The Dividend Girl with Zachary Richard and Roch Voisine

For the past couple days, you haven't heard much of me. I went to free outdoor shows at the Francopholies. It was absolutely amazing! It's always amazing year after year. 

And during that time, the buddy from $25 000 Dividends wrote me an email saying that he had invested in CU (nice good pick!) and that the stock market was crashing. I only see now what he meant by that... the TSX closed Friday sessions at less than 12 000 points. Being below the 12k mark is very very bad. Its bad for my margin and portfolio value. We'll talked about this in another post.

I had been to busy to properly follow the stock market. There're a lot of changes happening right now at work. There's too many people leaving and its provoking many changes and I am unfortunately taking the hit for what's going on. Its absolutely crazy and I wasn't expecting so much "volatility" at that work place when I first signed in. Anyway, I will be now begin my day earlier in the morning and I will be able to finish the day work earlier. Its the only positive thing about it. For the rest, I am really considered as a f hole. I wasn't expecting much more from Quebeckers anyway. You know how they are as much as I do. 

This year, the Francopholies was celebrating its 25 year. I was able to met Zachary Richard for the second time. I was sooo exciting, I was breathless and my hands were shacking... Hot Cajun always have a special effect on me and Zachary Richard has an effect on me!! Check out my video:

I also wait for the incredible Roch Voisine after his Saturday performance at the Francopholies. My video is not upload yet, but you'll see how cute it is when I posted it. I come from the same region in New Brunswick as Roch Voisine. Not that I know him personally, but I had followed his career and he always been a great inspiration for me in regards to where he's coming from and his life achievements. I also saw his performance last year in Ottawa at the 1st of July celebrations. Hearing his hit song Hélène is always amazing! This year, Roch Voisine is celebrating his 25th year in the music industry. Here's my video!!!:

Knowing, as a fan, Roch Voisine, I know he's particularly proud of his album Americana. So before going to his show, I bought the album and after the show, I wait for him outside. There was quite some people but I was right outside in front of the open door. There was only one door from where he could possibly go out, and it was that one. So I figured that if he would saw his album Americana up in the air, I knew that my chances that he will come to me were quite good. And he did! I was extremely lucky because from the time that Roch Voisine came out of the door and get in his car, less than 2 minutes passed by....

It was raining during his show so I had quite some problem to make some videos with my iPod, but I did a few ones. Luckily, after the show, it wasn't raining so I was holding Roch Voisine album Americana and a black permanent marker in my left hand and in my right hand, I was holding my iPod. so I was album to get him while he was signing my album.... I wait for 45 minutes for his appearance. I was completely exhausted. It was raining during the biggest part of his show unfortunately, that didn't help. I also went to the Francopholies each evening after work... Which is always fun, but at a point, beer and getting early in the morning doesn't mix well together at a point. My lower back is hurting, I need a massage and my left foot is hurting.. Problem being, outside shows are nice but you have to be strong on your two feet and be willing to wait between 30-45 minutes before being able to see your idols... And you also need to be there between 30-45 minutes before the show, if not even one hour to be able to get on the front row.

So now you know what I had been up to the past couple days. While the stock market was crashing, I was partying... And the party is not dead over yet because next week, the Montreal Jazz Festival is hitting town!!! 

The stock market can crash, as long as I am not there watching and knowing.

Canadian Utilities Ltd. (CU) 2-for-1 split happen today!

There's no hot water in my building for now. I guess I was lucky because this morning, I had hot water and was able to get a hot, a very hot shower. And yes, I was alone in that shower.

Yesterday, it rain all day long and I cleaned my one and half apartment, I watched TV online, went outside in the rain for my grocery shopping and I did my lunch for the week. I basically spend a big time of the day in bed and the only thing missing was a cute kitty and/or a naked man and or men next to me. 

Sunday is always terrible because you know that the day after, it will be the same old thing. It just amused me to see staff leaving one after the other. It just such not a great job environment and I am really only there because I have bills to pay and that I am full of debt. Not to say that I am full of sh"t too.

