Talking about beating the steel when its hot...

Today was quite a busy day! I move on with the « ping-pong » thing of mine. So I went to RBC, make a cash advance of 1 000$. But sign a cheque, the one with the promotional offer of 3.9% for 8 month for the amount of 1 400$. I didn’t have my RBC Visa card with me, so I could only withdraw 1 000$ on the spot. The teller was kind enough to take the 1 400$ cheque as deposit anyway. So tomorrow I will be able to withdraw 400$, and make a depost on my line of credit. And save on the interest money. Little saving is better than no saving at all. I took the decision to handle some debts, so now I have to deal with it.

I begin my day this way…. After I went to work. I couldn’ wait or the shift to end because I had a fee things I wanted to do. I have more than 10 000$ that I can invest in my RSP for 2009. I want to make the maximum contribution. Even if my job at the bank is not super, I wanted to take a loan with them for my RSP. The loan on itself is pretty good : no payments are required for the first 3 months. Which is very awesome. I might had an income of a bit more than 40 000$ for the fiscal year of 2009. I really need to invest the max that I can into my RSP – I really cannot afford paying extra taxes this year! So I call RBC about something I wanted to do, not a RSP loan, but my call was about turning into RSP a mutual funds I had with them, the RBC O'Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund. Currently, my parts of RBC O'Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund are invested into my Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). So I call 2 times because the first represnetative told me she couldn’t perform the operaion and I didn’t understand why, the line was cracking from my end. I first call on my break in the afternoon. I gave it a second try later on in the evening, but the answer was unfortunately the same. One possibility would had been to sell my parts of RBC O'Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund that I hold in the TFSA and invest the money into my RSP under another mutual funds, but I was not willing to do so. So everything remain the same for now regarding the investment I hold with RBC. Great lol. And now what?

Well, after that, I decide to give TD Waterhouse a call. I explain I wanted to take the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund I have and that I wanted to transform the really same investment into the TFSA account, which its where I currently hold the fantastic Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund. I first ask if I will get any taxes to pay on this, if the move was considered as a sell. The anwer was yes, like I was told before lol. But… Remember that I first invested something like 7 000$ into the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund and that now the investment currently worth less than 5 000$? I would had pay taxes if it would had been the opposite that would had happen. If I would had made money from the investment, I would had pay taxes for moving the investment from a non-register status to a register status. This doesn’t make any sense for me since its not really a sell since I do not cash out the investment, its just a change in the status. But I do not try to understand anymore because finance world just doesn’t make any sense. Anyhow, by tomorrow, my units of the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund will be from my TFSA, among with Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund.

My goal is to evenually sold the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund once it will reach its initial value of 7 000$. When my investment will reach the old 7 000$, guess what will happen? I WILL SELL SPROTT CANADIAN EQUITY FUND. FOREVER. lol…. A 2 000$ lost in my investment portfolio because of Eric Sprott? No no no. NEVER AGAIN. End of the discussion. Let's move on.

So as you can see, today was quite busy and the day is not over yet…. And I have planty of things to say…

Just a few announcements before going to bed

I didn’t have the chance to take a look at my purchase order for 100 units of Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN). I couldn’t wait to be back from work. My order went through at 11.14$ for 100 units of Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN). I now own 106 units of Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN).

I also received my dividend from Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN). I didn’t received any extra new unit, but I had received the whole 24.17$ in cash, which I deposit on my credit line.

Good news! I have a whole week off of my daytime job next week! It’s going to be awesome. I have off tomorrow from my evening job at the bank. But I have so much things to do! It’s frustrating because I want to do everything I have in mind… But on the other side, I would just to do nothing at all… Anyway, next week, I will only be working at the bank if, of course, I do not get laid off in the meantime… What a life…

The Ping-Pong effect: the other way to manage your credit cards balance transfer

Wonder what I mean by the “ping-pong effect”? It’s sort of a credit card debt advice that I never read ANYWHERE.

