My weekend at the Montreal Casino

This weekend, I had purchased 4 lottery tickets for the 6/49 lottery. The price was over 50 millions... And something magical happens. I haven’t won all of those millions. But I win... $2. I had the very last number printed on one of my tickets... The extraordinary reside in this: only around 19 000 had won a 2 bucks. And I was among those 19 000 people. Isn’t great? I guess millions had bought tickets, but I was one in the 19 000 who won a $2.

I know, I know...

Another weekend passed too quickly. When my mom came visit me during the Easter Holiday, we went to the Montreal Casino. I won something like $200 at that time. And ever since, I only had one idea: go back to the Casino! And I went again this weekend. I played on the same machine and I found to be successful on the game again, Fairy something on the Promenade floor. On the third floor, there’s the Diamond Stars something game that is fun to play, but the money can be quickly spent if the machine doesn’t decided to pay. With its big screen, the Volcano, also on the third floor if I am not mistaking, is another hot game. There’s even a Sex and the City game. “YOU WON THE DIAMONDS BABY’’. That’s what the machine said when you win a few cents... As you can see, I gain valuable gamer experience at the Montreal Casino this weekend.

The machines are there to make money, so my trick is: as soon as I win something, I get off. I went to the Casino this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I made a $90, didn’t lose any money and I was real happy about it. But don’t expect me to go there anytime soon: I got enough. This being said, my next Montreal-X town in New Brunswick ticket is half paid off.... Is it tempting enough to go the Casino again next week?

I spent a big part of the weekend there. I walked around between games, watching over the machines and the people. I heard a man disputing an employee over a machine, saying that the machine wasn’t paying.... Another time was an old lady who got upset at the bus driver because she had been waiting for 10 minutes for the bus... People can turn real crazy around a Casino. Some players get hypnotize by their machine. They can really get into it. Seeing so many people playing, spending their money around all weekend long was truly enough. There are many seniors around, maybe more than young people of my age. And playing long hours, trying to get a strategy over those dumb blond machines well you know, at a point, I had enough too. But it was fun.

While going to the Casino, you need to keep in mind that it’s only a game. It’s possible to make interesting little gain; I discover that in 4 times so far. The more people there is playing, the most likely you are to make a bit of money. When I see that a machine doesn’t pay, I switched. I often pick a machine where I saw someone playing on for a long time. That strategy doesn’t often pay of course. The trick is to be in control and to give yourself some limits and leave the debit card home. It’s the best advice I can provide. Ding ding ding... and free coffees and drinks will be missed, but not the seniors.

Canada top bank? TD Canada Trust, of course

For the long time readers (I only write this blog for you anyway), you know that I hold a TD Visa. For the past few years, TD Visa has offer me a very low interest rate on my credit card balance transfer. Each time, the low interest remain valid for 6 months, at the condition that payment is being made on time every month. Its the only condition. Every 6 months, once the offer is about to expire, I give TD Visa a call. I always call in to check on the expiration date of the interest rate and also, I always call to check if I still qualified to get the low interest rate for another 6 months.

Every single time, the promotion remain in my account and is available for another 6 months, but under one condition: a credit card balance transfer need to be made. If I am not mistaking, its started with a 4.9% rate. It went at 2.9% and also as low as 1.9%. Last time, I got a deal at 2.9% and 1.9%. If I do again a credit card balance transfer - and of course, I will - I will get the rate of 2.9%.

This is funny is a way because last time I proceed with a credit card balance transfer, I wrote on  this blog that I was going to save money in the next 6 months to pay off that debt. Guess what? almost 6 months have pass now, I still qualified for another 6 months at 2.9% and no, I have never save any money to pay down that credit card debt. Somewhere, I wanted the promotion to be extend. TD Canada Trust gave me exactly what I wanted. Another 6 months at 2.9%.

The promotion could end at anytime. I know that I may have to pay down that debt one day because the promotion will be over. I am very conscious about that. But on the other hand, I cannot do both. I cannot invest in the stocks I want AND pay down debt because I don't have enough cash to do both things. I had made my choice and the choice I made was to invest using debt money and I assume my choice.

In case of real financial trouble, strip clubs are everywhere in Montreal.

And this is how TD Canada Trust had made of the Dividend Girl the most happy banking customer ever.

Thank you TD Visa and thank you TD Canada Trust.

Welcome in my TFSA portfolio AltaGas Ltd (ALA)!

Its now done and completed, AltaGas Ltd (ALA) is now from my portfolio, the TFSA one. This will boost up my TFSA account value and on top of that, all the dividend earn won't be tax.

For the past few days, the TSX decreased a lot, but today, my portfolio (the non registered one) pop up to the 120k value again. I am at $120 554.83, I am only at -$23.92, -0.02%. I hope it will continue this way.

I still have contribution room left in my TFSA, about a 20k or so. As long my margin value remain the same, I will be ok to invest in the TFSA portion.

With AltaGas Ltd (AGA), another great investment is in the right place where it need to be.