;)

I am especially full of it now that my bank account is empty after paying $1 600 in income tax to Revenue Québec. I went straight to bed after work too and watched TV. I haven't even look at my stocks. But I just did now. I am at 118k+ and made a great deal of cash on my dividend. June will be a good month for my dividend income.

I am still trying to get my hands on an extra $250 per week. But its not easy. Like this weekend, my tax thing really exhausted me mentally and I have't done anything new to reach my goal. And I also cheat on my budget this past weekend. I spent about $80 at the Casino, lost it all and I also went for my hair coloration. I needed to spend money like I just didn't give a damn. God was watching my salvation madness while I was playing and playing again in those sl@l machines. And now good news is, I am done with the Casino. I am done for good.

On today, Canadian Utilities Ltd. (CU) split. It was a 2 for 1 split. And the dividend didn't double - it will be fix accordingly to the new number of shares, the dividend yield remains the same. Previously this year, Telus (T) came with a 2-for-1 split, it was cool, but my dividend didn't double.

Today, Montreal mayor got arrested by cops and I found it funny. I don't know why, but I wasn't surprised. Ottawa might come first in term of ganster vibes, but Montreal certainly come second.

Revenue Quebec gansters in style

Today was quite an exhausting day and tomorrow will be just worst. I took 2 hours during my lunch break to have my taxes finally done and completed. I will be able to recover the one hour extra tomorrow. But I won't be able to recover from all the money I have to pay in term of taxes for 2012.

If like me you live in Montreal and would like to find a very good professional place to have your taxes done, I more than strongly recommend Impôts Ici. I had all kind of papers (employment papers, self-employed declaration, tax paper for my small business and all kind of investment tax papers you can imagine of). At a bit more than $240, I find it quite a sweet deal. I even offer a $20 tip to the accountant, but she refused. It could be seem weird to tip an accountant, but I truly had the feeling of what all the work involved in doing my 2012 tax declaration. A real pain in the ass. I had the double status of employee and self-employed, and it was also complex because I lived in New Brunswick for about half the 2012 year... This is giving you an overall of the funky situation that is mine.

I had been a long time customer of Impôts Ici. I guess I had gone there for the past 5 to 6 years at the exception of last year because as you know, last year I was in New Brunswick.

For the tax of my very small business, I got a return of $70.

I got returned of $500 from the federal.

And....

I have to pay $1 600 to Revenue Quebec!!!!

Why is that?

Well, it doesn't look like it at first, but I had made more than 50k in 2012. Nice, but helllll, I need to pay quite a few dimes to Revenue Quebec. All this hard work to pay more in taxes, its totally disgusting, I agree. I was quite impressed by the 50k mark. Its a lot of money. I did quite well on the dividend income and interest and capital gain too, so it add up quickly. I had been on unemployment, but less than 2 months, and I had my self-employed, and dividend income with that.

As the years past by, my dividend income, interest, and capital gain grow, grow and grow. And at a point, I could very easily made 60-70k per year. At this point, I begin to be more conscious about how I invest affect my income. I would be very important to take fully advantage of the TFSA. I still have contribution room available in there and I am much more tempted to maximize the TFSA rather than the RRSP.

Yes, the RRSP will provide a tax break, but its not money I will be enjoying now or even in 5 years from now. That's why I didn't invest in my RRSP in a very long time. We might be getting a tax break in the immediate, but later on, tax will be apply on every dime. I stopped investing in the RRSP when I started realize that. I have an aunt who's quite have money of her own and she confirmed that fact. Susan Brunner came here once and declared I was right all the the taught. Its really important to understand that as soon as possible in your financial life.

I won't be enjoying an exotic trip to Banff or expensive hotel room this summer... that's for sure... I am just happy to have this upcoming pay on Friday. I will be able to clear off my tax payment without to much efforts. There's nothing I can do to fight back, my tax need to get paid or interest will be charged. We all face the same challenge.

