DRIP marketing discount offer by some Canadian companies: bonus on top of the dividend

I just notice 2 dividend payments: 15.33$ from Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN) and 21.81$ from the Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund (CWI.UN). This bring my dividend earnings to a total of 345.43$ for the month of July 2010. Today is my last day of my summer vacation, it was pretty relaxing since I slept in a lot and did almost nothing at all… But it was just what I needed, just to have nothing to think about. I had received my vacation pay. Again, I have a nice little very tight budget for the month of August. I hope to be able to invest again in September or October. I am not very sure of what my next stock trading will be made of. We’ll see. For the month of August, I plan to save around 1 100$ in cash. Nothing major for my online savings account, but it’s the best I can do with my current labor employment situation.

Yesterday was very beautiful day in Montreal so I took a long walk all the way to Montreal Old Port. After what I stop by the Chapters and take a look at a financial planning book I had seen before but never read: Debt-Free forever by Gail Vaz-Oxlade. Very good book about how to get out of debt. I find Debt-Free forever very inspiring and it actually reaches me in many ways. She talk about credit card balance transfer (the fun stuff!!!), about destroying credit card with a pair of scissors (awesome part!!!) and so on… Personally, I went through many things that Gail Vaz-Oxlade describes in her book. I went through them in order to not pay off debt, but to invest. I actually like the part where she suggested getting a second, and why not a third job as a clear debt solutions… This is me! She also openly talks about getting laid off of jobs before currently doing what she’s doing….. That’s definitively me… Thanks to BMO Bank of Montreal, I know what’s laid off is all about. She also talks about staying at home while taking vacation….. That’s actually how I spend my vacation: at home! lol!! Anyhow, I think I had discovered something very special with Gail Vaz-Oxlade writing and I will stay tune to her Web site.

I slowly begin to see the rewards of my online investment portfolio and my debt(s). Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN) is slowly growing to reach the 14$ per unit, Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN) had exceed the 18$ per unit, etc. At a point, in the last couple of days, my non registered portfolio almost reach the 50 000$ by itself. The value of my portfolio is relatively stable and I am very happy about it. One investment after the other had bring more and more value to my online investment portfolio and I am pretty sure that one day, my 15 000$ investment mistake will just disappeared by itself, without leaving any traces.

I call TD Waterhouse broker just to find about a question that been posted under my blog entry: Switching to a cheaper online broker: Scotia iTrade. Some companies offer a discount to enroll on a DRIP. The question was if brokers were offering that discount. In my case, I deal with TD Waterhouse broker. I heard about discount before but I wasn’t really sure if I had accessed to the discount while being with TD Waterhouse broker. With TD Waterhouse broker, I have 3 types of broker account: non registered (in Canadian dollars), TFSA and RSP. I am registered to a DRIP in all 3 accounts. So I was curious to find out if I had accessed to the discount or not.

A good resource to find out about DRIPs and discount being offer in Canada is on the Web site Canadian Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRIPs). In my online investment portfolio, the following top dividend paying stocks are offering a discount to their stockholders:

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 2% discount
Emera (EMA): 5% discount
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 2% discount
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 5% discount

The discount is being offered on the DRIP shares. In my case, for all investment I hold, I only deal with small sum of money, but it still worth it to enroll on a DRIP. In my online investment portfolio, 4 companies I hold are offering me the discount.

I got the answer to my question from a TD Waterhouse broker representative. But the person who answers me wasn’t really nice. I find sometimes TD Waterhouse broker rep to be really rude and arrogant. But it’s not the case with every single representative, but still. I got a couple of bad experiences, always with French representative. I explain the rudeness because I talk to a bilingual representative. TD Waterhouse broker has a customer service call center located in Montreal. Overall, I am not being impressed at all by TD Waterhouse broker services and it’s very too bad that Bank of Nova Scotia didn’t approve my RSP loan because I would have switched to their iTrade discount broker. I just hate it when a TD Waterhouse broker representative say something to me, just like it happen today, of this nature: “As I just explain it to you” bla bla bla….. If I need clarifications, I should be able to ask without anything else being add. After all, I am kind of a successful investor and if I need to ask questions, I will ask them. All of them. But shouldn’t be surprise by bad customer service offer by Quebeckers. While living in Quebec, I am living outside Canada. It’s in Quebeckers real nature anyway to treat people like shit. Just take a very close look to their wonderful educational system and health care and see what’s going on. Quebec province is slowly dying on itself and I am very hoping for a wonderful long and peaceful death.

