The TSX is almost at 13 000 points and my portfolio is sensible to the vibe

Yesterday, I was very scared that the stock market would react badly to any news giving by the Fed. But it turn out ok, no special reaction. And in result, my non-registered rank to the $121 431! Great, but today was even better: $122 162.26!!! So those are great news and I can transfer without any problem a 6k to my credit line for tonight. The TSX is now getting closer to the 13k points. I guess I am having a feeling of a stock market going on the high.

I will be able to pay off completely my RBC credit line ($1 121.20) with this week paycheck. Following what, I will have just a $30 left.

Other than that I had been dieting and I had lost 8 lbs. I would very much like to lose 16 lbs by the end of September. I am eating apples after apples when I am hungry (2 is generally enough to calm the deepest crave). I eat oatmeal in the morning, before lunch I eat an orange and one small yogurt and sometime a cereal bar, for lunch a protein shake, in the afternoon, 1 to 2 apples and a yogurt. And also in the morning, I have a one capsule of vitamin E. I also sometime bring bold eggs. Its cheap and good for proteins.

Don't ask the benefit of vitamin E because I just pick whatever vitamins.

Its a very extreme dieting but I already feel better with the first 8 lbs lost. I have lost the weight very easily but I always have to maintain myself on a diet mode and with the scale and everything. Don't ask me why I am doing it so seriously now. It was just a matter of seriously getting started.

Move money to your margin account now!

The Fed is going to announced changes to its stimulus plan. It could provoke a crash, or a mini crash. Anyway, the TSX could closed lower today - be aware and play safe.

For me, I transfer 7k over my margin - I am that scare and I want a peaceful day at work, without worries.

Have a good Wednesday!

Welcome in my non-registered portfolio Shoppers Drug Mart Corp (SC)!

The happy event happen on... September 13th, on Friday the 13th. Shoppers Drug Mart (Corp) worth more than 2k in term of margin value bucks in my non-registered portfolio, which mean SC probably worth like 70%. From what I saw so far, 70% is the highest margin value EVER. So SC is on top of the top. I invested a reasonable amount of money, not too much. Don't expect my margin to fall apart anytime soon.

My non-registered portfolio is at $120 344.20, +7.91%. Since the stock market allow it, I do, in the early morning and in  the evening transfers to my credit lines to my margin (in the morning), and in the evening, margin to credit lines. That little trick allow me to save in interest money, I had explained that previously. I am able to play the game in good market conditions, but if the market deteriorate because of the Fed or whatever else, the money will have to remain on the margin account. Its a day-to-day situation. Its not very hard to evaluate the situation, how much worth my portfolio, on how much points close the TSX and that's all I need to know.

I have a 1.99% credit balance transfer with American Express. I now have a $2 500 at 1.99% for 6 months - it will expire on April 1th. This is giving me enough time ahead to pay off that debt.

I have a $1 121.20 on my RBC line a credit. It will be paid by Friday.

The other debts remaining:

-A $740.17 on another credit line when I have the gut to transfer 7k from my margin to my credit line. But I usually only transfer 5k max. I will try to pay off the extend of $740.17 by the end of the month.

-A $5k at 8.75%.

-A margin that is around $54k at this time.

Its not as bad as we could imagine at first. If I am lucky, my 5k credit line will be almost completely paid off by the end of the year. This year, my Christmas gifts won't be more than a chocolate box. Sorry, but I come first!

My non-registered portfolio slowly begin to deliver.

First, lets talk of my latest investment, Shoppers Drug Mart Corp (SC). In one of his latest newsletter, Derek Foster warn his readers saying that he still hold Tim Hortons in his portfolio but he wouldn't purchase TIM at this time because he find it too expensive. And also, Derek said that the price of the purchase impact your overall return.

I partly agree with him and this make it the perfect occasion to express my point of view on how to invest.

You can be a very strategic investors like Derek Foster or you can be like me and follow the vibe of the moment, which sometimes pay well, just as well as being a strategic investor.

Last week, I wrote that I wanted to invest in Shoppers Drug Mart Corp (SC) to benefit from the acquisition of Loblaw. Fact is, a deal like  this don't happen really often in a life time. Its just like the acquisition of the TSX Group by the group of banker freaks. You want to be part of that shit no matter what. And exactly the same scheme is happening with Shoppers Drug Mart Corp (SC) at this time. 

