July Vacations among the way

Few good things going on right now! I had been quite busy, but just at doing regular stuff. I am on vacations from my daytime job for the next 2 weeks. And do you know which famous personality is on vacations just right now too? Derek Foster! I guess Derek Foster is still cross-crossing the Canada from the West to the East coast or something likes it. Derek Foster might have the time of his life with his family right now! Other news from the famous, the Montreal writer Natalie McLennan is hosting an event in Toronto. Check it out right here.

I didn’t take a vacation for a very long time so this is going to be fun. I didn’t plan anything, if not a visit to the Botanic Garden and the Biodome among other. I will be staying in Montreal the whole time. Work is starting again next week at my weekend job. So I will be working during the weekends of my vacations but that’s all good. I could refused to come in, but I prefer to take whatever is presenting to me at this time and cash my vacations paycheck of my weekend job in a time where there will be a real lack of work… See what I mean? lol…

Basically, this mean I will have work for the upcoming weekends at my weekend job, as well as for the month of August. This week, I had deposit 2 000$ on my line of credit. A 50$ went as payment on the 4.9% credit card balance transfer…

And now, what about brand new 100 stocks of Corby Distilleries (CDL.A) in my investment portfolio?

I really like Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN). I talk numerous time about reaching 1 000 units of Just Energy. At this point, I own more than 700 units of the marvelous. Just Energy Income Fund pay the awesome annual dividend of 1.24$ per unit. To this, add the special dividend of 0.20 cents per unit. Doesn’t sound much? Well, this represent 1.44$ per unit! So now you know why I am a Just Energy Income Fund fan! I can love Just Energy as much as I want, doesn’t change the fact that I need to diversify my portfolio. A while ago, I already planned to invest in another 100 stocks of Corby Distilleries (CDL.A) and now, it’s seem like the timing is right. Why do I plan to invest in 100 stocks of Corby Distilleries? Well, I already own 100 stocks of Corby Distilleries. I had been experimenting Corby Distilleries great value stability. I had purchased Corby Distilleries at 15.30$ per stock if I remember a couple of months ago. The value of Corby Distilleries never went above the 15$ per stock. So far, Corby Distilleries had brought great stability for my investment portfolio. Also, with my 100k goal, my portfolio is greatly in need of stability. I am still thinking about it at this time, but I might place my purchase order for 100 stocks of Corby Distilleries on Monday… I could had used the money for a vacation trip instead but I prefer to make another investment rather than going on a gateway. Fact is, things are going well, it’s not time to give up on things I like the most: my investments, of course.

Very beautiful day in Montreal. I wake up late this morning but I want to wake up early in the upcoming days. I should have planned myself better for my vacations period on things to do and stuff, but I didn’t. I didn’t see my vacations period coming. It took me by surprise. Time is passing by and next month at the end of August, I will be turning 30. I am getting older, even if 30 still young, but it doesn’t really change anything. I would like a 90 000$ for August. Next pay, I should get my 2 weeks vacations pay and this week pay, I hope. I should also get a little extra for my annual raise. It won’t be too much, but all combine together, I should be able to pay off my expenses for the month of August. August, last summer month, my birthday... Will August be the month of my first 90 000$? I wish it will. Could seem crazy, this all investment game, but I really want that 100 000$ in assets! YEAHHHHH

This would leave around 400$ in cash on my line credit or something like it and I have 530$ I have to pay by June 30 on my RBC credit card… Yes…… 530$ in basic expenses. I had spent way too much, but it’s the summer after all. And the month of July is not even over yet!

Reward program at work

At work, we have a reward program and this month, I got full of points because of my sales. I had targeted a few things I could buy. So I have to choose between the following: a blender, rice cooker and 3 movie tickets OR those Swarovski earrings and necklace. I just love the 0 design in the jewelry. I saw before the earrings at the Bay and always like them. So guess I am taking the jewelry! Combine together and after taxes, the gift worth around 230$. So I will be working wearing beautiful jewelries that worth more than what I earn in a single day of work! But they might look good for a job interview. When it comes to Swarovski, I always think of Natalie McLennan. In her book, she described a scene where we find multiple Swarovski chandeliers… Her book is very good for what she’d been thought.

Big time for my dividend!

I had received some dividend payments lately. I had received 29.68$ in dividend from Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN), 58.80$ from Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH) and 54.47$ from Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN). YLO.UN and PIF.UN dividend had DRIP, but not PBH. As advertised on their Web site, Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH) has suspended the DRIP for an indefinite period. It’s the reason why I currently have 77$ in cash in my broker account.

Other than cleaning my place and do my laundry, I plan to work on articles for HubPages. I am very close to my online money maker payout and a 100$ would be more than welcome!