Money saving tip for debt management solution: my plan to save an extra 2 588.85$ per year

I am enjoying my last couple of days left of vacation. I work online a bit, made a few pennies which was enough to make me happy, but nothing in term of real big bucks lol. However, my vacations had been relaxing. I am waiting for my vacation paycheck tonight. I am just very curious to see if I am going to actually receive it or not……lol. Anyhow, I went saw Salt yesterday with Angelina Jolie. Salt might be the best movie of Angelina Jolie so far, if not ever. Nice summer blockbuster if you like action movies! Real soon Salt will become available among the other blockbusters dvd rental. Angelina Jolie is very great in Salt. It’s Angelina Jolie at her best.

I started to use my travel rewards credit card BMO Bank of Montreal MasterCard again. This specific card is an Air Miles MasterCard and the master card credit limit is of 4 000$. For a while, I was waiting for my credit card balance transfer to be completed and I didn’t have any credit card left to use knowing that I have a balance on my cibc visa card at a low interest rate of 3.9% until September. Once I have a credit card with at a low interest rate for a credit card balance transfer, I usually stop using that card, in order to not mess up with the low interest rate and the usual interest rate, often something around 19%.

This month, my credit card balance transfer was from my rbc visa card to my td visa card. It is now completed, I am now good for another 6 months at 4.9% on a 7 950$ balance. This will drive me until January. I am very grateful to TD Canada Trust for this low interest rate. I am good for another 6 months. This will make a one year at 4.9% for my visa credit card limit of 8 000$. My credit card minimum monthly payment for the 8 000$ balance is reasonable, less than 50$ each month. So I can easily manage this payment. It always needs to be done on time, before the due date. If not, I will loose the low interest rate of 4.9%. That’s basically the major thing that needs to be respected in credit card balance transfer. Another rule would be also to not exceed the visa credit card limit. Mine is 8 000$ for that specific td visa card. I had a headache for a while because my 4.9% was about to expired somewhere in October. On my late invoice, when I saw the offer was still on I didn’t wait. I proceed with a credit card balance transfer from my td visa card to my rbc visa card and than after from rbc visa card to td visa card. And here I am, all good until January! It actually really worth it to read your visa credit card statement! I did, and I find a quick and easy online debt solution to a credit card debt problem. I want the 100 000$ for 2010 even with a 37 000$ worth of debt. With my 89 000$ value in assets and 37 000$ in debt, I am not in a huge debt problems.

While thinking about my overall financial situation, I try to find new ways to save up some money. Those won’t make that of a difference on a short basis, but they will definitely help on a long term basis.

1-Stop dying my hair
I had been dying my hair for about 5 years in a row now. I went through several colors, from blond, brown to red. I really like myself in dark red and find it was the perfect color for me. But my latest coloration didn’t stay in my hair for very long and my natural hair color started showing up. I didn’t want to dye my hair again and so I told myself: why not stop? I didn’t see my natural hair color for about 5 years now and I don’t remember what I look like with my real color. I decide to give it a try. I didn’t dye my hair for the past 2 months or something like it and I decide to stop definitively.

Monthly money saves: 14$

2-No more monthly metro pass
I didn’t purchase a monthly metro pass since May, 2010. I like the experience. It wasn’t so bad during the hot summer time. I plan to continue living without a travel card for the upcoming months. I just wonder if this will work during winter time…..

Monthly money saves: 65$

3-Stop buying new shampoo products when I have many unused
This is a habit I have. Buying bottle of shampoo after bottle of shampoo, just to try new hair products. I purchase a new bottle when the one previously is not even finish. I have a full bag of shampoo products like that… So I won’t be purchasing new shampoo products for the upcoming months.

Monthly money saves: 6$

4-Using air miles reward program to purchase Second Cup coffees
At 2.21$ for a medium coffee, my daytime treat at Second Cup is costing me a fortune on an annual basis…

Check it out:
2.21$ x 5 times a week x 49 weeks (52 weeks – 3 weeks of vacation) in a year = 541.45$

I always bring some tea bags with me at me at work, but nothing is tastier than a Second Cup coffee. And most of the time, I find myself going to the Second Cup anyway, cheating on my nonexpenses goal like crazy.