When there's an opportunity, don't ever waste your time thinking there might be a better deal. Business acquisitions are a great and very easy way to make money on the stock market, you just to be patient. The acquisition of TMX took sometime to happen, but it happen. In the case of Shoppers Drug Mart Corp (SC), we didn't have to wait long. The court already approve the takeover of Shoppers by Loblaw. It actually happen today! And it result, my investment gain 0.61%. We are not taking or 2-3%. But still, a gain is a gain and soon I will received a dividend distribution from Shoppers.

Of course, if I would had invest in Shoppers way before, I would had made more money. But when you deal with quality stocks, and good acquisition deal, its never too late. There will be always money to be made. As an individual who work full-time, I don't spend 30 hours per week studying the market, reading the news etc. But that is that kind of time that is needed to be aware of everything. Being late in a discovery doesn't mark  the end of the world, its just that less cash will be made.

Good stock always go up. Take for example my MX, FTS, KBL, PPL, ENF, EIF, CNR etc. The best time to invest in those are now, because in a few months, they will have gain again in value. That's how it work with blue chips. Of course, you can always wait for a market correction. But why wait when you can invest now? Why wait later when you can received great dividend payment now?

In other words, when you see a hot and sexy deal, just go for it!

Shoppers Drug Mart Corp (SC) is not my only stock going up these days.

At $52.01, my Methanex Corp (MX) currently trade among its highest value EVER.

We have quite a bit of trading history with New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI). For a while, I had accumulate a loss of several hundred dollars on this one, but recently its start going much better for this stock and I am now at less than minus $200 in term of loss on NFI. Holding to this troublemaker stock was the right thing to do. I never doubt about it.

NFI recently win a contract with Houston Metro. Business just keep going for New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI). I have a long term holding with NFI and this is the type of stock that can sometime be problematic to hold. If I would be a millionaire, I wouldn't mind, but since I am not, I am a bit scare that problems could resurfaced so I am looking forward to partly sell NFI, but not now.

Bombardier Inc. (BBD.B) haven't move that much by the CSeries. But I guess some contracts will need to come over before the stock seriously begin to gain in serious value. However, ta the price that I got my Bombardier stocks, I am currently on a profit territory. The only thing is that I would like to earn even more profit from my smart investment. This is possible. For now, BBD.B pay a good dividend and I think that no matter what happen, Bombardier is good to hold.

Quebec province is a good leader in the field of aerospace. Bombardier is one example, and Heroux-Devtek Inc. (HRX) is another example. Back in December 2012 (remember that?), Dividend Girl bitch got that good idea: invest in HRX to benefit from its 5$ special dividend distribution. Do you remember that? I DO!!! It was crazy, it was fun, but at the end, I got my pretty hands on a juicy profit. Following the special dividend distribution, I decided to hold to HRX, I never sell back my investments because I taught that HRX could grow or even better, be the perfect company for an acquisition.

Recently, Heroux-Devtek Inc. (HRX) earned the privilege to supply the Boeing 777. With this deal, HRX will earn millions and we are good and in business until... 2028!!! (Or something  like it).

For now, HRX doesn't pay any regular dividend distribution, but since it had paid a special dividend once, maybe there could be more, how knows.

No matter how you decide to benefit from the stock market, there's no rule to follow you do like you want, the way you want and if God allows it, your bling-bling will turn in gold. Or fake gold.

Those are about all of the hot news for now.

A Pot of Gold: Loblaw acquisition of Shopper Drug Mart

If you are rich or even not, and have a few thousands at your disposal for investment activities, you might like to read the following because I have an easy trick to share on how to make easy money with no pain at all.

Here at myfirst50000.com, we really like when big fish eat small fish, meaning we like companies acquisition! My really first major one was TMX Group. As soon I read that the TSX was going to be acquire, back then it was supposed to be acquired by the London Exchange, well I jump on the occasion using my margin money of course. I got my hands on a few stocks at a great price. I hold, and when a deal was made, not with the London Exchange but with a corporation or banks and other gangster gangs, I hold and wait, and happily cash in the $$$.

Today, Loblaw announced that it will acquired Shoppers Drug Mart. Shareholders have vote in favor so its now just a matter of a few months before the deal come for real. According to this article, Loblaw will pay $61.54 per Shoppers Drug Mart shares. Shoppers Drug Mart closed today session at $58.88. Right now, if you invest let say in 100 shares of Shoppers at $58.88 (it could be possible to get shares at this price), well, you are GUARANTEE to make a quick and easy $266 very very easily.