EnCana Corporation (ECA) dividend for July 2010

Things are working out quite well these days for the Dividend Girl! Ok, so for the credit card balance transfer it’s going to work out! Strangely, the only way to get a 6 months extension on my TD Visa card for the low interest rate of 4.9% is to perform a credit card balance transfer. So I don’t have any choices, I have to transfer the current balance I have on my TD Visa over RBC Visa and than, once the transfer will be completed, call TD and do the magical credit card balance transfer and than I will be all set for the next 6 months. The only problem is that I have to make sure I make my TD credit card payment on time each month. If not, it will cancel the rate of 4.9%. One miss payment and bye-bye low interest rate. So this is what’s going to happen in the next couple of days. My RBC Visa is not working anymore because of a magnetic problem I was told so I am currently waiting for the new credit card to be delivered. So I don’t know if I can, in the meantime, still proceed with a credit card balance transfer. I be able to do so I guess only if the card and expiration date remain the same – but I my RBC credit card was going to expired soon…. Anyhow, I might give RBC a call asking for the info but I am not sure if an agent could answer this question, in the sense that they are not the one who deals with card numbers directly but it might worth a try. I will proceed with the credit card balance transfer as soon as possible. That way, I won’t have to face to any credit-card-low-interest-rate until January 2011. The timing will be perfect because at that time, I will probably and finally have my 100 000$ assets goal reach. It’s not as complicated as it’s seem.

My non registered portfolio is at 47 377$. I had received the dividend for EnCana Corporation (ECA), 20.58$. I had been thinking, and despite my willingness to save money as emergency fund, I am really tempted to make my investment in Corby Distilleries (CDL.A) like it was planned before. With my upcoming paycheck of this Wednesday, I will have more than enough to invest in 100 stocks of Corby Distilleries (CDL.A). This won’t bring too much as dividend, only 56$ actually… OR…….. I could invest in 100 new units of JE.UN……. And bring an extra 144$ in dividend money in the house. This is kind of funny knowing how many times I said I was building an emergency fund. But guess what, if it had to happen I get laid off – again – unemployment benefit will become my emergency fund. Good or bad to thing that way? I don’t know. But I am sooooooo close to the 90 000$ now and I am soooooo happy about it! And I had been thinking over and over again to hit the 1 000 in Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) units (I am currently at 743 right now!). It’s all confused in my head right now. My 100 000$ assets goal is over-exciting me lol. So should I invest or not? This is exactly where things are getting complicated. But in a certain way, I need to keep money aside, so I might keep the money as payment on my credit line. I didn’t make any payment on my TD credit line yet because I remember about this paycheck coming on this Wednesday at midnight. I will be able to make a 2 000$ in payment on my credit line. Of course, the 2000$ might not stay there forever. But instead of having money sleeping in my bank account, I prefer to have the money apply on my credit line. It will help me to reduce the interest gains on a monthly basis. That’s basically it for now.

Update on debt, dividend income and super asset goal

This is my first Sunday spend without working… more than 6 months. My weekend job had been quite good for me and yesterday, for some other people, it was their last day of work until mid-August. So I am not the only one being left behind a lack of work. I wake up late, the sleep was awesome since the heat of the last couple of days make it hard to sleep well. So far, I spend most of the day reading on HubPages and looking at some hilarious Web site. Be ready for a great laugh because those Web sites are pretty funny: Beach Creeps and People of WalMart.

Other than laughing at funny pics on the Internet, I took a look at my financial situation. On Monday, I will be paying all of my bills and it will make 271$ in payment. Which is not that much. After what, I will have left a bit more than 1 000$. I will put 1 000$ as payment on my credit line, the one at 8.25%.

Non registered stocks and units investment portfolio:
Sprott Inc. (SII): 515 x 0.10 cents + 0.04$ special dividend =

72.10$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 106 x 1.96$ = 207.76$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 103 x 0.62$ = 63.86$
Fortis (FTS): 106 x 1.12$ = 118.72$
Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN): 419 x 1.56$ = 653.64$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 743 x 1.24$ + special dividend of 0.20$ = 1 069.92$
Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN): 445 x 0.80$ = 356$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN): 100 x 2.90$ = 290$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 207 x 0.93$ = 192.51$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 312 x 1.15$ = 358.80$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 100 x 0.56$ = 56$
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN): 100 x 1.84 = 184$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH): 200 x 1.18$ =

236$
TOTAL: 3 859.31$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN):

404 x 0.76$ = 307.04$

RSP investment portfolio:
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 100 x 1$ = 100$
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 202 x 1.11$ = 224.22$
TOTAL: 324.22$

OVERALL TOTAL: 4 490.57$

I am now at 4 490.57$ in annual dividend income or 374.21$ in monthly dividend income. To this, we can add a 100$ extra for the DRIP… which could bring everything at 4 590.57$. Those are great news! Also, I was thinking about selling my Sprott Canadian Equity Fund to purchase more units of Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN). This could increase my dividend income to close to 5 000$ or so……. Very tempting actually, BUT……. I have to remember the diversification rule. Thinking about dividend income only can be a trap. It’s not a bad thing to have money invested in mutual funds for small investors, it’ something that actually can help to diversify a portfolio. But I have to say, I also taught about selling my Sprott Canadian Equity Fund for some EnCana Corporation (ECA) stocks…… But I am not too sure about what I am going to do. I am still thinking about it.

For last post, I update my debt situation. Currently, I am at 37 240.49$ in red debt. But counting my payment of tomorrow, I will be at 35 969.49$. Which is reasonable for now I find. It’s still a lot in debt, but whenever my 100 000$ assets goal will be reach, I plan to work at paying off debt. Having 35 969.49$ in debt is not that of a big deal. Want to know why?