With AirMiles, a 20$ Second Cup coffee card worth 170 AirMiles.

541.45$ / 20$ = 27 coffee cards……..

27 x 170 AirMiles = 4 602 AirMiles

Can I possibly satisfy myself with Second Cup coffees for one year without spending a penny?
Currently, my airmiles mastercard of BMO Bank of Montreal give me 1 air miles reward card per trench of 20$ in spending. Let’s say I spend around 350$ per month (overall). I earn 17 AirMiles per month…… 17 AirMiles x 12 = 204 new AirMiles accumulated annualy….. On top on this we can add 30 AirMiles earn per month by using AirMiles search engine. Which bring in 360 AirMiles.

I currently own 809 AirMiles… 809 + 204 + 360 = 1 373 AirMiles / 170 =
8 Second Cup coffee cards……

The trick would be to drink a mix of coffee and tea at work……. And not spend more than the 160$ giving by the Second Cup coffees card.

Monthly Money saves: 45$

5-Bring my lunch to my weekend job
Despite my low salary, I never bring or barely ever bring a lunch at my weekend job. I usually go at that nice bakery called Les Copains d’Abord located on Rachel… That’s where I spend at least 20$ each weekend lol.

20$ x 49 weeks = 980$

Monthly Money saves: 82$

6-Waive the service banking fee by keeping the minimum required in my checking account
I do my banking with Desjardins, so I don’t have to worry about major banking fees like the ones charged by BMO Bank of Montreal. At Desjardins, I am currently paying 3.95$ per month for 12 transactions. With this package, the minimum required for service charge exemption is only of 1 500$. Maybe not now but in the future, I may keep a 1 500$ in emergency fund. This will allow me to save 47.40$ annually in banking fees.

Monthly Money saves: 3.95$ (a bit more than the cost of a medium coffee at Second Cup!)

Those are some of my tips I will try to apply in order to save a couple of hundreds of dollars per month.

Frugal Vacation Living in Montreal: special even tonight at Lafontaine Park

It’s a rendez-vous tonight at 9pm at Lafontaine Park in Montreal! Never notice the theatre of Lafontaine Park? I did several times, but it’s seemed to be always close. But tonight, the theatre, which name Théâtre de Verdure, will be open this evening for the projection of Xavier Dolan movie J’ai tué ma mère. It’s being show during Gay Festival Divers/Cité starting this week.

My Stop Working Strategy: what my investment life could be like for the upcoming years

I wake up early for once (9:45AM)…. Beautiful sunshine today in Montreal. I am waiting for my Swarovski jewelries delivery. I guess it should be for today so I am staying home and I personally do not mind at all but I may escape later on today. I have all that laundry to do still waiting for me. I have a few Web projects I want to work on it. So I guess this is the best time! Especially I am very close to my payout in one of my online earning program. While working yesterday, I work on my budget and I came alone with those:

If things remain the same, my yearly income, before taxes, will be of around 35 000$. Not much, but if I exceed this amount, it will be very bad for my taxes, especially knowing that for this year, I can only contribute to max around 7 000$ to my RRSP.

35 000$ - 7 000$ = 28 000$

At 28 000$, I won’t have to pay too much in taxes, it should be just like for this year. And I may earn less than 35 000$ actually, this in just a big average including my 2 jobs and my dividend earnings. As salary, I earn around 31 000$ after taxes. Not much either, but check it out…

Roughly, let’s say that my monthly expenses are at 1 200$ per month.
For 12 months: 14 400$

31 000$ - 14 400$ = 16 600$

This is leaving me a nice 16 600$ to invest. My latest investment in Corby Distilleries (CDL.A) really did the job, in the sense that it calms my appetite for trading for a little while. With this one, my portfolio is feeling kind of complete. But what’s not complete is my dividend income. So I guess I don’t have other choices than to continue right?