Before getting in the deep of the ping-pong effect theory, I want to overview my debt situation. Paying debts had never really become one of my top priorities as I prefer to take my money and invest. But I try to keep a decent balance between the two. I have in debt what I can afford. I do not want to have a too tight budget. The best, of course, would be to have to debts at all. But did you know that having debts can actually help the economy? The trick is not to have too much debt and to have debt that you can afford. And also, the interest rate shouldn’t be too high. So there are important points to consider before opening a credit line, credit card or a loan. For now, my rule is simple, I do not want to get much more debts than what I have right now.

Here’s my debt management situation:

Line of credit #1: 4 831.44$ at 8%: yearly interest = 386.52$
Line of credit #2: 4 899.59$ at 3.5%: yearly interest = 171.49$
CIBC Visa: 3 086.91 at 3.9%: yearly interest = 120.39$
Student loan debt: 8 593.74 at 4.75%: yearly interest = 408.21$
Total of debts: 21 411.68$
Total of yearly interest: 1 086.60$

Having 21 411.68$ in debts could be seen enormous, but it’s truly not, and I am going to explain why I keep investing instead of paying debts. 8%, 3.5%, 3.9% and 4.75% are low interest rates. My next investment of tomorrow morning will bring my yearly dividend income to 3 154.83$. Remember? lol.

Let’s calculate:

my yearly dividend income – my yearly interest rate coming form current debts:

3 154.83$ - 1 086.60$ = 2 068.23$.

Now we are in business.

How am I going to benefit from CIBC Visa offer?

My CIBC Visa limit is of 5 000$. I already have 3 089.91$ on it. Which mean that I only have around 1 400$ available. 1 400$ at 3.9% interest for 8 months… How about that?

I am planning to make a 1 400$ payment on my TD credit line, which is at 8%. How am I going to make the payment? Credit card balance transfer won’t work in this case because I am planning to make a payment of 1 400$ on my credit line. This is exactly where the ping-pong effect comes in action.

I am going to make a cash advance of 1 400$ on my RBC Visa. Immediately after, I am going to pay RBC Visa using a promotional cheque coming from CIBC Visa. I won’t own anything to RBC Visa, except a 1.50$ for the cash advance (which I am going to pay right away too). With 1 400$ in my pocket, I will visit a TD branch and deposit 1 400$ on my TD credit line. And voilà.

This payment will reduce my TD credit line at 3 431.44$, for a yearly interest rate of 274.52$. The complete scheme:

Line of credit #1: 3 431.44$$ at 8%: yearly interest = 274.52$
Line of credit #2: 4 899.59$ at 3.5%: yearly interest = 171.49$
CIBC Visa: 4486.91 at 3.9%: yearly interest = 175$
Student loan debt: 8 593.74 at 4.75%: yearly interest = 408.21$
Total of debts: 21 411.68$
Total of yearly interest: 1 029.22$

1 086.60$ - 1 029.22$ = 57.38$ in savings!
Conclusion: lower interest rates = more money in your pocket!

I calculate the amount on a yearly interest rate. Of course, the CIBC Visa 3.9% interest rate is for 8 months only, not one year. But I got special offer for credit card on a regular basis, so I don’t worry too much about what’s going to happen in 8 months from now. As you can see, credit cards balance transfer is part of my debt management plan. The 3.9% interest rate coming from CIBC Visa might be one of the best interest rate for credit cards balance transfer on the market.

This is the reason why I like to have multiple credit cards. If you are willing to have multiple credit cards because you don’t have any yet and you want to do like me lol, be careful; do not open new credit cards at the same time: it will badly affect your credit. I own most of my credit card since 2004 or around that year. Most important part to remain a good level of credit score: make the minimum payment required on time. On that purpose, I recommend to apply for a pre-authorize debit for the minimum require each month. That way, you are being protected if you forget to make a payment. This is being credit smart.