AltaGas Ltd (ALA) not yet in

I had call TD Waterhouse over the weekend to have some money transfer over my TFSA. But I must admit that I think about it twice. I had left than 13k available on my non-registered margin account. Will the stock market can go any lower than this? When you hold a margin, everything can quickly get complicated. I am not always that so busy at work, but today was a busy day. A day where I didn't take any break and a day where I took my launch at 15 h... It was racy all day long. I even left after hours.

The only problem I have is that I am really getting disconnected of everything related to my stocks during day time. I had bring with me my laptop to place my soo wanted new investment in my TFSA, but I never had time to place my trade at all because I had been too busy to take any break or lunch at all. And there's no way that I was going to place my trade on my computer at work (I am pretty sure I am getting monitored because I sometime see my screen flashing, like a quick flash - see what I mean? :)).

In result of a maybe a too happy life at work, I didn't place my trade in AltaGas (ALA).

My non registered portfolio closed today session at $119 248.55. Not too bad knowing I was at 118k on Friday... I don't like this yo-yo sensation. I would like to have more inside stability. Its exactly the reason why I want to get my hands on AltaGas (ALA). Just like Susan Brunner, I want to hold this new baby in my portfolio. It won't be in my non-registered, but inside my TFSA. At least, my dividend won't be tax. I won't be earning that much in dividend, but what matter more is the value of the investment. I need to stop focusing exclusively in dividend and that's what I am trying to do.

Tomorrow, AltaGas Ltd (ALA) will be in my portfolio... finally!

I am the 10th female investor of the world

Believe it or nottttttttt. I am on a US top female investor list. I am on the 10th position.Check it out here. Isn't it just adorable? And notice, I am the hottest out there and there's no picture of me. Its just soooo HOT.

The Dividend Girl and Altagas Ltd (AGA)

It's been a quick short week at work. I wish I had some of those more often. And while I was at work this week, the Canadian stock market was crashing... and crashing and crashing again. In result, my non-registered portfolio closed this past Friday session at $118 665, -1.59% (-$1 913.51). I have a value left over of $12 576.07 on my margin. It sad to see my portfolio value going under the 120k mark, but its part of the game.

While the US has experiment poor jobs growth, the current mini market crash is just a normal reaction to what's going on right now. It's always scary when the market plunge like this, but I am  not worrying that much. But maybe I should.

When the market crash like this, its a good bargain time to get my pretty hands on blue chips. However, in term of blue chips, I began to have it all. I could invest a bit more in CNR, AGU or FTS among other, but I am willing to add a something new to my portfolio. And thanks to Susan Brunner, my next investment will be just another of those killers like AGU, PPL, FTS and the bunch of other gorgeous diamonds that I hold. I cannot put those diamonds physically on my naked body, but I can certainly give you a taste of my portfolio. The name of my new baby is: Altagas Ltd (AGA). I don't know anything about this stock at the exception of those few things: Susan Brunner hold it, she loves it, make a great return on the investment and the chart is absolutely soooo gorgeous that I want it in, I want Altagas in my portfolio and that will happen soon.

Fully load of cash, its not anytime soon that I will stop investing. While dealing with the stock market crash of 2008, I continue to invest all the way and I got good returns on some stuff like PPL, MX, ENF, stuff I had been holding since the beginning of the beginning.

But I have to say, I am pretty attracted by CNR stock right now because it trade at less than $100 per stock right now. Unfortunately, I don't have another 1.5k to invest right now but how knows, maybe the stock crash will be much worst and maybe better deal are waiting for me at the next corner. but that, no one can know.

The volatility of the stock market is a remembrance of how on deep of shit the capitalist word is in. The direct interaction with that shit, our immediate reaction will have a huge impact on how well or how bad we are going to be set up financially speaking in the next few years.

Enough of the brightness. With this new investment my annual dividend income will be of the equivalent of $611.61. NOW, my $610 rent is Paid off.

I rely on Altagas to bring on richness and pop pop in profit. Among the bunch of stocks I hold, there's certainly a few ones that will make be richer. I like to play with the probability and new stocks is only what I want. Just bring it on.

The Montreal Ritz Carlton and the Dividend Girl and her mom

My mom came for Easter and we had a fun time. It was nice to be away from work for a few days.

Yesterday, we went to the Museum des Beaux-Arts which located on Sherbrook. Once our visit done, I show my mom the Montreal Ritz Carlton from the outside... and the inside LOL. From the outside, it was saying that apartments start from 1.4 million to 15 millions... we were laughing ahah whatever... and then... we went inside the restaurant and my mom went to the girl and said "we are only looking"!!! The girl was nice and said isn't a private establishment and after she made a little visit of the restaurant and their garden for us. And my mom asked me to take a picture of her with her... And the nice girl took the pose with my mom. Tooo cute! We were quite special tourists that day.

But we weren't done... We left the restaurant and we went inside the hotel. We went in the lobby, we stepped in. Ahhh Montreal Ritz Carlton is such a pretty place. If I would had a fortune, I wouldn't hesitate, I would be buying an apartment at the Ritz and I would be shopping at Holt Renfrew and I would have a few Denis Gagnon dresses, dresses that he would have sewed directly on my naked body. And after that they say that money doesn't bring happiness.... oh lala.... I have my fantasies, I  guess you have yours...  