Here are some ideas I came with to where to invest in order to increase a bit my dividend income, but also to increase my portfolio value:

200 units of ENF.UN
Investment value: around 3 000$
New dividend earned: 230.40$

200 units of PGF.UN
Investment value: around 2 100$
New dividend earned: 168$

100 stocks of ECA
Investment value: around 3 400$
New dividend earned: 100$

100 units of JE.UN
Investment value: around 1 400$
New dividend earned: 144$

300 units of DHF.UN
Investment value: around 6 000$
New dividend earned: 552$

New dividend + current dividend (excluding the ones earned inside RSP)
1 194.40$ + 4 229.47$
= 5 423.87$

By the end of 2011, I hope to have an increase of close to 1 000$ in dividend income. But if I do so, this mean I won’t pay anything extra on my debt, because all extra money earn will go for my investment. So what’s the plan for 2011? Paying debt or dividend investment? It will all depend of the feeling I will have at that time. But I always consider paying debt as being extremely boring and I may just continue my investment journey.

Think about it:

100 000$ assets (it should be reach by the end of 2010) + 16 600$ (new investment money for 2011) + 1 000$ (new dividend money) + 4 229.47$ (current dividend money outside RSP) + 100$ (let’s say, an extra earn from the DRIP) + 324.22$ (current dividend money inside RSP):
122 253.69$

And 2010 is not even over yet! For August-December 2010 period, I guess I will have a 5 000$ available for investment. Those new investment will bring more dividend in. Maybe 200$ or 300$?

So let’s add a 300$ to the 122 253.69$
= 122 553.69$

That’s nice, but we are not done yet! Why? Well, because of the increase of the value! Here, I will add a reasonable 6%: 7 353.2214$

122 553.69$ + 7 353.2214$ =
129 906.91$

This is just an overall scheme for what could happen for 2011, I may not invest at all in those companies. But it’s nice to get a big picture idea, just to see where dividend investment can bring me at. It doesn’t take that much money to make great investment. In my current condition, I can support my living and my investment project. Dividend investment is affordable to any kind of investor, even while living under 40k per year.

This is kind of a funny game actually. Ok, we saw it for 2011. Let’s repeat the same exercise until 2015 if you don’t mind. Let’s add 16 600$ in new investment money and let’s add a 1 000$ new dividend income per year, until 2015.

For 2012:
129 906.91$ assets + 16 600$ (new investment money for 2012) + 5 329.47$ (dividend money outside RSP) + 324.22$ (current dividend money inside RSP):
152 160.60$

6% increase value = 9 129.64$

152 160.60$ + 9129.64$ =
161 290.24$

For 2013:
161 290.24$ assets + 16 600$ (new investment money for 2013) + 6 329.47$ (dividend money outside RSP) + 324.22$ (current dividend money inside RSP):
184 543.93$

6% increase value = 11 072.64$

184 543.93$ + 11 072.64$ =
195 616.56$

For 2014
195 616.56$ in assets + 16 600$ (new investment money for 2014) + 7 329.47$ (dividend money outside RSP) + 324.22$ (current dividend money inside RSP):
219 870.25$

6% increase value = 13 192.22$

219 870.25 + 13 192.22$ =
233 062.47$

For 2015
233 062.47$ in assets + 16 600$ (new investment money for 2015) + 8 329.47$ (dividend money outside RSP) + 324.22$ (current dividend money inside RSP):
258 316.16$

6% increase value = 15 498.97$

258 316.16$ + 15 498.97$ =
273 815.13$

So this drives us to 2015, with a total of 273 815.13$ in assets and 8 329.47$ in dividend earned… Those calculations do not consider dividend payers increase. Dividend payments increase over time, so I probably be at more than 8 329.47$ in dividend income in 2015. Also, the current scheme does not include any debt payment, as you may have notice… So will I be free by 35? Not if my income do not increase. If my situation remains the same, I could be free by 40. But not 35. Anyhow, this was pretty fun! The earlier you start the investment game, the better it is!

I am now at 89 982.09$

This is just soooooo hilariouslyyyy funnyyyyy. I am just not even at 20$ away from my first 90 000$. To my savings of July 22, I add my latest paycheck which was of exactly 174.79$. Nice increase overall. Just my savings won’t be at the same amount at the end of the month because of payments that I need to make. So I really wanted to update my portfolio tonight because I taught I was there, at 90 000$. But life is funny in a way…… I am not there yet! lol…

For now, I am at 89 981.09$... I never did it, but I should include that 1$ I have deposit a while ago in my RBC banking account (just to keep the account open)…

So this make in real 89 982.09$... lol. I am now just missing 17.91$! I might have that money here at home because I have a lot of pennies here at home that I place in little plastic bags. But it’s not tonight that I am going to count all of my 1 cent, 5 cents etc… But I am pretty sure I might have at least 17.91$ in pennies. I just cannot say for sure. Anyhow, that was short!

