know that at Desjardins some Vice Presidents are, in real-life, couples? Another great Quebec realization to be place right next to the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.

Back in January or February 2008, I wanted to turn the Desjardins Fidelity True North Fund investment I have into a RRSP investment, and I was not aloud to go so, while I had been able to do the exact same operation with RBC and CIBC for other funds I had with them. Desjardins might be the largest financial cooperative group in Canada, but within the years, Desjardins had turn out the institution from who I had the worst banking experience of my life. Desjardins is one of the worst out there. And ever in my life I want to work for Desjardins.

Gees, I worth almost 50 000$ in investment, that’s a lot of cash and no one have the right to refuse me something. Understand? lol...

Anyway, since that time, I didn’t invest with Desjardins and I won’t ever invest with Desjardins, ever again.

Anyway, never after I had graduated from high school I stay more than 2 years at the same place. But here in Montreal, it is so nice that’s sometime; you can almost forget that you are in Quebec Province. Montreal is actually that awesome!!

Enjoyable reading in recession time

Just like Derek Foster that I kind of love and hate at the same time, Ernie J. Zelinski had retired at an early age. He is the author of multiple books on retirement and stuff. Learn how to Love a recession with Ernie J. Zelinski. A free E-book from Ernie Z, bestselling Canadian authors, Love a recession because what’s free is fun. I love this recession because it’s during the hardest recession time ever that I will probably be able to reach my first 50 000$.