We visited a lot for the past couple days, went to the movie 2 times, Old Montreal, downtown, La Baie, shopping, etc. etc. There's a lot to do in Montreal. I hate those places were they don't accept credit cards as method of payments. It happen 2 times in restaurants and I had to withdraw money at their ATM machine. I never have too much cash on me.

For her last day in town, my mom wanted to go tot he Casino. We went and ding ding ding, I win a $250!!! I continue to play a little and after I withdraw the money, so I had left a bit more than $220. I decided to withdraw because that money is greatly needed. I racked up my credit card to $920 last month... And with those expenses of this weekend... outch. The $920 came easily after I spent for the birthday gift of my mom, some beauty products, clothes and so on. This is a reason why I am not on an active DRIP for my portfolio. I am spending too much, I know it, I spend the money and take it down from the dividend. Simple and easy, just the way it need to be.

My next vacations will probably be on May for Victoria Day. I would prefer the train to the bus, but I have a 40% certificate available for the bus run. So I guess it will be another too long bus run. I haven't went home since Christmas and I began to feel the New Brunswick wind calling me home.

I am getting paid this week so I will be able to pay off everything and I may have left a little extra. I was reading Susan Brunner blog and I came across AltaGas Ltd (ALA). I find that stock very interesting. It among Susan Brunner favorite stock. So Alta Gas Ltd deserve our attention. Nothing is decided yet, but I am considering ALA for my portfolio. It will certainly be added sooner or later.

Until that time, my non-registered portfolio is exceeding the 122k, which is good I guess.

Welcome in my RRSP portfolio Telus Corporation (T)

I got on a few shares of Telus Corporation (T) at $69.52 per share. Anywhere below the 52 weeks highest (which is over $70) is good enough for me. I wanted to get in Telus BEFORE the fabulous event of the 1 for 2 split. I am very excited!!!

Welcome in Telus and make me become richer than what I have now ok? In other words, go and KICK some serious ASS. But not mine.

Ok so now, I am getting ready and my mom will have to wake up.

Welcome in my RRSP portfolio Stella-Jones Inc. (SJ

My mom arrived late yesterday night and she's actually catching up on her beauty sleep. My brother is coming over later on this evening. He's not that far away, he's in Ottawa, so its going to be a quick bus ride. So its going to be a fun get together right here in Montreal!

Starting in June, Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH) is going to increase its dividend by 6.3%! This is great news because I have face a decreased in my dividend since I sell my trouble Atlantic Power Corporation (ATP) shares. The annual increased for me represent an extra $32.78 in my pockets. And the best part is this: with this increased, my annual dividend income for 2013 would be of $7 307.99. It make $607 in monthly income (or equivalent because I don't get that every months but... the $610 monthly rent payment is almost reach!). Yeah!

While my little mommy asleep I just get on my hands on something I barely talked about: Stella-Jones Inc. (SJ). I got a few shares at $76.46. I had been following this one for the past couple days and when the stock fall behind the 80 bucks, I decided to kick in. SJ chart since its early beginning is stunning. Grow grow grow. Will it continue? I don't know, but I guess Stella-Jones Inc. (SJ) is a better alternative than Rob Carrick Richardson Packaging Income Fund (RPI.UN).

I hope my mom will be done with her beauty sleep soon because I want to go shopping.

About Just Energy Group Inc. (JE)

I have a few days of vacation ahead and its going to be a family camping in my one and a half apartment. So you won't hear from me for a little while. I haven't been that much active around here. Its quite busy at work.

Yesterday, Just Energy came up with a press release regarding their finances and also regarding their dividend.

Please read this: "Ken Hartwick, Chief Executive Officer, added: "The long-term strategy of our business, which focuses on profitable growth remains unchanged. We expect to continue to gain market share throughout our existing footprint in North America and in the United Kingdom, increase customer value via product bundling, continue to pay an industry leading dividend, pay down debt and identify new methods to drive long-term growth. Just Energy has a strong track record of customer, gross margin and embedded margin growth and we believe this strategy will serve to further enhance these metrics over the long-term and un-lock shareholder value. Our expectations for fiscal 2014 will allow us to achieve both growth and debt reduction while maintaining the current dividend. In addition, the new customers we expect to add will further improve our balance sheet in future years."" 

Can investors believe him?

Ken Hartwick is a fellow that is also involve in Atlantic Power Corporation (ATP). Currently, ATP is facing many law suites because they broke their promises regarding their dividend. And it seem to me that by decreasing its dividend, Just Energy entered in the foot steps of Atlantic Power Corporation (ATP). I am a fan of Just Energy but I am not exactly a fan of Ken Hartwick. Is Ken Hartwick responsible in any ways for the flop regarding ATP?

I don't know anything about it, but I am really concern that he might have play a role and I don't really like Ken Hartwick as CEO of Just Energy. Why does Rebecca decided to step down on her empire? Enough rich? I don't have a clue. But having Ken so closely related to the trouble company that is now Atlantic Power Corporation is a real pain in the ass to Just Energy.

I think that investors are scared of the relation that may exist between Atlantic Power Corporation (ATP) and Just Energy Group Inc. (JE).

What do you think?