I am now at a fantastic 89 982.09$ and I am a bit tired now, so good night.

My stock investment portfolio in date of July 25, 2010

Savings:
958.89$

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 1 745.85$
Timminco (TIM): 106$
Blue Note Mining (BNT): 38$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 5 312.72$
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 105$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 2 461.70$
Fortis (FTS): 3 052.80$
Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN):
7 977.95$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 9 644.14$
Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN):
2 655$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund
(BA.UN): 2 603$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 2 111.20$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 4 553$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 3 064$
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN):
1 769$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):
2 558$
Cash: 25.48$

TOTAL: 49 782.84$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:
2 669.70$
The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund
(CWI.UN): 1 886.68$
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund:
4 966.69$
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): 359.38$
Cash: 57.33$

TOTAL: 9 939.78$

RSP investment portfolio:
Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL): 3 619.98$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 3 222$
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 5 320.68$
Cash: 30.26$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: 497.79$
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: 415.42$
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: 994.19$

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

GIC National Bank: 1 192.64$
GIC Plus: 500$

TD Canadian Bond: 114.82$
TD Monthly Income: 104.78$
TD Emerging Markets: 81.54$
TD Energy: 80.94$
TD Precious Metals: 106.44$
TD Latin American Growth: 94.46$
TD Entertainment and Communications: 106.56$
TD Dividend Growth: 195.41$
TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth: 99.79$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund
(Templeton): 612.37$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 840.34$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 979$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund: 942.52$
Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund: 588.78$

Great-West – various: 1 753.62$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: 503.79$
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: 1 743.19$
RBC Global Resources Fund: 822.13$
RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund:
578.73$
RBC O’Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: 1 029$

GIC Canadian Market: 1 000$

TOTAL: 29 176.69$

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

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
(82.89$):
89 981.09$

Would it be a hello 90 000$ anytime soon?

My vacations are really great. I had enjoyed my free time. I didn’t do that much, if not blogging a bit and writing a blog about Youn Sun Nah. Her birthday is on August 28. Mine is at a very close date, but it’s basically all we have in common lol :) Youn Sun Nah is a Korean jazz singer who performed at the International Jazz Festival of Montreal. Those pictures were taken after her performance. I try to load those 2 pictures on my HubPages article but the loading was terribly slow. So instead, I am publishing the pictures here so I can publish them on my HubPages through the Web. Isn’t she so nice, taking a pose for me? I think Youn Sun Nah is very gently actually. And her voice is terrific, amazing, grandiose. She knows Korean, French, English and Potuguese. Listen to Youn Sun Nah right here.

The wheater today in Montreal was quite grey as I finish my Saturday shift at my weekend job. I just don’t know if I should stay in blogging and doing whatever or go outside, walk and stuff. I am working also tomorrow but that’s all right, I really need the money, especially now. I had to pay over 500$ on my credit card by the end of July in order to avoid the interest rate. Currently, I am able to do the payment as I will take money from my credit line to pay over the credit card. But also, surprise, the lovely Quebec governement send me my driver renewal form… A nice 86$ that had to go, just right before my birthday… Right on time! Thank you thank you thank you Quebec lol……. Just that kind of thing that just ahhhhhh yehhhhhhhhh (!!!).

After my credit card and my driver renewal payment, I will have just a few dollars left so I really need my vacation paycheck if not I will have to borrow on my credit card to pay my rent. Lately, I had received the following dividend: 14.49$ from Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN); 29.95$ from Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN) and 24.17$ from Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund (BA.UN). I had now exceed the 2 000$ in dividend arning for 2010! I am now at a great 2 006.44$ in dividend income that I earned so far for 2010. So the little sums of money keep adding up!