Now, its better to do this with real cash because Loblaw takeover will only take in effect by the beginning of 2014. You can use margin cash, but you'll have to pay 4.25% interest. $6 000 at 4.25% make $21.25 per month in interest fees. Let say that the Loblaw takeover will happen in 5 months of now, this is how much you'll pay in interest: $21.25 X 5 = $106.25 and remember, you can declare this interest on you taxes because you are using debt to invest!

$266 made in the deal - $106.25 of interest fee - $9.99 in commission fee (for the purchase of the 100 stocks) = $149.76

You could make a clear $149.76 very, extremely easily.

Maybe you'll say that the profit made is too small, that it doesn't worth the trouble, etc. etc., but, no profit is never too small, especially in this rough economy. That $149.76 cover the cost of a ticket for Montreal-New Brunswick. MARVELOUS! Home sweet home, you are all mine.

Am I going to do this?

Well, it will all depend of the market opening.

Oh, and also, another great thing to consider is that Shoppers Drug Mart will pay dividend in the meantime, the next dividend date is September 26. Remember the 3 full business days BEFORE the 26 in order to be in for the dividend distribution.

To the profit of $149.76, you can easily add 2 dividend distribution of $28.50 each, for a total profit of $206.76.

That's interesting!

Another big+ is that I guess Shoppers have a nice margin value. So your margin value and money left will just go up for the period you hold in Shoppers...

Ok, so if this is not brilliant, I will tell you my real name.

LOL :)))))

The Dividend Girl Dirty Little Secrets about Debt

Dieting is hard, very hard. I am learning it day by day. I may enroll at a gym at this point, I will see. I had loss 5 lbs so far, but it seem like I cannot loss more. I guess I eat too much for my kind of lifestyle - I spend all day sitting at my desk and once home, I am back in front of my computer. No miracle will happen by its own. I walk around 1 hour per day. I would need to add an extra an hour and a half to that. My plan was to get up 30 minutes earlier to walk 30 minutes more in the morning but hey, in the morning, its hard to get out of bed. I am the luxurious lazy type. Beauty sleep get in front of everything in term of priorities.

One thing that is helping is that I fix myself a weight loss of 10 lbs per month so its not catastrophic not to be able to lose weight for a couple days. Better to be stabilize. I am going to write a more complete post about dieting soon. You,ll see what involve dieting and how much boring it can be.

I don't know for you, but despite being single with no kids, it always like I have laundry to do or something to clean. And it also seem like I have a lot of debt to take care of these days.

My non-registered portfolio complete the session at $117 264.18, which is very good. The amount left on my margin is probably something like 12k. Nice! I really like it when my non-registered was at $118k. Ok so what's the relation between my portfolio and paying off my debt? Maybe not all of it, but partly. Want to know?

Ok, your going to see the ugly true about the debt of the Dividend Girl.

If you had been an active reader of me and real mega fans of me, well for those, you know that for many years now, TD Visa had been offering me different credit card balance transfer promotions. I had been offered over the years several interest rates, like 4.99%, 2.99, 1.99%. And each time, the promotional interest rate offered had been valid for 6 months. But every single months, the promotion just had been there for me. On and on and on. So TD Visa had been very good for me and I even named myself a - watch out, this one is funny - a  "TD Princess". But about 6 months ago, the promotion stop showing in my account!!!

I had a balance of over $11 500 on 2 different offer. One offer had expired recently and one was about to expired by the end of October. But because I had an offered expired on a $7 500, all money paid on the card was "pro rata". In other words, I was paying 22.9% on a $7 500 balance and 1.9% on the rest, $4 000. Its the first time ever I ever had to deal with such things. Before, when I noticed that my promotional rate was about to expired, I simply took the balance, transfer it to my other Visa cards. As soon the transfer completed, I gave TD Visa a call, proceed with the promotional credit card balance transfer at 4.99%or whatever else and voilà, I was good for another 6 months.

But its not working like that anymore because TD Visa stop being good for me. For the past couple months, I no longer have ANY promotional credit card transfer available in my accounts. So that's how the idea of paying off some debt all began. 

This is how I handle my TD Visa misery situation:

I pay off my TD Visa the following way;

I transferred 5k of my credit line at 8.75% (TD) over my TD Visa balance.

I transferred $5 740 of my TD credit line at 9% over my TD Visa balance.

That left me $400 to pay.