It make me realize that if at a point I am really getting enough of my full-time job, I could get something else, even just part-time, and cash out the dividend, and just stop whenever I want and leave Quebec province.

Today was a day like that.

Money money and money

I am finally getting my taxes done tomorrow. I think I will have something like $500-$800 to pay extra on taxes, if not more... This is not going to be an happy time. My Friday paycheck will be of $1 100, so I will have enough to pay it all. Can I let it go without thinking more? Living in Quebec is a complete waste of time and money. I like living in Quebec just as much as this guy like to be a lawyer. For now, one of the reason behind the anger is the huge amount that is soon going to get outside of my pockets.

My non-registered portfolio closed at a tiny $117 484.26. Its not soo bad, but if the portfolio continue to go down, I will have to use my credit lines to inject money on my margin account. I have a 10k+ left in my margin, but that value goes lower each time my portfolio value go down... I monitor closely, but I am confident the market will rebound at some point, soon or if not, just later.  

I had applied for a few things, but no reply yet. I am not looking to get my hands on a fortune. At this time, if I could earned an extra $250 per week, it will be very good. 250 for 4 weeks make a thousand. Why is it so hard to earn a tiny amount of money?

Pushing the dividend income up with the help of iShares Diversified Monthly Income Fund (XTR)

I cannot wait to show you my video of the man in the orange jacket, but it still uploading and its taking forever. While it uploaded, I am reviewing my portfolio. There're many things I like about my portfolio and I am just looking to get my hands on more dividend income, but I want to have it done the right way. My blog might annoying to read at a point because I am always going through the same things over and over again. How many times I said I will not gambler my money? How many times have I said (or more write) that I will now invest exclusively in blue chips? How many times I said I was going to get a second job? I am like a cute dog running to reach her tail (even if I don't have one of those).

At least, with me, you have the real picture of a real girl investing real money on the so real Canadian stock market. I have decided that us, Canadians, had the best stock market of the world and I am quite plug in the idea to get everything I want from it. Because I ALWAYS get everything I want (or almost). It just a matter of getting your mind ready for everything.

So are you ready?

We talked about this before. It was on the last time I reviewed my dividend income. Nothing much is coming from there with the equivalent of $551.51 per month ($6 618.07) annually. I went through my minimum monthly expenses and calculated that $ 1 200 is what I need to cover the basics. I am only missing a $648.49. 

This time, I am really working on a plan to get on a $648.49 as source of income. I would like to make it happen by August 27, MY birthday. I will be 33 years old.... I am getting older and my body too, I now have a few white hairs but luckily, I don't have the sign of age on my pretty face. I don't have even one wrinkles, thanks to my beauty cream. I am just turning 33 after all. Imagine what it will be at 40... Oh the drama. I don't care about getting older, I just don't want to see the effects on my pretty me. And so far, nothing to worry about. I could be seen as a 25 years old I guess. I want the eternal beauty of Lise Watier.

I am doing a lot of talking about getting an extra income of $648.49 (the power is all in the penny even if our 1 Canadian cent do no longer exist). That only represent $162 per week. No big deal right? Well it is for me, because I have to get out of my comfort zone.

A $100 000 at a yield of 6.5% could make it happen. I could easily save 100k in about 4 years if I work hard enough. A 6.5% yield is kind of hard to get in those actual market conditions. A yield of 6.5% is something you get get over time, by holding some quality blue chips like the Tim Hortons stock of the fellow Derek Foster. Ok, but what if I want to generate the $648.49 ASAP?

I am a bit of the impatient type, so I always like to seek my options.

I recently came across the iShares Diversified Monthly Income Fund (XTR). It won't gain as much value as a real blue chips over time, but it will satisfied my taste for hot and sexy dividend yield. A $1 000 investment will provide about $4.80 per month in dividend distribution. I am tempted to get on this one for my TFSA.

$648.49 - $4.80 = $643.69

Only $643.69 to go!

:))))

What can I do to get my hands on an income of $643.69? Options exist, I just to get more active on the solution zone.