My life goes on, laid off or not

Good news I didn’t got laid off from my job at the bank. But it could eventually happen, they make it clear, with no kind matters. I have a 6 months probation like everyone else (investor or not: they don’t give a damn) you know. Anyway, I don’t want to get too much into the deep because I really have enough of this work problem. But I didn’t’ get laid off this week, but it could be next week... Got the picture? Anyhow, I have much better things to write about for now! I have anyway a second job I can rely on, so I am not that stress. And I don’t like to spend too much time on the negative stuff. I am off today and tomorrow, my life is not just about work, it’s also about investing…

And talking about investing, I have some massive project among the way! To begin, I had received some dividend income in the last couple of days. I had received 42.47$ from Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN), 28.01$ from Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN), 52.91$ from Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN), 42 cents from Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) and 28.80$ from Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN). I earn some extra units among the way because of the DRIP. Which I am pretty please with. So far for the month of January, I earn 157.61$ in dividend passive income! Kind of nice. And keep reading, because we are looking to increase our dividend passive income in the next couple of months.

Thinking about my next stock investments

I have an extra 1 400$ lying on my banking account doing nothing at all. I had been thinking about investing in an extra 100 stocks of Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A) so I can benefit of an eventual DRIP, but I have to say, I had been closely watching an old familiar investment of mine: Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN). Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) had been doing quite well recently. Currently, I still own 6 units of PGF.UN. I once hold more than 500 units of this marvelous. The 6 units left were coming from a DRIP that came after my units had been sold… I call those left-overs. Back in the time, I had sold Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) when the company declared its second dividend cut in less than a year. Yes, recession hurt, but it doesn’t have to hurt my dividend income. So what I did? I decide to sell all the units I own of Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN). I reinvest the money in some not stock investments, but in units of Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) and Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN).

Welcome back Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): looking forward to invest in 100 units of Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN)

I am investing in Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) because I believe that really shortly, Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) will be worthing 12$ per unit. And see, I want to be in when its going to happen, no matter if I am going get laid off or not.

I really have to calm down on what I call .UN investment for the only and good reason that they are .UN investment and legislation will soon change everything. I had been told and re-told about the income trusts situation. Derek Foster had been kind enough to warn his readers about the income trusts in his newsletter of December 2009: Income Trusts (Booms or Busts)?

But there’s no real warning, no one can really predict on how the stock market will react to the change – even Derek Foster – and even me lol. But that will only be in 2011.

As a small investor, the difficulty for me comes from the fact that regular stocks are expensive. At this point of my journey, all I want to do is to extend my portfolio and earn more from juicy dividend payers. Will I be able to make it? I don’t know, but I had a lot of fun among the way…

Passive income: yearly dividend income in review

A new investment = new dividend… Let’s refresh the calculation of our yearly dividend income:

Sprott Inc. (SII): 505 stocks x 0.10$ + (let’s suppose Sprott Inc. will provide a special dividend like last year) = 126.25$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 104 stocks x 1.96$ = 203.84$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 103 stocks x 0.62$ = 63.86$
Fortis (FTS): 104 stocks x 1.12$ = 116.48$
Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN): 410 units x 1.56$ = 639.60$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 414 stocks x 1.24$ + the 2010 special dividend =
596.16$
Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN): 425 units x 0.804$ = 341.70$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN): 100 units x 2.904$ = 290.40$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 106 units x 0.84$ = 89.04$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 302 units x 1.152$ = 347.90$
Corby Distilleries (CDL.A): 100 stocks x 0.56$ = 56$
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN): 100 units x 1.836$ = 183.60$
+ let’s add 100$, supposing the DRIP system will provide an extra income of 100$
= 3 154.83$

I would very much to see the amount double and be able to – if not retire early – being able to pay my rent on dividend income will be awesome. I am a genius :)

Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN) dividends for the month of January are in!

I just notice previously today while I was calculating my overall value! WOW! It’s really not that much – I actually received 27.72$ in dividend income this month coming from Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN). I am not even sure of the amount I had received because I didn’t write it down. Fact is, TD Waterhouse is currently available because of their famous Saturday night maintenance… Yeah, it’s Saturday night, I am in front of my laptop counting my money lol.

I am at a value of 66 410.15$ and I like to invest like never before. This is pretty cool. I like to see my portfolio growing, even of just a few stocks or units each time.