I currently had a balance left of $400 on my American Express. I currently have an offer at American Express - a promotional interest rate of 1.99% for 6 months. So I proceed with a $400 from TD to AE. My 400 bucks at 1.99% will expired on April 1st.

I have until September 25th to take advantage of the 1.99% of American Express. What I did is that I transferred the existing balance of my $2 174.71 balance at AE over another Visa card I hold. Once the transferred completed, I will call AE, and proceed with a credit card balance transfer on the same balance. I will get 1.99% for 6 months.

At this time, I can breathe and take care of those 2 debts:

5k of my credit line at 8.75% 

$5 740 of my credit line at 9%

Those 2 credit lines are with TD. Remember that I still have left over 12k worth in margin money with TD Waterhouse? Well, at anytime, after the market are close, I can check the value of my portfolio. If my non-registered portfolio worth 116k+, I can, without any problem, transferred 4k over the $5 740 at 9%. I can easily transfer money from my broker account to any TD credit lines that I own.

The trick is to:

1st - Check the value of the portfolio to ensure that I will avoid any margin call.

2nd - If the value is of 16k+, I can transferred 4k, even 5k over the credit line. The transferred need to be made before midnight.

3rd - In the early morning before going to work, transferred the money back into the margin account. Because with the stock market, we never know. Never take something to grated.

4rd - Repeating the same pattern everyday will help to save $237.50 (4.75% interest on a 5k for a year).

Along the way, I will try to put a maximum cash on my debt repayment.

So that's the plan! How do you find it? Pretty exciting hein?

This is what I was born to do and drive my banker and broker crazy about me.

:)

Seriously? I am kicking Eric Sprott ass. No more silver for me.

I spent my Saturday evening counting my every single pennies. I haven't post an update of my investment portfolio since... March. So it was about time! The value of my overall portfolio is quite similar to what it was back in March. 

I had some stocks I am experiencing some trouble with stuff like Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY), First Majestic Silver Corp (FR), Veresen Inc. (VSN), Kinross Gold Corp (K), Just Energy Group Inc. (JE), EnCana Corporation (ECA), Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (CFX), Colabor Group Inc. (GCL), Crescent Point Energy Corp (CPG), Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (FC), and Heroux-Devtek Inc. (HRX). On those, I am in the red, I am loosing money. 

Silver and gold are experiencing volatility and its not helping me in any way. That's why I am having problem with HGY, FR, K, and not to add Sprott Physical Silver Trust ET (PSLV), Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U) and Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U). I unfortunately hold quite a bit of Sprott silver shit! In my US account, my TFSA AND RRSP account... And this is not helping me in anyway. However, I plan to hold on those troublemakers for now.

On the other hands, some of the stuff I hold are seriously kicking some ass, including Eric Sprott one. Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), Methanex Corporation (MX), Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL), Fortis Inc. (FTS), Pengrowth Energy Corporation (PGF), Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (ENF), Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A), Davis + Henderson Corporation (DH), Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH), iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index (XRE), New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI), Exchange Income Corporation (EIF), Rogers Sugar Inc. (RSI), Student Transportation (STB), TMX Group Inc. (X), K-Bro Linen Inc. (KBL), Westshore Terminals Invest Corp (WTE), WesternOne Inc. (WEQ), TransCanada Corp (TRP), Canadian National Railway Co (CNR), Enbridge Inc. (ENB), Agrium Inc. (AGU), Canadian Utilities Limited (CU), JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN), Bombardier Inc. (BBD.B), Black Diamond Group Ltd (BDI), Cineplex Inc. (CGX), Barrick Gold Corp (ABX) and BCE Inc. (BCE).

I am seriously kicking Eric Sprott ass on Methanex Corporation (MX). I purchased my stocks at $15, and now well... go check yourself, you,ll see how much MX worth now.

At this point, I did what I wanted with my money, I invest in what I wanted, I don't have much more investment inspirations if not to invest in Suncor. This is why I concentrated in paying my debt for the past couple weeks and I am happy with the results. I only have left $771.20 to pay on one of my credit line. I plan to pay if off by the end of October. Once completed, I will jump on my $11 140.17 TD Visa credit card debt. It doesn't look like TD is going to give me another promotional interest rate for credit card balance transfer. I haven't received news of any promotion so far... And this might be a good thing actually. 