Ok, so I am now at a 4 490.75$ annual dividend income. Let’s remove the dividend coming from the RSP, as I cannot touch it until “real” retirement:

4 490.75$ - 324.22$ = 4 166.35$

This is an amount that I can cash in if I want.

Knowing my situation, let’s say I put 1 000$ as monthly payment on my debt. That will make 12 000$ per year. To this reasonable amount, I can applied 4 166.35$. That make a total of 16 166.35$

35 969.49$ / 16 166.35$ = 2.3

Basically, I can pay off that 35 969.49$ debt value in 2 years and 3 months. That’s the reason why I am not in a hurry to pay off my debt. That’s why I feel comfortable dealing with those debt while working at reaching my 100 000$ assets goal.

That’s how it’s going to work.

I am just facing a minor problem, 2 of my credit card balance transfers are soon going to expired. Once in September and the other in October. They are:

7 982.59$ at 4.9% ending on October 2010
1 253.17$ at 3.9% ending on September 2010

The once ending on September do not bother me at all. It’s just a tiny little 1 253.17$ after all. But a 7 982.59$ is more massive. I had been thinking on what to do. My solution was to apply to a credit line at RBC. But…….. guess what, I am kind of lucky because just by looking at my TD credit card statement, I had been target for a credit card balance transfer at the same 4.9% valid for 6 months! YEAH! So this what’s going to happen:

I am going to transfer the current 7 982.59$ from TD to RBC Visa and from there, I am going to transfer the same amount from RBC Visa to TD Visa! And there you go! The only thing is that I don’t know when the offer gets expired, but I guess it will be valid for a little while. If not I will just call TD Visa and ask. If it’s a limited time offer I will do the transfer now and if it’s valid until October, I will proceed with the super crazy transfer lol only in September……

It’s looking good for my 100 000$ assets goal and I have a feeling it’s all going to work!

My debt situation in date of July 11, 2010

9 940.80$ at 4.75% (RSP credit line) = 472.19$ in annual interest
4 900$ at 3.75% (credit line) = 183.75$ in annual interest
7 982.59$ at at 4.9% ending on October 2010 = 391.15$ in annual interest
4 973.12$ at 8.25% (credit line) = 410.28$ in annual interest
8 190.81$ at 5% (student loan debt) = 409.54$ in annual interest
1 253.17$ at 3.9% ending on September 2010 = 48.87$ in annual interest

TOTAL: 37 240.49$
TOTAL in annual interest: 1 915.79$

It’s raining day in Montreal – finally!

The hot heat of the summer? I just can’t stand it. And I can't stand no more having Sprott Canadian Equity Fund and Sprott Inc. (SII) in my investment portfolio.

As for now, I am working tomorrow at my weekend job, but not this upcoming Sunday. I was told there was going to be some work available again mid-August, so everything remains relatively stable. I am just happy that it’s raining this evening in Montreal. The last couple of days had been difficult because of the heat. Last year, summer wasn’t so hot. I probably won’t be working at my weekend job until mid-August. In the meantime, I might try to apply for jobs and see if I can find a little something. Other great news: I received a GST cheque of 95$.

Lately, I saw my non registered investment portfolio falling to 46 000$. With the gain of today, I am now closer to what my investment portfolio used to be. So I might be pretty close to the original 88 300$ and something I had back in June 21. I won’t be updating my investment portfolio; the gains are just not enough. And I have to say, come to a point where counting all of my pennies, without forgetting 1 cent, require some time and work that I am just not willing to give at this time.

BUT…

Interesting things are going on for my investment portfolio!

Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) will become a corporation starting January 2010. Until that time, I hope you are enjoying – like me – Just Energy Income Fund very generous monthly dividend! Despite TSX volatility, Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN) close today session at an interesting 10.28$. My Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH) had acquired 76% of company specialized in seafood products: Maximum Seafood. This company had an annual income of 56 million. This new addition to Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH) is quite of great news right there. If you want my point of view, this company will bring stability to Premium Brands and it will help the company to maintain a good and reliable dividend. Because don’t forget, very soon, I will received from Premium Brands Holdings 58.80$ in dividend! Premium Brands Holdings had temporary suspend its DRIP. So I will probably receive this upcoming dividend payment in cash… AND YES, AT THIS TIME, I NEED CASH. I WANT CASH. I don’t know too much of what Eric Sprott, manager of the now unfamous Sprott Canadian Equity Fund is doing those days, but seem like he had his eyes if not on the Dividend Girl, on wind power. Talking about wind power, my precious Hanwei Energy Services (HE) is seriously getting in the deep red. In 2009, Hanwei Energy Services (HE) had lost more than 66 millions. Currently, Hanwei Energy Services (HE) is at 30 cents. I still own stocks of Hanwei Energy Services (HE), I am not giving up on the company yet. Just like Timminco (TIM), Hanwei Energy Services (HE) had been badly hurt by the 2008 stock crash. Since that time, Hanwei Energy Services (HE), back than at 2$ per stock, had lost a lot in value. From 2$ per stock to 30 cents – such losses hurt both employees of HE and investors, like myself. Because I am an investor right lol. Anyhow, I am staying behind Hanwei Energy Services (HE) just like I am staying behind Timminco (TIM). Because yes, I still hold Timminco (TIM) in my portfolio. I am still believing in those 2 companies. Both are great, are in great sectors. Hanwei Energy Services is in the energy wind power sector and had activities in China. China, wind energy, etc… isn’t suppose to be a perfect position for a company? Maybe Hanwei Energy Services (HE) is suffering form a lack of growing opportunities because of the worldwide recession. Who knows? I am certainly not a specialist and I do not know why Hanwei Energy had slide from 2$ per stock to a tinny 30 cents. But I still hold in date of today. I had received not too long ago the consolidated financial statements of Hanwei. I had bring it in my purse but never had time to read it yet or should I say I never took the time to read it, just like for all of the financial statements I had received so far. I took a quick lot at some of them but that’s really all. Anyhow, seem like I will be able to spend my upcoming weekends at reading financial statements lol. You know, like getting something like an education out of it. I like most of the companies I hold and I am doing great with my dividend. And Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) is very awesome, don’t you think so?