American Express refused to increase my credit card limit

I had a few things going on right now. I am seriously job/contract searching. My taxes are about to be done and completed by the end of the week (the time limit is June 15th for self-employed). So among the way, while getting a few things done, I told myself that it would be nice to have my credit limit increase for my American Express since I have a 0% offer on it available for 6 months. Great idea isn't? Yes, a very good idea!

During my lunch break, I gave a call to American Express. The phone ring, an American Express customer service representative answered. I explain what I was looking to do and... my request was declined.

DECLINED.

Its at that time that I learn I had too much credit for the salary I have. It wasn't a matter of having a good or bad credit, its just I have too much of it.

But is that true? Do I really hold too much credit?

Let see...

X Visa: $4 500
X Visa: $11 300
X credit line: $10 000
X Visa: $16 000
X line of credit: $15 000
American Express: $2 600
X credit card: $500
X MasterCard: $5 000
X line of credit: $5 000
X credit card: $500

I don't think I have miss anything....

And the total is: $70 400

That's what I have available in term of credit. And have about the same amount in debt.

How much do I earn after tax in a one year salary?

Less then 40k, that's for sure...

So do I have too much credit in regard of my salary?

;o(

I won't answer that question or I will soon hit strip club and swing on.


Why it cannot be in regard of the bitch that I am instead?

:))

Mysterious man in an orange jacket at the Montreal Grand Prix Formula 1 Celebrations - Part 2

Here's the video:

Mysterious man in an orange jacket at the Montreal Grand Prix Formula 1 Celebrations

It was the Formula 1 weekend in Montreal. I went on Crescent and St-Laurent yesterday and it was fun despite the rain. I like those kind of festivities.

 Reiko Mackenzie of the Real Housewives of Vancouver has the exact same Lamborghini. and yes, its of the same yellow color! But since she divorced of her husband about a year ago now, i don't know if she or her husband had kept the Lamborghini. Honey baby, keep the diamond wedding ring; I keep the Lamborghini!!!

You see this man with the orange jacket? I didn't get his name, but I recorded a 15 minutes long video with my iPod of him. It going to take a while to download, but I am going to post it later. I am not a mega fan of Formula 1, but I find his speech interesting. He been in the Formula 1 industry for about 30 years if not more. He's from Australia and his the author of column in a magazine or newspaper. I didn't really get that part. When he was younger, he went to the airport and asked on which flight was going to arrived this X pilot (sorry, I didn't get the name) for the Formula 1 event in Australia. He wait for the pilot to arrived and he told him that he wanted to be in the industry but didn't know how to make it happen. The pilot told him that if he wanted very hard, he could make it. And that was inspiring to him. Charmingggg,

He known Gilles Villeneuve and class him as the third best pilot ever. I am that much in Formula 1 because I find it just outrageous for young men to risk their lives the way they do, just like if they didn't care about anything. Formula 1 is very arrogant in a way. But I have to admit, there's something about Formula 1 that is attractive. And I am a fan of Jacques Villeneuve so I was touched by what that man had to say about his late father. Its quite spectacular that he had been able to follow the footsteps of his father and win, just like him, the championship.

To die for the love of a sport is something unreal. I am almost glad that Jacques is no longer a Formula 1 driver. However, when you hear the real passionate like the man with the orange jacket and Jacques Villeneuve talking about Formula 1, it is very hard not to fail for their passion.

My video of the man in the orange jacket is still uploading, but until it get available on YouTube, just remember those 2 words: NEVER STOP

:)

A conversation with a millionaire: hello Derek Foster!

My roots begin to show up and I can see them just like last time: my white hairs are real! I just have a few ones. You won't be able to see them from a distance, but they are there and real! Its so strange. I will try not to color my hair this month. Its going to be hard.