I am a woman of the extreme, if I would had been offer a promotion again, I wouldn't be working at paying some of my debt at this time. And considering I pretty much have the portfolio I always wanted to have, with everything I ever wanted in it. I currently have something like $200 cash in my TFSA. I would like to transfer a $800 and following what, I could make my move on Suncor in my TFSA.  

Right now, the woman of the extreme is doing 2 things at a time: I am paying off some debt AND I am also dieting. I had loss 5 lbs so far, which is great, but I constantly have to watch myself. Its not hard for me to keep in mind that I am on a diet because I now have a scale and I use it every day and I write down how much I weight. This could sound like an obsession, but getting on the scale everyday is what's helping me the best, I find. Because I easily forget about things and I am use to go straight one thing to another and so in the past, I forgot numerous times that I was on a diet... But not this time, its not going to happen. I think losing a 10 lbs per month will work well with some walking around and by watching what I eat. I wouldn't like to spend money to go at the gym so I 'll try my way. I will also write a post about dieting; you'll be able to learn my dieting secrets.

In the meantime, go eat a f apple!!!

My investment portfolio on date of September 7th, 2013

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio $CAN 
Timminco (TIMNF): $2

Blue Note Mining (BNT.H): $0

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): $6 603.30
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): $30
Methanex Corporation (MX): $5 249.91
Fortis Inc. (FTS): $3 347.39
Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL): $14 797.86
Just Energy Group Inc. (JE): $5 379.85
Pengrowth Energy Corporation (PGF): $1 407.60
Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (ENF): $7 838.22
Corby Distilleries Limited (CDL.A): $2 403.50
Davis + Henderson Corporation (DH): $5 823.36
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH): $8 217.65
EnCana Corporation (ECA): $3 791.84
iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index (XRE): $2 273.04

Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY): $1 480.05
Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (CFX): $1 023.84
New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI): $2 294.24

Exchange Income Corporation (EIF): $7 647.90
Rogers Sugar Inc. (RSI): $552.90
Student Transportation (STB): $658
Colabor Group Inc. (GCL): $445.74

TMX Group Inc. (X): $385.52
K-Bro Linen Inc. (KBL): $3 352
Westshore Terminals Invest Corp (WTE): $6 107.76
WesternOne Inc. (WEQ): $2 732.20
First Majestic Silver Corp (FR): $1 484
Kinross Gold Corp (K): $869.76
TransCanada Corp (TRP): $1 138.75
Canadian National Railway Co (CNR): $4 514.85 
Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (FC): $496
Enbridge Inc. (ENB): $1 211.84
Agrium Inc. (AGU): $2 307.50
Canadian Utilities Limited (CU): $1 451.52
Veresen Inc. (VSN): $768.24
Crescent Point Energy Corp (CPG): $843.92

JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN): $2 120
Geovencap Inc. (GOV.H): $0.40

Bombardier Inc. (BBD.B): $642.20

Heroux-Devtek Inc. (HRX): $456.50

Black Diamond Group Ltd (BDI): $599.26

Emera Inc. (EMA): $742.75

Cineplex Inc. (CGX): $967.50

Barrick Gold Corp (ABX): $795.20

BCE Inc. (BCE): $977.90

Stella Jones Inc. (SJ): $495

TOTAL: $116 728.76

Stocks and Units investment portfolio $US:
Sprott Physical Silver Trust ET (PSLV): $1 504.06
Cash: $4.12

TOTAL: $1 508.18 US

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
EnerCare Inc. (ECI): $18.88
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): $201.25
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): $1 956.36
Sprott Strategic Fixed Income Fund (SFI.UN): $387.50

Healthlease Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (HLP.UN): $991

Keg Royalties Income Fund (KEG.UN): $747

RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust (REI.UN): $828.45

Precious Metals and Mining Trust (MMP.UN): $581.40

Sprott Inc. (SII): $2 840.75

Chorus Aviation Inc. (CHR.B): $377.52

Data Group Inc. (DGI): $1 144.72

AltaGas Ltd (ALA): $1 063.50

Cash: $214.97

TOTAL: $11 353.30

RSP investment portfolio:
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund: $3 426.23
iShares Gold Bullion Fund (CGL): $4 164.16
EnCana Corporation (ECA): $1 914.15
Emera Incorporated (EMA): $6 773.88
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): $652.12

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD): $1 367.40

Barrick Gold Corp (ABX): $994

Stella Jones Inc. (SJ): $2 475

Telus Corp (T): $1 665.50

Tim Hortons (THI): $580.90
Cash: $79.41

CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: $614.53
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: $291.23
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: $1 141.19