I just cannot sleep – maybe because of my tea – probably… So I am just going to go through a couple of boring things to pass time… My budget! After that, I might be able to go to sleep…

Rent: 545$
Internet: 34$
Metro pass: 75$
Student loan: 100$
Minimum debts payment: 320$
Food: 200$
Minimum require: 1 274$

At this time, by working only at one job, I will be able to make it. But 200$ on food is not that much… So I will have to say no-no to goodies and coffee and junk food… I am pretty good to manage my expenses. The only problem is that when I go for a walk, I like to stop by and buy a coffee. But I guess I won’t be able to do this anymore. So far, I had been able to save a lot of money with little efforts. But now, efforts are needed since I may lose one of my jobs. So good news, I can manage my budget and make a living anyway. It’s just that the 100 000$ goal will have to wait… And if something really bad happen, I will just cash in my dividend income. It will make an extra 250$ as extra money.

Good night….

Quebeckers have no work ethic

This week had been quite awful at my new job. I kind of received a first and last notice the kind of those who mean you-have-to-improve-or-you-are-fired. My direct supervisor is one of those poor bitch. She doesn’t give a damn about the good feedback I had received so far from customers. It’s seem like it doesn’t mean anything to her. She wants more sales, shorter calls. I done a very bad mistake. I guess its all start from there. At this point, I shouldn’t do mistakes and my calls are supposed to be shorters and I have to be more quick. But the worst happen when she asked questions regarding my background, the job I had been into before, why I had left them, what happen and so on. She doesn’t have the right to ask me such questions. I had been hired, I went to 2 interviews and I had been asked some questions, I had provided some references. My criminal record had been checked also. I am clean. I am an honest person, hard worker. The questions she asked about my employers and so on were not appropriate and I am going to report this on Monday morning. Like you can see, I have a lot to do. But I want to act now and do something about it now. And I want to report this situation to their highest authorithy.

I had been told by my supervisor that the situation was going on since the integration period. Like wow! How come no one ever talk to me about it? And than she goes and said: No one told you? Like dahhhh NO. Whatever! So now am I like on a last minute thing to fix myself up lol. But we cannot fix something that’s already broken, right? lol... So just get out of my way. I am an investor after all, I don’t want to spend too much of my precious time around some dumb ass. Like come on! I don’t want to spend my entire life here in Quebec province anyway. Could it be a good time to move? I don’t know. I will see more on Monday. I guess my supervisor would very much like it if I would just quite the job. But I won’t, just to piss her off. And if it happens I got fired, it’s going to be pretty messy. You want to mess up with me, I am going to mess up with you – I am going to be a bit more than just a pain in the ass lol. I am going to be your worst nightmare… Pretty funny isn’t?

At that bank job, they really do have their little favorites. Like one co-worker of mine – we had started at the same time – was able to change her work schedule into a day time shift! I never had been able to get the shift I wanted since the beginning. AND I AM AN INVESTOR.

I won’t accept anything like this coming from my supervisor. But knowing she’s a Quebecker, should I be surprise? For her, I am really slow, and she told me the following: I had 20 years experience in call center; it’s hard to imagine that you had been working in a call center before and so on. I had been doing sales, but not as much as she wants. I try to handle calls quickly, but sometimes, its just doesn’t make it. She told me she was disappointed, that I wasn’t going to be successful and so on. And she finally end the conversation by saying that this upcoming week was going to be one where she will see if I continue or not. This is how Quebeckers are: stupid. Their behavior reflects their intelligence: very poor. So I am going to report the situation to the human resources (who could be Quebeckers too lol). And my supervisor also told me I had to change my behavior, but I have a good behavior at work. So now what? I am going to deal with those poor Quebeckers.

It’s like my supervisor want to make me loose my self-esteem. I guess she wanted to make me cry. But I didn’t cry. I find her way very mean. And I am going to fight back.