Other than this I plan to be more active on HubPages and on my blog because I am very close to hit a magic 100$ payout. That will be the second one for this year. I don’t mind making an extra 100$ every 6 months or so from a hobby. I can definitively earn more, I just need to write more. Writing in English is sometime not that easy for me, as I am French francophone from New Brunswick. But guess you already got that part.

Work problems over and over again, getting a taste of Quebec life or nothing more than a life

What a week! A mix of good and bad things, just like usual… Cannot be black or white, always grey…… The heat is hitting Montreal and as I don’t have air conditioning, I hate living in my apartment. But I am getting more used to the heat. Monday was very awful as the heat hit me very badly. So badly that I miss the Monday show at the Jazz Festival. I was real too hot and drinking a beer at almost 6$ didn’t help. The beer and food wasn’t cheap at the Jazz Festival but the shows were all good. Anyhow as for now, I am feeling better. I have air conditioning at my workplace. Tonight, I wanted to do extra hours but I wasn’t needed so I had to leave. I didn’t want to go home, so I want to Chapter’s and read magazine. I read the new issue of MoneySense among other and stuff about Angelina Jolie beautifully overexposed on the cover of VanityFair. And today, I call to give my hours for my weekend job and this is it, I am facing a lack of work until the middle of August. Which is not so bad. I knew it was kind of coming but I wasn’t too sure. I wasn’t ready for it so now I am kind of confuse and I don’t know if I am working this Saturday or not lol. The only thing I remember from my call is that there was a lack of work and that my Sunday will be giving to someone with a higher productivity level. Just those words you know. I had been working there for 3 years now, beginning full-time and now part-time, giving all my Saturdays and Sundays and now I am being told I am not productive enough. I could have been hurt by such comments. But no matter what’s going on, when it involves Quebeckers, nothing really hurt my feelings. I do not even bother. I just don’t care. I am going to be ok even without working the weekends. Just my main job salary is kind of low paying. But it’s been nice working there as I had been working there for more than 2 years now. I had always been able to get the hours I wanted and stuff so I won’t complaint. My schedule didn’t change since my laid off of BMO Bank of Montreal back in January – or was it February – 2010. But if it happen I find another job, I am pretty sure I will be able to make another shift trade. Weekend job or not, I am going to survive. But its look like my 90 000$ assets plan is ruined. I will celebrate my 30 birthday….. poor (or kinda) but still, happy, I believe. Because I won’t say I am not happy despite my personal situation (always the work, you know). I am doing ok, I have enough to cover my frugal living lol and make the minimum payment on my debt so what’s the deal, after all. I am just at a point where I have enough, I guess. Enough of dealing with complicated work situation, enough of Quebeckers who’re just sucking my energy right through it. Have enough! So it’s going to be a wonderful weekend spend at not working at all! Yeah! And maybe dreaming at moving outside Quebec, if not running back home, in New Brunswick. Kind of hate it here in Quebec, even if Montreal is quite enjoyable by itself.

Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) belong to small investors

The TSX gains some points today and I hope that for once, the gains will last. My non registered portfolio seem to be at 46 728$. I am hoping for some new gains real soon. Now that the Jazz Festival is over, I will be following my investment a bit more. I took some very awesome pictures and I will eventually post them on my blog.

As for now, the heat is horible as I am living it without air conditioning at home. Air conditioning or not, I am still receiving dividend… and I had received on July 6th Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) dividend of 76.15$. This bring my 2010 dividend earns so far to 1 774.30$. Which is very nice. So far, the month of July had been great, but June pass by too quickly. I will be turning 30 in August and I had planned all kind of stuff to do in the meantime you know, like things to do before getting older…. But time running up too fast for me so here am I, writing about things and projects I really wanted to do… but you know, time or some real organization skill is missing from my part. I had been easy on my stuff, working the minimum hours to keep things going on. I didn’t work as much as I could on my investment project but at a point, my 100 000$ in assets project began to take to much place as I handle many jobs and so on. I am not distubed about having to work several job at a time to reach my goal……

