Your Tuesday evening doesn't have to be boring

Listen now, live.

Hello Ottawa!

Look where I was yesterday at 8:30 PM :

I arrived at the University of Ottawa and I went straight across the Rideau Centre. I wanted to take the bus to go to my brother place. I wait, wait, wait... and finally decided to take a taxi. We went out. My brother took me to a drum & bass place. That's how it look and sound:

Interesting...

That's my bro. Everyone is sleeping in where. I may escape to the Van Gogh exhibition in Ottawa. I  have a feeling that my young brother is going to sleep in until early afternoon... I will leave him a note to call me when he wake up. Isn't fantastic, a Van Gogh exposition at the Musée des Beaux-Arts?! I am happy to me here.

Otherwise, beautiful day in Ottawa, its going to be fun! A bit of shopping, an Obama cooky maybe again on my way and some walking around. The last time I was here was a year ago, in August of last year. I don't come here really often.

I have received new dividends. The non-registered is at 121, almost 122k. It's not too bad, but I am off of a couple thousands.

Oh lala, the JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN) is hot hot hot!

An email coming from a reader of myfirst50000.com:

Hi Sunny,

I love your blog. Keep it up!

Just had a quick question regarding;

JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN)

I was planning on buying some of this fund because you are always hyping it up.  But it doenst pay dividends, do you think it will pay dividends in the future?

Hyping it up? YES for sure. ;)))))

Charming isn't? Because of me, more people are investing in the JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN). I am Jean-François Tardif personal broker. The fund will explode in value soon. Watch out!

And for the question, I don't think the fund will pay dividend in the future. Just my idea.

In need of credit? Forget about going with RBC Royal Bank. Read my story

I have a $10 000 credit line at RBC and the interest rate used to be 7.52%. But that all change a couple of months ago when I received a letter from RBC Royal Bank saying that my interest rate was going to be increased of 3%, from 7.52% to 10.52%. I never missed a payment on my RBC credit line, I have a very good credit score, I never missed a credit payment as far I am concern. A couple of months ago or even now, the prime rate hasn’t change. So what had changed?

The way RBC Royal Bank does business has changed. Unfortunately, among the process, they might have taught I was someone to mess with but unfortunately for them, they had knocked at the wrong door. That happens when I was in New Brunswick. I went to my local RBC branch and was told by the manager, a poor guy, that the cost of borrowing had increased, so the bank had no other chosen than to increase interest rate on their products. He also told me that other banks were going to follow soon.

I wasn’t exactly impressed by RBC for doing that to me. The manager of the branch was a f idiot, but the representative I was dealing with had made efforts to decrease the interest rate a bit for me, but I wasn’t able to get better than a 9.30%. I told him it was ridiculous, that the prime rate hasn’t change, that I never missed a payment what so ever, and I told them that if I wasn’t getting my old interest rate back, that I will sell my mutual funds and transferred everything to someplace and that I will never used RBC products, banking accounts etc ever again. I told him that they were going to lose all of my business.

Time passed by and nothing else had been done to facilitate my life. RBC decided to keep their f 9.30% right there and RBC decided to lose a customer.

Right on.

I was waiting for the TSX to perform better before selling my RBC mutual funds, but I may act now, whenever I am in the vibe to say a big F U to the RBC Royal Bank.

My investment portfolio is performing very well and those investments I have in different RBC mutual funds never performed as well as my portfolio. On top of that, RBC is charging very big management fees and it simply doesn’t worth it for me anymore to have money invested at that bank. I just cannot wait to have the money transferred over TD Waterhouse and have some new investments made in my very own RSP account.

RBC Royal Bank should have known better.

Now, they are losing business over my RBC mutual funds fee, but on top of that, they are losing business over interest fees on my RBC credit line. Because believe it or not, I have decided to pay off that RBC credit line. Why? Its not because of the pressure made by RBC by increasing their interest rate on MY credit line. No no. No one have control over me. I have decided to pay off my RBC credit line because I have extra money and I am running out of investment ideas. So instead of just throwing the money away in stuff I have no real interest in, I have decided to pay off the credit line.

On my RBC Royal Bank credit line, I currently have left $4 485.66 that need to be paid off. I plan to have it clear off by the end of the summer and I also plan to have the mutual funds sell and transferred by the end of the summer.