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

GIC National Bank: $1 227.70
GIC Plus TD: $500

Maritime Life International Equity Fund 
(Templeton): $584.15
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: $968.39
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: $1 129.85
Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund: $1 177.67
Manulife GIF MLIA B World Invest: $736.95

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

TOTAL: $36 175.81

Social Capital at Desjardins Membership share: $40 

Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax- 
free Savings account + RRSP + Online Income
($77.21):

$165 883.26

My debt situation on date of September 7th, 2013

$771.20 at 9.30% (credit line) = $71.72 in interest

$2 174.71 at for 6 months at 0% (credit card) = 0$ in interest. Expired: November 2013

$11 140.17 at 2.9% for 6 months (credit card) = $161.53 in interest. Expired: October 2013

$54 166.81 at a low interest rates of 4.25% (margin money coming from my broker account): = 

$2 302.09 in annual interest

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

$5 676.48 at low interest rate loan at 5.50% (student loan) = $312.22 in annual interest

TOTAL: $78 829.37

TOTAL in annual interest: $3 043.55

[In date of September 7, 2013]

Mastering the art of using coupons with the Dividend Girl

These days, I am trying to pay as much debt as I can. The Bank of Canada decided for now not to increase its prime rate. But this won't last for long. And as soon the prime rate will increase (probably of 1%), the more I will own on my debt in term of interest fees. Repaying my debt will be a long and painful road, but among the way, there're many things that I am doing to help me save money.

I was away on vacation for a few days in July-August and September is going to be a quiet month. I recently received an email from someone I used to do some self-employed work. I hope to get my hand on a few hundreds that way. To pay more debt, there's no magic trick, the best way is to earn more and save more.

Its always more difficult to make more money than to save. Saving money is like losing weight; if you work hard enough, results will show up.

Coupons are a great way to save money. The best is to be able to match the coupon with a current sale. I had a $1 rebate on any L'Oréal Shampoo or Conditioner:

My hair can be difficult. I color my hair and they are curly and thin, but I have a lot of hair. I was surpise one day when a hairdresser said that I had thin hair. Since that day, I try to select conditioner for thin hair. On top of thin, color and curly hair. My hair can get really oily. So I have to be careful to the conditioner that I use. If the product I use are cheap, well, the result will be cheap. Good hair products come with a price. I really like L'Oréal Paris Volume Collagen for flat, fine hair conditioner. L'Oréal shampoos and conditioners are currently at $3.99 at Shoppers. Its a good deal knowing that the original price is usually around $6.99:

So in total, my favorite conditioner only cost me $2.99+ taxes. Pretty cool isn't? Well, that's only a little overview on how to use coupons. I am not a fan of those extreme coupon shows we seem these days on television. If use right, coupons can make it easy to save money; but they should be use on stuff you usually purchase.

I try to focus on my everyday needs, on stuff I purchase on a regular basis and I  try to get my hands on the precious coupons. Also, the bets is to save those coupons and wait when a sale show up - like the one at $3.99 for L'Oréal shampoos and conditioners. When both are combine, it can be a magic blind-blind easy save money.  

A nice finding at the Dollarama Store: the Zipper Seal Giant Bags

With autumn hitting our doors, I am slowly storing my summer clothes out of the closet. I unfortunately don't have enough of a big closet to store my summer and autumn/winter clothes. So I have to find a way to clear some space. 

My first taught was to simply fill some ugly black big garbage bags with all of my summer wardrobe but I actually find something much better at the Dollarama Store: the Zipper Seal Giant Bags.

Dollarama sell those lovely storing bag at only $1.50 for 2 bags. I purchase 2 kits for 4 bags.

Those are X Large big zipper bags perfect to store any clothes. I already began to use them and I find the bags very nice to use. Once the bag are filled, they can easily be store under a bed or in a tiny closet space.

See it for yourself:

The bag closed exactly like a Ziploc bag, which make it very convenient. I was really happy with my finding. 

Other than Zipper Seal Giant Bags, I buy at Dollarama store a number of everyday articles : I buy all of my cleaning products there, Ivory body soap, Q-Tip, cotton pads (to remove my make-up), dish washing liquid (also Ivory). Its about what I usually buy at the Dollarama store.

While working at saving money, Dollarama is a great place to get a variety of items at a more than fair price. Cleaning products can cost a lot more at drugstore, so its important to know where to go to get the best of our bucks.