I worry instead about my weight. In 2009, I took several extra pounds that I am not used to have. Reason why? In 2009, I work at 3 jobs, working from Monday to Sunday, a good 80 hours per week. I don’t have any problm there… But… I began to pack pounds as I was working all the time, eating like usual, but doing no exercice. When I had some time off, I was too tired and I count several time where, during a Sunday or Saturday, after spending the day at work, I sometime directly get home, going to bed shortly after eating a quick snack as I was exhausted. That time was quite great or me as I was able to make good money. I got pretty much into the stop working kind of deal of you know who. But that time wasn’t too great for my health and still today, I pay the price for spending too much time working and not doing exercise. When you work too much you don’t have time for yourself, no more time to walk downtown Montreal and stuff. This month of July, I go to work without a metro pass but just working around 1h30 per day and up is not enough for me to loose weigh. I will need to sweat a lot more lol. You know, sometimes I look at myself in mirror and say geessss that I am fat lol. Not that I was tight slim before, but I was better. I had a pair of Sweetheart jeans from Old Navy that really like, but I don’t fit in them anymore…. Got a portrait of the situation here?

And now I wonder how long will it take me to look like my old self again. My weight is due to excess hours spend working but also my sugar teeth and you know, junk food. So this is all my fault. So now, I need to loose weight, build an emergency fund and find a third job (!!!). Crazy time, hope my thirty year will be even wilderrrrrr agrrrrrrrrrr.... lol. And yep, Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) belong to small investors like myself, believe it or not. Like it or not.

Getting a taste of the Beast at the Montreal Jazz Festival

Yesterday, the TSX lost 343 points and yesterday, I wasn’t in front of my laptop, counting my losses, I was at the Montreal Jazz Festival. I discove one of the most original Montreal band: Beast. Beast was giving a free concert at Montreal Jazz Festival and it was an awesome show! I after listen to their music online. But it’s soo not the same thing! I hope people go went see their show because it’s the best way to discove their music. Not that it’s better in live, but it’s different when you listen to Beast music at home in a quiet one and a half apartment. Beast is not made to be listening in quiet places. Need some noises and an atmosphere to appreciate. My favorite song of Beast seem to be name Mange ta ville. You can listen to it here.

When I saw yesterday that the TSX was loosing points like crazy, I was concerned, of course, but it was like a déjà vu sensation. Like you know, I already went through a major crash in 2008, and now, its back. This time, the loss are not that major. The TSX gain a couple of points today, which is a good sign. The stock market is quite fragile, I prefer to stay away, enjoy the Jazz Festival. And I have to say, I had quite enjoy it so far. This evening, I took a rest from the Festival. My place was getting distusting and I had no more clean clothes to wear. When the market fall, the best thing to do is, of course, not to sell, just keep going, to something else than counting the money loss. I should be more concerned by all the money loss, but if I decided to invest my money in stocks and other, its for a long run. And I belive that no one should be afraid, no one should sell. Not now. Regarding yesterday loses, Barack Obama himself said he was optimisted and it seem he really wanted to calm investors. It work for me, Barack Obama could tell me to take a wild run into traffic that I would do it. You know, like me and Obama, its for life. So it Barack Obama is optimisted, I am too. And of course, I won’t sell my investment and you should do exactly the same thing, best friend advice. So far in my investment, I had been lucky enough to manage myself in a way that it alow me to keep my assets on the market. I never had to sell an investment in which I had loss money. I had loss money, but I like to say that no loss is official until losses are declared, meaning that there is no losses until the assets is sell. So technically speaking, I didn’t loose so far in my investment life any money at all and this is making me the best of all. I mean the best investor see. lol……

You have to laugh in those difficult time and not to sell your investments is extremely important at this point. The market will again one day reach the 15 000 points and when it will, we’ll all say, we are back in 2008. Just like in 2008. So strange because I open my broker account at TD Waterhouse just before the stocks crash. I like to think about it in a way that God decided it was going to be this way for me so I can take advantage at what in passing by. Either it is a recession, a laid off from BMO Bank of Montreal or buying stocks at a great price value. You know, that kind of deal.

The stock market is all crap, but companies are still paying dividend. And talking about dividend, I had received lately 16.65$ from Methanex Corporation (MX), 15.33$ from
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) and 21.60$ from The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN). I finally got my Consumers’ Waterheater to DRIP. I had around 32$ in cash in my broker account. The money will go as payment on my credit line. At this time, I had to choose between making another investment (again!) or keep the money in cash in case of need. I decided to pay off my credit line a bit. I am working this weekend at my weekend job but as for now, it’s a week to week situation as a lack of work is coming to hit me soon.

This is actually really funny in a way because in the last couple of weeks, I said that my next investment was going to be 100 stocks of Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A). Yesterday, when the TSX was loosing more than 300 points, most of the companies I had invested in had lost value. But one company had gain value in my portfolio yesterday. Just one. And that one was Corby Distilleries (CDL.A). Believe it or not, yesterday, Corby Distilleries had finished the day at 15.85$ per stock! Guess I am now a good stock picker! Because its all about the pick, investment in stocks is only about the company that you yourself will choose. I should say that Derek Foster is a good stock picker and I am pretty damn good to follow his picks! There’s something about magic when it comes to Corby Distilleries (CDL.A), I am telling you.