Its going to be a fun summer right? RBC Royal Bank bunch of little F@ckers shouldn’t have messed up with me. I am finally going to get rid of those mutual funds after all.

Anyone facing the problem, interest being increased on a product for no reason, no change in prime rate, no payment skipped, should do exactly the same thing: sell off, paid off and closed the f account and let the F@ckers know how you are.

My debt situation on date of June 22, 2012

$7 946.88 at a low interest rate of 4.75% (RRSP credit line rates) = $377.48 in annual interest

$4 900 at a low interest rate of 4% (credit line rates) = 196$ in annual interest

$7 952.57 on a credit card at a low interest rate of 2.9% (result of a credit card balance transfer) = $230.62 in annual interest

$6 734.65 at low interest rate loan at 5.50% (student loan) = $370.41 in annual interest

5 000$ at 8.75% (credit line) = 437.50$ in annual interest PAID OFF

$4 485.66 at 9.30% (credit line rates) = $417.17 in annual interest

$55 513.38 at a low interest rates of 4.25% (margin money coming from my broker account): =
$2 359.32 in annual interest

$1 795.54 at 0.99% for a year (with American Express) = $17.78 

TOTAL: $89 328.68

TOTAL in annual interest: $3 968.79
[In date of June 22, 2012]

What an awesome portfolio babe

I haven’t updated my portfolio value since March, so it was about time that I get into it. The exercise is always very long. I could used some tools like Google Finance or something like it, but I actually like the process of calculating one investment at a time, number of stocks or units X value, one after the other... And the process is quite long. Just doing my non registered portfolio alone is a job but it’s giving me a real sense of what I own. I cannot skip anything while facing the monster. I have to deal with the thing under the damn job is done and completed. 

Back in March 2012, my overall portfolio value was of $172 835.09. Now in June, my portfolio is at $167 799.45. I am of 5k, but it’s not that bad knowing the current state of the stock market. We’ll need some very good news coming from Europe before the situation stabilizes. The Euro situation is putting too much stress on the market and investors. I find it really unfair.

This week was quite rough on the TSX. At a point, the TSX closed at minus 300 points on a day... I got very scared. Each time the TSX is dropping like that, it’s giving me a punch in my stomach. 2008 was worst; we had August of last summer if I remember and many other occasions in where the TSX loss points for a reason or another. But each and single, it’s a nightmare. And it’s always a question of: will the TSX gain points ever gain? 

Each and single time, there’s doubt, but our TSX is so strong, it’s always rebound. Each and single time, it always go better after. For those reasons, I don’t have problem to go to sleep at night, usually. But I am always getting that hit in the stomach every single time. I guess experience give answers on how to handle these stock market traumas, but each time, there’s that part of doubt that remain. And what if I have to deal with losses forever?

While investing in stock, insecurity is our best friend. Being too sure, too confident will just play against retail investors. Insecurity is what will make you diversify your portfolio, it’s what will make you invest in gold and silver, and it’s what will make you have a good cash reserve.

While investing in stock, insecurity is a positive source of stress.

Anyway, you might know by now, I am very good at giving very good advices, but I don’t follow them myself all the time, but I am very conscious of what I should do or not. At this point for me, it’s a do or fail. If the Maple Group deal goes through, I will get a maximum of cash because you know, while being so bright, I am able to see that the Maple Group is all garbage and I don’t want any Quebec institutions to be actively involved in the management of my beloved TSX. Just watching Quebeckers leading their own province make me sick to dead. Investing in stocks had been so far the best experience of my life and I want it to continue this way. Got it?

I am so terribly close of being able to live exclusively on my dividend (even while having close to what, 100k in debt lol). I feel just kicking my own ass and I feel like screaming at that f girl. Holly s, you are so closed! I should be working at 3 jobs right now to make it and stop being lazy. Because now is a good time to buy everything you ever dream of.

Personally, a problem I have is that I don’t know in what to invest anymore. I had acquired everything I ever wanted. My temporary job is quite of a job and leaves me little energy to do anything else. Another problem being the fact that I am in Montreal. There’s way too much distraction here and Montreal is like a gorgeous young man in the summer sun with a hot tan and gorgeous body. So you don’t feel like overworking and doing much while living in paradise. Do you see what I mean?