I might be one of the greatest small investor out there and this is how me, Sunny from My first 50 000$ I am being treated by Quebeckers. Please take note. Anyhow, my investment portfolio is doing very well. Even if I loose my job at the bank, I will be able to survive on one job and I may cash out the dividend I am currently earning instead of having them reinvested in the DRIP. I will be able to make it after all. I might stand on bread and peanut butter for a little while. This is just what I need: dieting. I need to loose a good 20 pounds. Voila… seem like I am going to loose that baby fat of mine after all lol.

I am having a hard time, but I keep thinking about people in Haiti. I am very devastated and sad to see what happen in Haiti. We see that beautiful pure blue sea, but all around, the country is devastated. Horrible. May we just pray from them.

My investment portfolio in date of January 9, 2010

Savings for my next investment:
2.69$ (ING Direct)
1 007$ (savings in regular banking accounts)
TOTAL: 1 009.69$

Non RRSP Investments:
Stocks & Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 2 404$
Timminco (TIM): 276$
Blue Note Mining (BNT): 44$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 4 924$
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 228$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 2 272$
Fortis (FTS): 2 984$
Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN): 7 147$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 5 791$
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): 460$
Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN): 2 297$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund
(BA.UN): 2 792$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 64$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 3 885$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 1 520$
TOTAL: 37 088$

Mutual funds (outside RRSP)
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund: 5 270$

Tax-free savings account
RBC O'Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:
2 632.43$
Creststreet Alternative Energy Fund: 1 229$
TOTAL: 3 861.43$

RRSP:
CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: 490.43$
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: 458.76$
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: 965.79$

Energy and Base Metals Term Savings (Indexed term savings): 503.46$
Natural Resources Term Savings (Indexed term
savings): 502.06$

GIC National Bank: 1 154.83$
GIC Finance Plus: 1 513.97$
GIC Plus: 500$

TD Canadian Bond: 110.29$
TD Monthly Income: 98.49$
TD Emerging Markets: 83.04$
TD Energy: 85.54$
TD Precious Metals: 110.36$
TD Latin American Growth: 98.89$
TD Entertainment & Communications: 103.41$
TD Dividend Growth: 189.96$
TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth: 97.11$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund (Templeton):
673.73$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 862.51$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 1 028.49$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund: 971.49$
Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund: 600.70$

Great West - Various: 1 577.81$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: 491.57$
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: 1 792.13$
RBC Global Resources Fund: 898.92$
RBC O'Shaughnessy International Equity Fund:
624.71$
RBC O'Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: 990.35$
GIC Canadian Market: 1 000$

TOTAL: 18 578.80$

Social Capital at Desjardins Membership share for 3 accounts:
40$

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-free savings account + RRSP + Online Income (49.11$):
65 897.03$
[In date of January 9, 2010]

Welcome Davis, I now hold 100 units of Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN)

I now hold 100 units of Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN). I am quite happy with this new comer in my investment portfolio. I purchase the 100 units at a fair price of 16.88$ per unit. The value will probably reach 17$ per unit really soon. So time to invest some Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN). At 1.836$ in annual dividend (per unit!!), the dividend of Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) is quite juicy if you see what I am mean. Davis + Henderson definitevely deserve to be from my portfolio.

I am now at 39026.98$ for my stocks + units investment portfolio lol..... everything nice under the sun. $$$.

Can't wait this weekend to calculate my overall value. Got to run for work now.

Finally, my Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) dividend are in!

With the DRIP, I now own 3 new units of Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN). I now own 414 units of Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN). this mean that I should received 82.80$ from the Just Energy Income Fund special dividend! Yeah!

I am very happy that the TSX had lost some points since the time I gain an awesome 340$ and something. Because tomorrow, we are investing in 100 units of Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) and I need the lowest price on a short period... The value of each unit is under 17$ right now - very great, perfect price, perfect opportunity for our investment portfolio.

My investment portfolio gain 359.73$ in just a few days

Ok, this is quite exciting times! Compare to January 9, 2010, my stocks and units portfolio alone had increase in value. It had increase of 359.73$! My stocks and units portfolio is currently at :

37 447.73$! I am quite happy with those increase and I am just hoping it will continue this way as well for the upcoming weeks, no matter what Eric Sprott had to say about the wrong shape of the economy!