Happy Canada Day to all real Canadians. :O)

I find the perfect mix: Jazz and Dividend and always the Jazz and the Dividend

I had been quiet lately as I enjoyed Montreal Jazz Festival. I saw all the evenings show from Friday to Sunday and tonight, even if an amazing artist was performing, Lulu Hugues, I decided to stay away from the Festival for tonight. Working during day-time and seeing the great evening shows at the Festival had exhausted me at some point. I was amazed by the shows I saw, especially by Jazz Mafia, a band I saw yesterday. The music was just very special, a mix of hip hop, blues and jazz all mix together. Very fascinating. It takes people with great deal of energy and originality to play such music and Jazz Mafia is all that nice mix all together. Like WOW!

I had been watching my stocks and units in the meantime and on a day like today, my investment portfolio loss in value, following the TSX. I am concerned about how things are going to be in the next couple of months. You know, when you read in the Globe and Mail that someone like Paul Krugman, an economist and writer for the New York Time say that we might going straight forward to a third recession, that’s kind of scary. As for now, I am not looking to sell. My positions will remain the same, no matter how bad things are going to be in a close future. But it’s a good thing that someone well-known come forward and publicly warn investors on what could happen next. Because we are still in it you know, we are still in the depression. All those TSX ups and downs, that’s a sign right there that things are not going too well. Also, I read a very interesting post from a US blogger, Annienygma from Living on $500 a Month or Less. She explains she had friends who are currently under unemployment benefits. Unable to find a job, they will soon be facing the cut of their unemployment benefits. Near 1 million of Americans are currently living that situation. Why? Because the Congress had decided not to renew their benefits period. This is very sad because these people are paying the price for George W. Bush and other incompetents, a bit like myself, facing the hypocrisy of my late employer, BMO Bank of Montreal who decided to laid off me after allowing me a 5 000$ credit line and a 4 000$ credit card. Got the picture? Myself, my whole career is kind of a disaster. I am alone in Montreal, living far away from my family, not having a family of my own, living completely alone, without a husband or any children of my own. And what if I would had to loose it all, you know, my investment portfolio?

Well, that would simply be the end of the Dividend Girl, I guess. The end of my blog.

It’s not like I am under panic – I sympathize with the Americans, with those who might have to fill for bankruptcy, those who had families with kids and had a hard time to pay their bills. Because I could be myself in that kind of situation. As for now, the plan had worked well. I am happy with my month-to-month dividend earnings and the way things are going. Even while facing different situation, I had been able to do what I wanted to do, financially speaking. As for now, I am working to pay off a 400$ credit card debt, which will be completely be pay off tomorrow. Also, instead of investing as I wanted to do for the month of July, I will just put some money aside. For June, I had made some payments on my TD credit line. And I plan to do the same thing during the month of July. I am just 2 months away from my birthday; I wouldn’t like to have to sell some of my investments just because I am running out of cash right. But good news, I am still working next week at my weekend job, at least for Saturday. So I don’t know too much more than that where I am going as everything as a taste of being unreal. I am just getting really confuse. Anyhow, confuse or not, I am listening to Jazz Mafia and its bringing peace to my mind.

Long term or short term investment: what's the best for small investors?

Real too bad that the stock market had to loose points today. The market volatility is making it very difficult for my 100 000$ goal! The stock market is going crazy and so am I. I am going completely nuts! 5 years of investment, almost 3 years on the stock market, but still, I am not getting use to the ups and downs of the market! Anyhow, despite a difficult stock market and a difficult job situation, I had save 589$ during the month of June. The money had been applied as payment on my 8.25% credit line. Live is crazy as not more than the stock market itself – so better prepare for the worst. Why am I saying this? Well, a colleague of mine got fired just a couple of days. A very nice guy, English spoken only. Always on time and from my point of view, was good at the job. But he got fired. After 3 years or so. I don’t have a clue of what happen. No one actually knows what happen. And shortly after, I got one of his friend that came to me, asking me for 30$. She almost cries, saying she was embarrassed to ask me money, but she only needed 30$... I borrow her the 30$, but I explain her that I had myself a difficult situation. I didn’t think about not borrowing her the 30$, it never crossed my mind. But what if I would be the one in need of 30$? Well, I would wait for my next dividend payment or use my credit card. Having credit, and believe it or not, having more than 37 000$ in debts is a blessing.

It’s a blessing to be able to use money for the only purpose of spending money for everyday uses, it’s a blessing to be able to use credit to invest. And I am very bless to have thousands of dollars of credit! When I was younger – I am still young yeah, but I really mean when I was in my young twenties, I was a credit card and credit fanatic. Back than, I open an American Express, a TD Visa, a TD credit line, a CIBC Visa, etc… But I guess opening credit at a young age had paid well. My relation with credit is kind of particular, as many of credit I own is being unused. I love credit card, those chic-a-chics card really made me happy. So when Bank of Scotia refuses, just last spring, my RSP loan, I really hate Bank of Scotia for doing this for me. I could have got the loan if I would had own some cash, which I don’t. All of my money is invested and my choice of being a Dividend Girl had made it impossible for me to obtain credit at Bank of Scotia. I explain I was receiving more than 4 000$ in cash from my dividend and so on. But nothing help. So I came to the conclusion that staff working at Bank of Scotia are a bunch of incompetents, just like the ones of BMO Bank of Montreal. You know, like those people need a real wake up call! I am the one who is holding almost 90 000$ in assets, I am the one receiving 4 000$ in dividend, isn’t enough? So here I discover the tough reality: cash worth more than anything. At least for Bank of Scotia. So why should I deal with people who had refused me an RSP loan, why should I do business with ignorant who had treated my money so disrespectfully. Because you need to know the portfolio, the girl and dividends right. Like me and Bank of Scotia, we don’t share the same vision on things. And strangely, because of Derek Foster, I own Bank of Scotia stocks.