I just bought earlier some suntan lotion that smell coconut so my super white skin won’t burn under the sun. And it smells just so go. I have the wind blowing up my hair. The weather is just so perfect. How am I supposed to go find a weekend job in those conditions? There’s no way, I am not going to win on that one.

I will take time to rebuild my portfolio once the Maple Group deal will be closed. I hope to rebuild and push the whole dividend income to 8k by the end of September, when my contract will end. Following what, it will be dividend income + online income + freelance income.

Once silver go stronger in term of value, my portfolio could get very closed to the 200k. 200k is really not much, but it’s enough to bring home a salary to partly cover my living expenses.

All of the debt that I own, expect what is on the American Express card and the RRSP loan, the interest is being declared to get a generous tax credit. Quebec like to s@ck its very own citizen with taxes, so it might not do that a difference here but in New Brunswick oh lala. I saw the difference. Last April, I didn’t have RRP investment, I had a salary of closed to 45k and I got a tax return of $200. While living in Quebec, I had to pay extra income taxes, even while investing in RRSP. So there’s a huge difference. Quebec health care and educational system is all a big scam. I don’t expect to be f up by Quebeckers for really long. Just for now, under the sexy Montreal sun.

So now, how do you feel? Can you smell coconut oil? I do smell it and it’s the best perfume ever. Its delightful.

Happy investing. Now is the time to completely appropriate yourselves of the TSX and bringing on strong value in the market. For Canadians by Canadians.

My investment portfolio on date of June 22, 2012

Savings: $944.82

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio $CAN
Sprott Inc. (SII): $5 061.70
Timminco (TIM): $2
Blue Note Mining (BNT): $12
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): $5 821.20
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): $18
Methanex Corporation (MX): $3 044.68
Fortis Inc. (FTS): $3 537.05
Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL): $12 206.04
Just Energy Group Inc. (JE): $8 146.41
Pengrowth Energy Corporation (PGF): $1 506.50
Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (ENF): $7 648.94
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): $1 932
Davis + Henderson Corporation (DH): $3 583.44
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH): $8 222.08
EnCana Corporation (ECA): $4 236.96
iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index (XRE): $2 539.46

Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY): $1 852.65
Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (CFX): $1 091.88
New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI): $1 404
Exchange Income Corporation (EIF): $8 162.70
Rogers Sugar Inc. (RSI): $564.30
Student Transportation (STB): $1 446.64
Colabor Group Inc. (GCL): $829.26
TMX Group Inc. (X): $4 753.20
Data Group Inc. (DGI): $3 273.62
K-Bro Linen Inc. (KBL): $2 436
Westshore Terminals Invest Corp (WTE.UN): $4 989.84
WesternOne Equity Income Fund (WEQ.UN): $2 956.40
Atlantic Power Corp (ATP): $3 240.65
First Majestic Silver Corp (FR): $3 002
Kinross Gold Corp (K): $1 275.95
TransCanada Corp (TRP): $1 062.50
Canadian National Railway Co (CNR): $2 575.50
Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (FC): $534.40
Sprott Strategic Fixed Income Fund (SFI.UN): $429
Enbridge Inc. (ENB): $1 123.92
Agrium Inc. (AGU): $2 258.36
Canadian Utilities Limited (CU): $1 412.46
Veresen Inc. (VSN): $823.02
Chorus Aviation Inc. (CHR.B): $511.68

Crescent Point Energy Corp (CPG): $817.96

JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN): $1 960

Keg Royalties Income Fund (KEG.UN): $687.50

TOTAL: $122 993.85

Stocks and Units investment portfolio $US:
Sprott Physical Silver Trust ET (PSLV): $1 799.22
Cash: $4.12

TOTAL: $1 803.34 US

Tax-free savings account (TFSA)
EnerCare Inc. (ECI): $18.32
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): $675.63
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): $2 337.84
Cash: $4.41

TOTAL: $3 036.20

RSP investment portfolio:
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund: $4 557.39
Claymore Gold Bullion ETF (CGL): $4 748.90
EnCana Corporation (ECA): $4 440.66
Emera Incorporated (EMA): $3 361.92
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): $779.28
Cash: $153.79

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: $534.86
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: $293.75
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: $1 031.47

Energy and Base Metals Term Savings (Indexed term savings): $577.30
Natural Resources Term Savings (Indexed term savings): $502.06