My non-registered portfolio is at $121 795.96, which is not bad. I just received dividend from Fortis (FTS), Enbridge (ENB) and Canadian Utilities (CU). I am on a my way to certainly a $500+ dividend income for June. My latest investment was made in Barrick Gold Inc. (ABX). Remember? Well, it turn out well so far. I am making a profit of 4.61% on that one so far. Quite good, and it could easily go higher. The stock market is extremely hard to follow these days. 

There's been a halt trade recently for K-Bro Linen (KBL). And following what, the stock price raised to the $34. Also Bombardier (BBD.B) is finally kicking on the place (more than 26% in profit, without adding on the dividend!!). Canadian National Railway (CNR) is about to make me rich... I am experiencing a profit of 37% so far on it, and that doesn't include the dividend. I have many other stocks like that who are performing very well.

And I also have stocks who are not performing too well! CFX is still a little disaster on its own, I am at -43% on that one. My once so much love CHR.B is at -27%. GCL is at -65%. I am at -66% on DGI, -38% on FR, -48% on JE, -67% on SII. I was chocked over my loss in FR.

The stocks name below, CFX, CHR.B, GCL, FR and JE are small caps and all of them, at the exception of FR, used to be very big juicy dividend payer. When the stocks had to cut their dividend distribution, in result, the stock value took the hit. That's what basically happen. Lesson learned? Focus on ONLY and ONLY extra high quality stock to build on your portfolio. Stuff like CNR, AGU don't lie.

I am slowlyyyy getting there and maybe I haven't read and read over Derek Foster for nothing after all. Maybe I didn't lost my time while being around Derek Foster after all! (I never doubt about him anyway, really).

Following the reception of Derek Foster latest newsletter, I couldn't help it, I needed to write a little email. and I did, asking where he was living now and if he had bought a new house, if his trip was over etc. Well, it happen that THE Derek Foster now lives in Ottawa. His one year trip is now over. He's renting an apartment. A couple years ago, I lived in the Ottawa area. Its there I got my first job after my studies. Ottawa is an expensive place and house/condo are extremely costly. For people who prefer a simple living and low living cost of life, Montreal is much much better. Ottawa is kind of a real ghetto place. I returned to Ottawa for the first time in many years about 2-3 years. And it just shocked me right there. Ottawa is a ghetto city. There's not such pronounced gangster vibe in Montreal. That's why I like to go visit Ottawa once in a while. To get back in.

In my email to Derek Foster, I didn't tell him how much Ottawa is of a ghetto, but I told him I was going to tell about his email to all the readers of my blog so he had to be careful in his response. (Yes, I know, that is what I wrote to a MILLIONAIRE). But I have class, so I also congrad him on his Tim Horton stock pick because he really made a great capital gain on that one. Let say that Derek has enough to cover the cost of new furniture!!!

Do you want to read something new of Derek Foster? Here's your treat gansta readers:

I'm finding more and more I want to focus on the highest quality companies (Tim's would be one - notice the lineups in the mor(n)ing of people waiting for coffee!).  I know the stock market is unpredictable, so the stock price could drop by 30% next week, but the dividends just keep rolling along and growing.

Isn't he sooooooo smart? :)

The following has nothing to do about Derek Foster, but a longtime reader came around with this stock idea for me because i kept annoying him: do you have a stock idea for me and blablabla. So thank you dear for the idea. 

The name of the pretty is: Lassonde Industries Inc (LAS.A). Susan Brunner reviewed the stock a longgg time ago. Back in the time, the stock trade in the $70, and now, we are getting closer to the $100... The dividend is  not juicy, but Susan said that you'll need to hold the stock for like 10 years before getting anything juicy from the dividend.

This is what you have to understand for the rest of your life.

THIS IS WHAT I NEED TO UNDERSTAND FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

Ok, I think I get it now.

I will just do like in my old investment days, I will invest in Derek Foster stocks (like TIM). No more gambling, trading what so ever, and no more playing on silver. I still have my chances to recover, but I need to move on. Do you understand that? May God preserve me and my white hairs.