I update my investment portfolio just a couple of days ago. At a point, I taught I was going to hit the 90 000$ and I was getting all excited! I miss the 90 000$ from only a couple of hundreds of dollars. My latest investment in Corby Distilleries really worth it! Everything is just going very fine right now. My non registered stocks and units portfolio close latest Friday session at 49 643.27$! This mean that I may be at 90 000$ at this time, knowing the good result of Friday for the TSX. But to really know if I am 90 000$, I will need to update my portfolio. Once again! I have also tomorrow to update it. I am not too thrill about doing a portfolio update just now even if it’s to know if I am at 90 000$ or not. It’s just too much work and calculation for me at this time. I do the whole thing manually, it’s part of my calculation hobby. But at a point, I am getting enough of portfolio update. I just cannot imagine what it’s going to be like when I will be at more than 100 000$. Because of course, one day, I will be at 100 000$! But it will require even more time to update my portfolio… Sometime, I feel like I am managing a mini-hedge fund. I am king of getting good at it, don’t you think so? lol… Got to take a laugh sometime, it would be so easy to give up and so easy to stop saving money... It could be so easy to just cash in the dividend.. :)

My investment portfolio in date of July 22, 2010

Savings:
784.10$

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio
Sprott Inc. (SII): 1 761.30$
Timminco (TIM): 102$
Blue Note Mining (BNT): 38$
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): 5 319.08$
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): 105$
Methanex Corporation (MX): 2 420.50$
Fortis (FTS): 3 045.38$
Pembina Pipeline Income Fund (PIF.UN):
7 822.18$
Just Energy Income Fund (JE.UN): 9 606.99$
Yellow Pages Income Fund (YLO.UN):
2 677.50$
Bell Aliant Regional Communications Income Fund
(BA.UN): 2 616$
Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGF.UN): 2 111.20$
Enbridge Income Fund (ENF.UN): 4 536.48$
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): 3 050$
Davis + Henderson Income Fund (DHF.UN):
1 764$
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH):
2 544$
Cash: 0.18$

TOTAL: 49 519.79$

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
RBC O’Shaughnessy Canadian Equity Fund:
2 649.61$
The Consumers’ Waterheater Income Fund
(CWI.UN): 1 870.52$
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund:
4 950.32$
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): 359.38$
Cash: 57.33$

TOTAL: 9 887.16$

RSP investment portfolio:
Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL): 3 636.88$
EnCana Corporation (ECA): 3 287$
Emera Incorporated (EMA): 5 383.30$
Cash: 30.26$

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: 495.71$
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: 412.86$
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: 991.90$

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

GIC National Bank: 1 192.64$
GIC Plus: 500$

TD Canadian Bond: 114.90$
TD Monthly Income: 104.51$
TD Emerging Markets: 81.19$
TD Energy: 80.74$
TD Precious Metals: 105.91$
TD Latin American Growth: 94.23$
TD Entertainment and Communications: 105.19$
TD Dividend Growth: 194.52$
TD U.S. Mid-Cap Growth: 98.73$

Maritime Life International Equity Fund
(Templeton): 608.68$
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: 837.08$
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: 975.52$
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund: 937.61$
Maritime Life Trimark Europlus Seg Fund: 587.18$

Great-West – various: 1 753.62$

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: 502.04$
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: 1 715.05$
RBC Global Resources Fund: 816.75$
RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund:
573.99$
RBC O’Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: 1 022.91$

GIC Canadian Market: 1 000$

TOTAL: 29 246.42$

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

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
(82.89$):
89 560.36$

John E. Irving (1932-2010)

I just learned that John E. Irving is dead. John E. Irving, also known under Jack Irving was a rich entrepreneur from New Brunswick, where I come from. John Irving had many businesses in different fields, including in translation with a company call Lexi-tech International. John Irving had interest in oil, gaz, among other, also houses construction or something like it. Anyone coming from New Brunswick knows John Irving. In a difficult economy, most of John Irving companies based in New Brunswick are giving work to hundreds if not thousands of New Brunswickers. So that’s why that in New Brunswick, John Irving was huge. John Irving had taken control over companies left by his father. In a certain way, we could compare the Irving Empire to the Rogers one. When it comes to Rogers, I never understood why it’s not one of Mr. Rogers’s children who took control of his business. Maybe they didn’t fell qualified….. lol. I know it’s not funny in a certain way. Anyhow……… John E. Irving was not a saint; he had created great deal of pollution in New Brunswick with his businesses. So when it comes to John E. Irving, I think he’s better dead than alive. Maybe the next CEO of the Irving companies will be more eco-friendly and more concentrate on ethic rules and be more human. There was a lot of favoritism in the Irving Empire. Just to name an example that I personally, when it come to Lexi-tech International, the person in charge of the Brossard (Quebec) office branch, a Quebecker, had her daughter working in the same Brossard office for the human resources. Her daughter wasn’t extremely well qualified to do the job. The only reason why she was there it’s because her mom – the director had name in charge of the human resources for her office. In his example, it’s a Quebecker who took advantage of her position. Should we be surprise? Quebeckers are so a big bunch of morons. There was a lot of that bullshit in the Irving Empire.