Fact is, forget about cash. Stocks worth more than cash but seem like Bank of Scotia do not have that philosophy. But…. Surprise, things are different at TD Canada Trust. Talking about TD Canada Trust, I just came from an article of Larry MacDonald, very interesting…. It’s about a guy who say not to hold, just to invest for the short term… Strange isn’t? But this is not strange when you know the guy is an American. The situation is quite unsecured in the States and I guess that investment for a short term might be the new way to go for the Americans. Which is kind of sad. Investment for a long term is much more rewarding and interesting than for the short term. And here, with my 5 big years in the investment field, I know what I am talking about for sure lol. So I guess some examples are required.

You may not believe me, but I first invested in Pembina Income Fund (PIF.UN) when the unit price was 12$ per unit! On date of today, the unit price is raising to an almost 18$! Another good example, 100 stocks of Methanex at 15$ per stock… Currently, MX is at something close to 23$! It can be very rewarding to invest for a long term because valuable companies increase in value over time. Of course, I am naming 2 of my majors « hit », but I made wrong moves and loose money among the way and things got pretty…… nasty lol. I had to go through a failure period to discover that the only way to make money out of the stock market for me was to follow the teaching of Derek Foster. And trust me, there is no better way! And that’s why Derek Foster is a bestseller author. So why spend time reading book about a short term strategy when you can go with a stop working strategy? Isn’t a stop working strategy much much better? Of course it is.

Anyhow, despite the current market volatility, if investment in quality companies, investment for the long term is still the way to go. So when I read this article of Larry MacDonald about short term investment, I just can think about how this is just at the exact opposite of my view of how should individuals invest. Like investment is not a game. I borrowed 7 000$ on a credit card balance transfer at 4.5% only to invest in Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN). Do you really believe I made this as a short term investment? Investment need to be made for long term. Small investors can loose real precious time at trying to figure out if it’s a good time to invest. Trying to time the market is never a good thing. So far, I made my investments whenever money was available and surprisely, the result had been good. Why? Because I didn’t try to time too much the market I did what I had to do: I invested the money where I felt it was going to be at its best.

Just to explain a bit more of what I am trying to explain, here what I had promised to Canuck (a reader) for a long time now, my investments, the money made… and lost… WOW… Almost feeling like getting naked… or in better lol.

Holding is better than a short-selling action scheme. Here’s the why and the dark side of my story with investment

In this exercise, I took my major holder, and separate them in a Profit and Loss Section. Let’s start with the ugly losses.

THE LOSS TEAM

Timminco (TIM):
Initial investment value: 4 065$
Value in date of June 21: 124$
Loss: 3 941$

Sprott Inc. (SII):
Initial investment value: 4 983.64$
Value in date of June 21: 1 802.50$
Loss: 3 181.14$

Sprott Canadian Equity Fund:
Initial investment value: 7 033.50$
Value in date of June 21: 5 195.90$
Loss: 1 837.60$

Blue Note Mining (BNT):
Initial investment value: 689$
Value in date of June 21: 30$
Loss: 659$

Hanwei Energy Services (HE):
Initial investment value: 674$
Value in date of June 21: 124.50$
Loss: 549.50$

RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$:
Initial investment value: 2 300$
Value in date of June 21: 1 765.73$
Loss: 534.27$

RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund:
Initial investment value: 1 000$
Value in date of June 21: 553.06$
Loss: 446.94$

Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund:
Initial investment value: 1 000$
Value in date of June 21: 560.05$
Loss: 439.95$

Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN):
Initial investment value: 10 055.09$
Value in date of June 21: 9 632.59$
Loss: 422.50$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund (Templeton):
Initial investment value: 1 000$
Value in date of June 21: 589.85$
Loss: 410.15$

Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):
Initial investment value: 2 899$
Value in date of June 21: 2 574$
Loss: 325$

RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:
Initial investment value: 3 000$
Value in date of June 21: 2 700.19$
Loss: 299.81$

Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI):
Initial investment value: 719$
Value in date of June 21: 431.25$
Loss: 287.75$

RBC Global Resources Fund:
Initial investment value: 1 000$
Value in date of June 21: 833.08$
Loss: 166.92$

Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio:
Initial investment value: 1 000$
Value in date of June 21: 837.28$
Loss: 162.72$

Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN):
Initial investment value: 2 708.78$
Value in date of June 21: 2 552$
Loss: 156.78$

CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund:
Initial investment value: 500$
Value in date of June 21: 399.17$
Loss: 100.83$

RBC O’Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity Fund:
Initial investment value: 1 100$
Value in date of June 21: 1 026.82$
Loss: 73.18$

Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund:
Initial investment value: 1 000$
Value in date of June 21: 960.04$
Loss: 39.96$

Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund:
Initial investment value: 1 000$
Value in date of June 21: 995.35$
Loss: 4.65$