The Dividend Girl between the sun and the sunflowers

Its been a nice and hot weekend here in Montreal. Its still too soon for outdoor swimming pool, but there're nice and free indoor swimming pools a bit everywhere in Montreal. I went to one of them on Saturday and it was fun. Its nice to be in Montreal in this beautiful weather. Under the sun, Quebecker men are just like very very sexy and it make it more appealing than ever for a single New Brunswicker female to get in touch with those delicate sunflowers just showing off their chest in the sun. Just delightful.

(I know what you are thinking at this present time).

!!!

Other than watching the sunflowers, I spent some time cleaning, cooking and doing laundry. I prefer to get everything done before another week kick in because once in, its hard to get things done. I like to have my evenings off to break the routine. I sometime go swimming on the evenings, or I go the movies (on Tuesdays), or just take some walks, sometimes in the Old Montreal. I usually don't go straight home once I am done with my day of work. I have to do something else if not I get terribly bored. Another things I do during evenings is looking up at the stock market and my portfolio.

While another month just begin, I wanted to get an overview of my financial situation and more precisely; my portfolio. I check on my stock one per one, and I calculate my protective dividend income. How I went is that I calculate the earnings with what the stocks are paying right now as dividend. I didn't add special dividend previously earned in 2013 or anything else. I just took what I  have now as stocks in my portfolio. I count my non-registered portfolio as well as my TFSA. And the total is: $6 618.07. That is below the 7k mark. I was quite disappointed by my finding. It make an average of $551.51 per month. I can no longer pay my rent exclusively by using my dividend income, which make me think that my rent is way too much expensive.

So this is it, the hard reality is coming over.

My monthy minimum living expenses are of $1 183.

$1 183 - $551.51 = $631.49

My dividend income cover a bit more than the third cost of my living expenses. Currently, what I am looking to do is to get that $631.49 cover by a third source of income. In 2012, I open my small business, I made a couple thousands out of it. That was before moving back to Montreal. Once I started working on a permanent full-time position, I didn't work much for my business. But would it be very hard to make not even $631.49 per month from self-employed work? It would be quite manageable, even while working full-time. And this is what I am up too. Why now? Well, better later than sooner.

And at this point, I want to secure my position. I know I can easily do this. Its just a matter of making it happen. I am taking off the dividend income at this point because I don't want to get in the same circus again. Meaning I don't want to destabilize my portfolio more than it is now. Meaning I don't want to take any more risk by investing in high dividend yield payers. So I am only relying on that $551.51 dividend income for now. And maybe it will be more later.

And what happen if I cannot get any contracts for any reason? Well, the trick would be to save at least the equivalent of $631.49 on a monthly basis. This is quite easy to do and I am able to even save more than that on a monthly basis if I really work into it.

That is the power of saving. Saving money make it easier to deal with any financial situation. Recently, a surprising laid off happen at work and my workplace seriously begin to smell like shit. I have to do replacement and I don't deal with anything of my own. its all over the place, very confusing and I am slowly but certainly getting sick of it. Some employees have left, other laid off for no apparent reasons. And remember my situation, I wasn't giving the right to take any vacations last summer. I was promised a $500 but they refused to pay it for me after they gave me a permanent position. Is it what my life has to be?

Really, no. To protect myself, I am tempted to put more efforts on my self-employed on a part-time basis. At least, I will have something to rely on if something have to happen. I don't want to give my employer too much power over me. I don't exactly agree with them and their so call business decisions. If I want to escape, I will have a way.

Its kind of dump to establish yourself right downtown where the rent is the most expensive and later on come with some crazy plan to save on photocopies and gave up on pay increases. Where is the coming sense? Want to save money? Do it for real, don't play on the side. Its just so disgusting and disturbing.

This is the reason why its so important to save money, invest in stocks and try to become as financially  independent as possible. Its certainly not an easy task, but at $551.51, I have a good beginning. I also made $107 online recently. Which mean, I only have to make $524.49 this month to reach my goal. Youhouuuu! It could be even easier to just get a part-time job. I am slowly making my choices.