Beautiful and Magic Montreal

Because life is not all about work...

I went for a short walk just after work to the Mont-Royal. Today was my last day at my weekend job for a little while, until work become available again. The walk was very nice as you can see, even if it had rain during the afternoon.

I am off all day long tomorrow and I plan to take a long and beautiful walk on the Mont-Royal again.

I got a lot of frustration yesterday from the guy who coaches me. It’s a young, very fresh and stupid guy who wants everything to be performing his way. And sometimes, his way is very arrogant. I just wonder how he got promote to do some coaching to other like that. For sure I am going to complain about it on Monday. Just to piss him off and let him no he has no right to say what he said. And a 3 and a half hours coaching is just too long. And I am going to complaint about it. I just hate the guy that much. And when I hate, I am willing to do everything I can just to harass in some way the other person. I am that bad lol.

In some ways, it’s hilarious because he’s working for the department the company had lost their customer service prize. Being too arrogant and self-confident won’t help to bring their prize back. Like gees, you lost your prize, but it’s not my fault. That’s for sure. As I customer, I want to speak to someone humane and if I feel some arrogance, I might just hang up or just say everything is fine now, just hang up, and call again to speak to someone more comprehensible. In many occasion, I spoke to customer service representatives at TD Waterhouse and Rogers who had been arrogant with me. I won’t treat people calls I am receiving the same way that’s for sure. You can learn a lot by calling those arrogant people of TD Waterhouse and Rogers.

Anyway, if it happen I lost that job too, I have money like crazy; I can handle pretty much everything.

Marvelous month of July

I just love this month of July. I should received 130$ in dividend income money. I am expecting 2 370$ in pay from my jobs. After paying my regular expenses for the month of August, it’s 1 270$ I will have in extra to invest. I am very tempt to invest 1 000$ extra in the Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund, since I am very satisfied with the result of this mutual fund.

Tomorrow is my last day of work at my weekend job. There’s a lack of work, but work should be back available very soon. I will request my vacation pay for the next pay check. I should be all fine.

I just went through this horrible coaching today. I am very tempted to quite my job just for that. It was a rude coaching and the poor man was just telling me I wasn’t doing my job correctly for most part of the coaching. I am not doing my job correctly? Well, you are going to see, I am going to find whatever job, quite that horrible job and leave you with your s*** lol. At the salary I am working, I am not going to support any bad treatment. And this was way too much, knowing how much effort I invest in it. I am going to find a job someplace else. I just hope it will be really soon.

At the end of the coaching session the poor guy ask me if I was going to see the fire work this Saturday. I told him maybe. I don’t give a damn about Montreal cultural life. The only things I care about are my investments and I want to be left alone.

And please, don’t talk to me lol.

I "just" received my Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) dividend

It was about time! I finally received my Just Energy Income Fund dividend just on today. I earn one brand new stock, for a total of 20.77$ in dividend. July is going to be a good month for my dividend earning. I am expecting around 140$ in dividend. Of course, it’s not that much, but it’s enough to make me happy.

What I wouldn’t like to happen is that the TSX continue loosing points and that he got even deeper in the recession. But didn’t we reach the bottom part yet? Are we on a road for recovery? I don’t have the answer to those questions. In my heart, I just truly hope the answer is yes. Things need to be done and I hope leaders worldwide will do what need to be done to create job, and give people a chance. We cannot just live in a recession forever.

Frugal living in recession time

So far, the week had passed very peacefully, even if the TSX is driving me completely nut lol. The TSX had lost points like crazy this week and I find it very frightening, like always. I felt completely lost and miserable when Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN) felt under 5$. Yellow Pages Income Fund close today at 4.99$. But no worries, I think the TSX will go up again – but I just don’t know when lol.

Watching my expenses

This week, I watch my expenses very closely. I went out for lunch time today, but it was all. I also purchase a coffee, and not to forget a chip for the distribution machine.. Usually, I purchase one or 2 coffees per day. One coffee for a whole week of work, trust me, it had been difficult! I really enjoy Second Cup coffees so much. This had been one of those frugal weeks for me so far, I am telling you.