GIC National Bank: $1 242.70
GIC Plus TD: $500

Maritime Life International Equity Fund
(Templeton): $562.68
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: $852.48
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: $1 008
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund: $959.55
Manulife GIF MLIA B World Invest: $615.19

Great-West – various: $1 957.04
Various other mutual funds: $675

RBC Canadian Dividend Fund: $535.37
RBC U.S. Mid-Cap Equity Fund C$: $2 022.01
RBC Global Resources Fund: $844.35
RBC O’Shaughnessy International Equity Fund: $440.13
RBC O’Shaughnessy All-Canadian Equity
Fund: $1 165.74
RBC Global Precious Metals Fund: $4 545.36

TOTAL: $38 906.98

Social Capital at Desjardins Membership share: $40

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
($74.26):
$167 799.45

Now I know what fast speed environment mean

My daytime job is more difficult that I could even imagine. So far in my working life, I always have been able to occupy multiple jobs at the same time without feeling tired or exhausted. But this time is completely different. 

That job is making it very hard to manage my freelance work. I barely have the energy to properly follow my stocks. I won’t cry if I don’t get any renewal after the 4 months period. Give me a break! Each day is like I am a punching bag and I am getting hit-hit-hit, stress-stress-stress. It’s not the type of job you can really enjoy as the management is just giving so many things to do to their employees, not to forget their little f training sessions that no one really have the time to take, but it’s on schedule anyway… One employee handled the work of 2, I will say. I don’t know why in the world they decided to pick a New Brunswicker to live that inferno in Montreal. Anyhow, I am enjoying the big pay, but that’s about all of what I am enjoying right now. If not seeing the beautiful Montreal in the sunshine. That my dears really worth it.

You know the expression “fast speed environment”? Well, that’s the kind of thing I am experiencing right now. It’s just too speedy. The management is pretty much laid back and giving all the hard work away. It’s almost ridiculous. And it makes me taught, I can do better than that. And it makes me taught about expanding my freelance services and about stealing their customers. I already gave my cell phone to someone because I didn’t know what to do. And following what I taught how smart I am, to give MY cell when the company won’t even give away their cell phone. I mean, this girl is a genius right?

LOL.

I kind of know what you are thinking right now sexy.

;0)

Since my laid off in March, I had been lucky. I have thousands and thousands of $$$ save away, my portfolio is rocky but doing quite well, I am in Montreal diva queen soul seriously falling for Herby Moreau (see previous posts…). I mean, seriously, could things be even better? Well it could.

I am currently working on preparing my way of the after-4-months-contract. Which mean I am working, or should I say I am desperately trying to work on my different freelance projects. I have many ideas for future HubPages articles too. I am currently at 7 300$ in annual dividend income. My dividends are not all paid monthly, but just for the exercise, we’ll say that I am earning $608 in dividend income. I can very easily extend that amount to 8k annually, for $666 a month. I plan to reach that amount by the end of the summer, so I will just keep the $6-6-6 number for now. While living in Montreal, I set my minimum monthly needs to $1 400. And really, the minimum could be set at $ 1 300, but I gave myself a $100 for a few coffees and you know, I am a girl, I sometime need a haircut and coloration.

$1 400 - $666 = $734

Generally speaking those days, I earn an average of $150 from my online activities (HubPages + blogging).

$734 - $150 = $584

I just need to get my hands on less than $600 from my freelance activities to be able to survive following my 4 months contract that will end in September. I find the number interesting. Right now, I try to generate a $600 monthly from my freelance activities. It’s a low amount, but it’s really not that easy because I am currently working full-time and remember, it’s kind of s@cking all the best of me. However, I am currently doing my best to generate that $584 per month in freelance because I don’t want to wait until September to be more establish. That’s what I am into right now and it’s really not easy.

I am right now on something that gives me a small amount of money for each writing task completed. I won’t get rich, but I could easily get a $600 a month from it. So it’s really not that bad overall. My living expenses are quite low and I am just happy to have the opportunity to manage my after contract situation. I could even add a part-time job to my freelance to make things easier. I am pretty much laid back, if you see what I mean. Easy and sassy.