TOTAL OF LOSS: 14 039.65$

THE PROFIT TEAM

Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN):
Initial investment value: 6 068.79$
Value in date of June 21: 7 521.05$
Profit: 1 452.26$

Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN):
Initial investment value: 1 147.93$
Value in date of June 21: 2 148.66$
Profit: 1 000.73$

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS):
Initial investment value: 4 756.72$
Value in date of June 21: 5 464.30$
Profit: 707.58$

Methanex Corporation (MX):
Initial investment value: 1 626.80$
Value in date of June 21: 2 317.50$
Profit: 690.70$

Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN):
Initial investment value: 2 325.39$
Value in date of June 21: 2 825.75$
Profit: 500.36$

Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN):
Initial investment value: 3 735.94$
Value in date of June 21: 4 206.70$
Profit: 470.76$

Fortis (FTS):
Initial investment value: 2 651.47$
Value in date of June 21: 2 989.20$
Profit: 337.73$

Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL):
Initial investment value: 3 587.30$
Value in date of June 21: 3 758.56$
Profit: 171.26$

EnCana Corporation (ECA):
Initial investment value: 3 230$
Value in date of June 21: 3 524$
Profit: 294$

Emera Incorporated (EMA):
Initial investment value: 4 996.60$
Value in date of June 21: 5 090.40$
Profit: 93.80$

Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A):
Initial investment value: 1 530$
Value in date of June 21: 1 555$
Profit: 25$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund:
Initial investment value: 500$
Value in date of June 21: 511.86$
Profit: 11.86$

CIBC Monthly Income Fund:
Initial investment value: 1 000$
Value in date of June 21: 1 004.88$
Profit: 4.88$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund:
Initial investment value: 500$
Value in date of June 21: 502.69$
Profit: 2.69$

TOTAL PROFIT: 5 763.61$

I know, the losses are quite… phenomenal. I lost a total of 14 039.65$ in bad investments. I made a profit of 5 763.61$ from my good investment so far. First thing, it’s easier to loose money from the stock market than to make money out of it.

If we add the total of money loss (14 039.65$) to the value of my portfolio is date of June 21 (88 336.16$), we reach the amount of 102 375.81$.

Which mean that if I wouldn’t had lost 14 039.65$, I would had reached my 100 000$ assets goal by now. Part of the biggest loosers investment (Timminco (TIM), Sprott Inc. (SII) and Sprott Canadian Equity Fund) had been made about 2 years ago. Interesting to notice: Manuvie segrated fund are really really bad! Manuvie segregated fund had contribute to the 14 000$ and something lost. These investments had been made around 3 to 4 years ago… And 3 to 4 years later, Manuvie fund had not be able to provide any profit to my portfolio.

Since I stop investing in mutual funds and begin to stick to the Stop Working Strategy of Derek Foster, results had been amazing. I had been quite impressed with my latest RSP pick, Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL), EnCana Corporation (ECA) and Emera Incorporated (EMA). Those 3 had been great performers.

I had to loose money in bad investment to understand the stock market. Loosing 14 000$ in bad investment to understand the stock market, does it really worth it? Well in my case, yes, as I plan to continue to invest in the future. A 14 000$ lost to understand it all is not that much to pay, in a certain way. But fact is, I wouldn’t had lost 14 000$ if I would had stick to Derek Foster portfolio. That’s the true and the only true. I said it before and I will say it again. You know, that Eric Sprott, he might be a nice guy, but Eric Sprott is not what it takes in a Stop Working portfolio. Why? Because when it come to Eric Sprott and the other big player guys like Jean-François Tardif, too much speculation is involve. And at their level, they don’t care if small investors are going to loose money because of them. Because I am telling the true: making you loose money won’t keep them awake at night. (Got the picture? It’s the small investors vs. the big guys!). The big guys include people like Eric Sprott, but not only. They also include banks who sell mutual funds, insurance companies like Manuvie, just to name one. Once you loose money in one of their mutual funds or segregated funds, banks and insurance don’t care, they don’t refund the money lost. That’s why the only way to go is by following the Stop Working strategy.

Anyhow, I will eventually recover from my losses, its never fun to publicly exposes so much money lost but its not like I am a shame of it either. Just part of the package lol.

I know, 14 000$ lost in the stock market 37 000$ in debts……. Where in hell is the Dividend Girl going lol… Not far for now for sure lol, but hey, don’t forget my 4 000$ and something dividend I will earn for 2010 ok? And not to forget that the game is not over yet! Who's going to win? :0)

If I could make a good 3 000$ per month like before, I could invest more in some good investment that could help me forgive my 14 000$ lost. By good investment, I have in mind CGL, ECA, ENB…… The big expensive ones. I had come to a point where I believe that a way to get over my 1 837.60$ money lost in the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund would be to sell the fund and invest the whole 5 195.90$ that is currently in the Sprott Canadian Equity fund into EnCana (ECA). Why? Because currently, ECA worth around 35$. There’s good possibility for EnCana to double in value in the next upcoming months. It had reached 60$ and something before, it could reached it again, especially knowing that EnCana gas reserved are spectacular. Gas is certainly more powerful than Eric Sprott on the stock market… or me… lol… don’t you think so?