Anyhow, I never really care about John E. Irving after knowing this and after I learned that the daughter of the director of the Brossard office was working for someone in the human resources of a New Brunswick office somewhere and not for the mother-director of the Brossard office… I was like what the heck. See the bullshit again? The director of the Brossard office was a little obese woman in her fifties, extremely incompetent and secretly arrogant. See the picture?

Generally speaking, Quebeckers are just a big bunch of idiots trying to make the most of any kind of situation. Stupid enough to become a country of their own when they are one of the provinces with most high taxes ever. And not to mention that Quebec province is rolling over massive debt. While Quebec hospital maintenance and operation are so poor, Jean Charest go away in France trying to recruit some nurses. But which France nurse would be stupid enough to come to Canada when Switzerland is so close and offer much better work conditions? Switzerland had one of the best health systems in the word. So it’s all about a question of priorities and Jean Charest is just trying to escape the reality. Who in the world want to work in Quebec hospitals? Who would come here to become, after a couple of weeks, drain to dead. The working conditions in Quebec hospitals are horrible. Quebec hospitals are made for Quebeckers, so only Quebeckers should be working in Quebec hospitals. You can see Quebec lack of leadership – not willing to take care of things in there center. Fix your administration and after go recruit oversea. Way to go Jean Charest! Good job! lol…

One I had a fellow reader who suggested me to invest in the purchase of a small condo. I know she was thinking for good, but gees, I don’t want to become a slave of Quebec system. I am building my portfolio to be able to do what I want, whenever I want. I don’t want to become a Quebecker. Quebeckers are dumb enough to purchase houses and or condos that in reality do not even worth of half of the price worth. Why? Poor public education system and no real access to health care services. Living in Quebec province gives you a taste of what it is to live in a third world country. But just a taste, of course. I never been able to benefit of any health care while being in Quebec, but I never suffer from hunger... Quebec is a province slowly dying on itself. I want Quebeckers to fail as individuals and I want Quebec to fail as a country. And check them out because they are both going to fail miserably.

That’s what I had to say today about John E. Irving and Quebeckers. Both alike, in a certain way, with many things in common. But of course its my own point of view.

Warnings about credit card balance transfer and garbages

From what I see at this time, my non registered portfolio is now at 49 087.63$, an increase of 195.63$ compare to yesterday! Those are good news! My vacations are going smoothly by. I actually clean my little one and half apartment today. I had many things in my freezer and fridge that were not good anymore so I finally throw them away. I got the good idea to put all of the garbage bags outside my apartment, right at my door, to later on deposit them on the garbage spot, but the concierge wasn’t too happy with my choice lol. Like I am never thinking... But you know, a one and half apartment is quite small when you have several garbage bags lol…….. It’s kind of hilarious in a way. Anyhow, I apologize, told her I didn’t taught. The concierge was actually doing a visit to rent one of the apartments. Other than my garbage, I am a good tenant, always or most of the times pay my rent at time, it’s just sometimes I don’t think lol. Now my apartment is super clean! I spend a good 4 hours cleaning my mess. I was in real need of it lol. After what, I went to do some groceries and took care of my credit card balance transfer. And this is where it’s getting interesting.

For the last couple of months, I had a balance of almost 8 000$ at 4.9% at TD Visa. I had the surprise to see another offer for 6 months at 4.9% at TD Visa on my July statement. So what I did this afternoon is that I call TD Visa to make sure that if I took the 8 000$ and take it someplace else to have it replace at TD Visa, would I benefit from the 4.9% for 6 months? The answer was yes. I really wanted to make this work out so that’s the reason why I call TD Visa.