The lovely Susan Brunner came with a very interesting post about blue chips, yes, paying low dividend ok, but overtime, the low dividend turn into a mine of gold. It’s a must read to understand the power of blue chips investing. Derek Foster focuses on the dividend payment in the actual time. But it’s true he said that good companies increase their dividend over time so let’s forget my last sentence. I left all of my Derek Foster books at home and I kind of feel lost without having them near me. Susan Brunner comment is more explicit on the power of blue chips and dividend. It’s being said on a different way.

I am very proud of Derek Foster now that he had the intelligent to sell his big house, get rid of all related taxes payment to it and went traveling in a camper. You can trust me, I will be doing the same thing if I could afford.

Susan Brunner and Derek Foster are among Canada hottest stock personalities. Not to forget Jean-François Tardif and, why not, Eric Sprott. Why not. I am still getting behind on my silver investment, but one day, its going to explode in value. Right Mr. Sprott?

Real richness is about doing what you want, when you want and the way you want it.

I am currently thinking about my next investment, I have a 1k to invest. Who's going to be the very lucky company who'll be enjoying my $$$? I don't know yet, I need to check out the blog of Susan Brunner.

Herby Moreau and Anne-Marie Losique at the Hotel St-James - Part 2

Herby Moreau and Anne-Marie Losique at the Hotel St-James

I had so many things to do this weekend, but the beautiful weather, I skipped them all… What I like of Montreal during summer is that there are many festivities, many tourists, many hot guys and girls. Montreal is gorgeous during summer time. I never missed a chance to go outside. Or try.

I began my promenade at the boulevard Saint-Laurent. For the Grand Prix, Saint-Laurent is partly closed to the circulation and I loved to walk in the street instead of the sidewalk. It’s a luxury reserved just a couple of times during summer. 

I continue my walk downtown. There was a crowd, a mix of tourists, policemen and student protesters. I took pictures of the mess. It’s not fun to be downtown with all those cops.

I continue my way downtown to Crestreet, took pictures of the race cars. I went back and forth about two times. There was a band playing, some guys of a Montreal radio that I forgot the name. They are not really a band but that afternoon – they were. And they were pretty good actually.

I continue my walk to the Francopholies Festival. There were a few things going on in the afternoon. I continue my walk to the Village (gay neighborhood) and following what, I went to the Old Montreal. The Old Montreal is a must see. I never miss a chance to go whenever I can. I continue my walk across the gorgeous streets and without knowing, I find myself in front of the Hotel St James where an “Happening” was happening… I saw Karine Vanasse, Anne-MarieLosique and Herby Moreau. As for the other people, I didn’t know how they were.

Karine Vanasse has her hair tight up straight in the air in a horrible ponytail. Like come on girl, let it blow! A natural beauty like Karine Vanasse shouldn’t try too hard. She has beautiful long hair, it would had look so much better if she would had forgot the horrible hair do and let the whole thing blow on her shoulders. On top of that, she was wearing ridiculous high heels. Her heels were very very high. It wasn’t even sexy, not even beautiful. She was wearing the heels of a want-to-be-a-prostitute for the Montreal Grand Prix of Formula 1. Her dress was one of a little girl. It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t sexy. It was NOTHING.

What happen last night is that Karine Vanasse tried too hard. She should get rid of her stylist, get confident in herself and stop wearing horrible outfit and stop doing stupid thing with her hair.

As for the Anne-Marie Losique.. ohlala, the dear was wearing a mini mini pink dress with black nerd glasses. The dress was barely covering her babe body. Her breast was pomping out. It makes me laugh. Only Anne-Marie Losique could show up in such dress. It was hilarious. Anne-Marie Losique was there to show it all. And she shows it all! LOL!!

Mr. Herby Moreau himself was there standing outside and waiting for the stars! I was actually surprised to find out that he’s not very tall. I had been listening to Herby Moreau on television for I don’t know how many years now. Herby Moreau and I, the only thing we have in common is that we LOVE STARS. LOL. I wrote HubPages article about superstars, and Herby Moreau interview them. As for the guy, he was wearing white athletic shows, black pants with a back jacket that fit him perfectly well. Herby Moreau was gorgeous last night.

I stand in front of the Hotel St James for several minutes and then I left for the Francopholies were I listen to heavy metal music and I walk my way back home, thinking of all the things I haven’t done that way just to photograph expensive race cars and see live the darling Anne-Marie Losique AND Herby Moreau. Did it worth it? Oh yeah, totally.

Stay tune... MORE pictures will be load soon :)