After cutting unnecessary expenses related to my credit card, I am really looking closely to cut off other unnecessary expensive. I can easily save 20$ to 30$ - and maybe even more by taking my coffee at home and by always brining my lunch and no purchasing any sugar treat lol. It will be better for my money and I hope that, this way, I will lose some weight, it couldn’t hurt… I calculate and I believe I could save up to 1 000$ per year if I cut off all coffees, eating out expenses and other. I am not really looking into cutting off because I won’t be able to stay away too long from Second Cup coffees, pizza, McDonald and, what else? Oh yeah, chocolate lol.

I read Derek Foster books so many times (so nicely writing and easy to understand). I remember a part where Mr. Foster was saying that no one should deprived to invest and so on. He’s right, but gees, come a time where everything is needed. If I want things to work out, I have to work on it. I make this decision, but I am not suffering from it. I am still purchasing some coffees and other still, but I have to control myself! At a point, concession needs to be made. Sorry Mr. Foster.

Just for example, this last Saturday, I wanted to see the latest Transformers movie in the IMAX version… I was quitted chock with the price: 16$! I didn’t want see the movie as I find the price too expensive. Regular movies where at 10$. So I just turn around and continue my way to the Jazz Festival.

Looking forward to have no banking fees

I am still with Desjardins for my banking. Not that I like Desjardins, but it’s possible to have no banking fees with them if the minimum monthly balance is being reach. Examples: it’s possible to have 7 banking transactions for free – at the only condition that a minimum of 1 000$ remain in the account. I could easily reach the 1 000$, but 7 transactions per month won’t be enough for me. The second offer is 12 transactions. For 12 transactions, the minimum balance required is of 1 500$.

Right now, I am paying 6.50$ per month for 25 transactions. I can avoid paying the banking fee at the condition that 2 000$ remain in the account (for 25 transactions). It will be 78$ I could save per year… I think I can reduce the number of transactions to 12 per month if I start working at it.

Desjardins also have a credit card at low interest rate of around 9%.

There’s plenty of ways to save money.

Because diamonds are a girl best friend

Marilyn was right – diamonds ARE truly a girl best friend lol. I may be able to make money out of Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI). Diamonds had been found in one of their mines located in Ontario – Attawapiskat. The announcement had been made today. The stock price rise to 3 cents (better than 2 or 2.5 cents).

And of course, I am expecting a major raise regarding Dumont Nickel value. We will see if I turn to be right. But patience is required. Don’t forget it took me 3 years to reach my first 50 000$. I am talking like if I already reach my goal, but I am so close. I certainly believe I will be able to reach 50 000$ in assets by the end of 2009.

Anyhow, I truly believe that Dumont Nickel (DNI) is a good investment. Dumont Nickel own 6 mineral properties. Dumont Nickel is active in Molybdenum, Nickel, Uranium, Vanadium, Zinc, Copper, Cobalt, Silver, Gold and Diamonds. Good news are popping up right now and it won’t be too long – I really hope so – that will see the Dumont Nickel price changing for the better. We need some other good news like the one of today and voilà, big bucks in your pocket like in mines lol. I had place a sell order at 4 cents. The order will expire on July 31. I previous purchase 23 000 stocks of Dumont Nickel (DNI) at 3 cents each lol.

It is so difficult to make money from penny stocks. Since my Blue Note Mining a while ago, Dumont Nickel had been my only “penny stocks” investment. The more I invest, the more I find the stock market difficult – really awful actually. But the more I invest, the more I want to invest more lol. And I just keep going like that.

One part of the frustration came from one little thing: reaching 50 000$ worth in assets. The stock markets just keep moving and it’s difficult to follow. This is all a crazy game. I have already invested more than 50 000$. I am just suffering from the high market volatility. And it’s really too bad. I actually have only 2 other majors investment that I would like to make. They are Enbridge (ENB) and Bell Aliant Regional Communitions Income Fund (BA.UN). After what I will pretty much had everything I ever wanted as investments from my part.

Loosing 5 bucks from Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund

I just find today that even my fantastic Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund is making me lost in money. It went from a brilliant 1 111$ to 1 106$. I am currently only loosing 5$ with Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund… And of course, if I had more money, I will definitely invest more in the Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund.

I am still waiting…

I am still waiting for my Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) June dividend. It’s taking forever to receive them. But I have to say that this is a normal situation since I enroll in an automatic DRIP for all of my dividend stocks. I am “just impatience” lol and I cannot wait to finally receive my Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) dividends.

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 :)