But I was informed from a couple of things. First, I should be doing those types of transfer all the times because at a point, TD Visa will stop offering me the 4.9% credit card balance transfer. From what I understand, doing credit card balance transfer on a regular basis look suspicious. But it’s not if you pay your monthly bill. Like in this case, I always pay my minimum required. It’s not like I am using the credit card balance transfer in order to avoid paying on my credit card. In my case, it’s only for leverage purposes and also to benefit a 4.9% interest rate for another 6 months. This will drive us through the month of January 2011. Following my calculations and if we’re not going to be attacked by another stocks crash, the end of 2010 should be good for my first 100 000$. And it’s not like I am stealing from somebody or someone. I am just trying to have everything working out and thanks to TD Canada Trust, I am pretty sure my plan is going to work. So as for now, I am waiting for the money to arrive at RBC Visa, which should be in 3 days from now, to call TD Visa again and say: “A credit card balance transfer at 4.9% please!”. That’s how things work! I am just very grateful because if I would had to pay off 8 000$, this would make my goal of reaching 100 000$ by the end of 2010 impossible. Basically, my whole plan relies on just one little thing: credit card balance transfer. I know its silly, it doesn’t make any sense but still, you have to take a look with the eyes of your heart, if you have one, of course.

Second official day of my vacations

Yesterday, I call my little pager, but the message left was quite funny. My daytime job call me, like I was expecting, but they didn’t exactly leave a message. They might have hang up just after hearing the greeting message and there, I hear a: « But she’s on the schedule… ». Yeah, I know, I am on vacations, but I am on the schedule…. Isn’t weird! Anyhow, I didn’t call them back since it wasn’t a real why-are-you-not-at-work kind of call. Fun! Just the problem with the schedule at work is that everything is plan 2 weeks in advance and it happen quite often that people leave on vacations but are on the schedule. I guess they have too much things to take care and updating the schedule of everyone could take too much time. Ahhhhhhhh my lovely daytime job. I am just really hoping to get my vacations pay from them. I need to pay my rent. As you now know, I made an investment yesterday, 100 stocks in Corby Distilleries (CDL.A) – just like it was planned – so I currently have around 400$ in extra cash available. After July 21, the money will go on my RBC credit card, where I have this huge credit card balance of 530$ that needed to pay before July 30, if not watch out the interest! I also need money to cover the 130$ left. I really need to get that vacation paycheck if not; it’s going to be ugly.

For quite some time, I had doubted about this newest investment in Corby Distilleries because I had that lack of work at my weekend job, but now, everything is back, starting from next week so that’s pretty cool. Also, I got that girl from my daytime job who came to me, saying that she was going back to school – great for her – and needed to work part-time to get ready for school and so on. Starting August, I have to work full-time for her so she can work part-time. So this means that starting this upcoming August, bye bye my weekly 30 hours, I will be back working full-time. Working 30 hours per week at my daytime job + Saturday and Sunday full-time was just the dream. Working full-time at my daytime job will only bring around 200$-250$ more in my pockets per month. But it worth it – to help someone in need – and she’s a Quebecker by the way – and also for the money, even as little as 250$. See, I can be nice to Quebeckers sometime. It’s fun to work at my job at this time because we had those new rewards points. I didn’t order yet, I am just confused between the blenders and the earrings lol. Anyhow, we’ll see if I can earn more points by working more but I doubt. Maybe I will be job searching soon, I don’t know either.

I could be seen as being miserable, working at those salaries that only myself know, holding more than 37 000$ in debt. But I had been working at those 2 jobs for almost 3 years now. Next year, I will have 3 weeks of paid vacations at my daytime job. Also, here, you need to appreciate the stability of the situation instead of focusing on the super low salary, even if you don’t know the salary. I had been able to realize my investment projects because I had been working nonstop or almost at those 2 jobs. The investment of yesterday made in the Corby Distilleries is another proof of that. I also realize my chance to live in Montreal. Life is cheaper here comparing to cities like Toronto, Vancouver, among other. I could have a better job situation, its something I am looking forward but at this time, I don’t have anything in mind and I am satisfied the way things are for now, my little jobs, my little dividend earnings and my real huge debt.

He only other debt I need to think of right now is that 1 253.17$ at 3.9% at CIBC Visa. This one is ending in September 2010. I don’t know how I will be taking care of this one. I may apply to a credit line at RBC. Who’s going to help me with this one? We’ll see!