Social Icons

Sunday, January 4, 2015

A Money Wise Tip: The Best Place for Cheap Grocery Shopping in Montreal is Segal’s Market

I was all ready to go out for a walk but than, it start raining. My timing was wrong. The rain didn't last too long, so I decided to go out anyway, but as I step outside, I saw the ice, the mix of rain and snow. I step out on the sidewalk, but I could see unfortunately that it wasn't really safe for walking... But outside my window at least, it was gorgeous...




See that ice? We can clearly see it on the tree facing the single window of my one and half apartment... Tomorrow, its going to be ugly on the sidewalks, that's for sure. If I see that nothing had been put on the sidewalk, I will just take a taxi to go to work. I live close to my workplace, which is the reason I live in a small apartment. I am traveling in bus enough all year round to go visit my family in New Brunswick. I want my everyday life to me as simple as possible and that include a no need to take the bus and the metro each day. Its a luxury I have for now at least.

One thing - at least :-) - that is great about living in Montreal, is that grocery shopping is much cheaper than in New Brunswick. Grocery costs are something 40% higher in New Brunswick. I already mention this grocery spot somewhere in my blog - remember its there that I spot the very pure idiot that is Amir Khadir. Story short, starting Monday, for the entire 2015, I will do my very best to cut on my expenses as much possible. And for that, I need cheap grocery.

If like me you are living in Montreal and are on a diet budget, the Segal’s Market located on 4001 St-Laurent blvd is going to save your life. Yesterday, I bough two full bad of groceries for only $26.96. From the outside, only a little sign give a notice that there's actually a grocery store in there, but its the only sign... And once your in, you'll get an in deep smell of some dry fish that Portuguese people love but I guess they are the only one because it smell really bad. I never actually saw someone picking up one of those dry fish. 

Otherwise, the spot is very great for vegetables. The grocery store supply is really diversify. Example, I got radish at $1.49, celery also at $1.49. For less than $2 a peace, I got cauliflowers. For $1/lbs I got clementines. Also for $1, I had yogurt. I guess you agree, with those prices, Segal's is the cheapest place for grocery shopping. The only thing is that they don't really sell meat. And also, bring your own grocery bags because they don't have any.If you prefer, its possible to have a grocery delivery for something like 4 bucks.

If you do the biggest of your grocery shopping there, its possible to live on $50 grocery bill per week, if not even a bit less. And this is perfect for me because 2015 will be the year that I go back to my old saving routine like it was in my early beginning investment adventures.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Happy 2015 New Year Investors!

A good way to start a new year is by doing an in deep cleaning of your stuff. I had many many papers of all sort, old magazines, etc. so I cleaned and once I was done I had like 5 garbage bags full to the top. I had some old stuff in my fridge freezer too, so I clean it up. I am now pretty much all done with cleaning and I will be good for a little while.

I went for grocery shopping earlier this afternoon. The weather is cold in Montreal, but its a good cold weather and it began to snow and it was a pretty snow. All the side of my apartment that is facing the street is quite cold. I am adding a bit of heat but otherwise, its not too bad.

Other than cleaning shit, I had been updating my portfolio and my debt. For my debt, I am looking forward to pay off that 6k I own on a 0% credit card balance transfer by March. Most horrible part is that its only in 3 months from now!

Back in 2013, my non-registered was at $133 789.88, and I closed this year at $138 078.72. Overall, I closed the year at $196 680.76. I hold $73 874.31 in debt. I am closing 2014 with a net worth of $122 806.45. Not too bad, but I found tat 2014 was a rocky year with a lot of ups and downs, extremely hard to follow and to understand. But now that gold, silver and oil are all the way down, I mean, 2015 can only go smoother... at least I hope. According to my blog, back on January 1th 2014, I had a net worth of $101 172.99. If I calculate correctly, that's a growth of close to 18%, excluding my dividend income. 2014 had been a very good year overall, but in term of investment only, I didn't enjoy the year 2014. Its been too much of misery for me watching the stock market going upside down. Its been crazy. The most devastating event of all is certainly the fall in the oil price. I still don't understand why it happen. And it seem to be there to remain.

I never been a fan of oil investment, but like any investors, I am unfortunately expose to the oil sector, more or less directly, but it had an effect on my portfolio. Earlier in 2014, my non-registered portfolio hit on somewhere in the $145 000... At $138k, I am close to the old value but still. The volatility of the stock market is very shocking. It take a good stomach to be on the stock market. Its not easy to be an investor these days, I can tell you that.

What I like about stock investment is that it expose me to all sort of industries, all sort of activities. I recently read an interesting article in the Globe and Mail. Forget about investing in RY, I found a way better, sexier stock. The name of my new marvelous? Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. (WB). WB dividend yield is close to the 5% - that's very good because I NEED MONEY BABY. The stock is about a sky resort in Whistler. You got to check on Whistler - its paradise out there, in winter like in the summer. Very gorgeous landscape, AMAZING PLACE. Its the biggest sky resort in North America and it had won a price recently, number 1 sky resort for 2014.

I quickly came to this conclusion: resort in a beautiful place in summer AND winter = a pretty safe bet for my money. And its much more exciting than holding a boring bank stock! And it have a better yield too! I had update my projective dividend income for 2015. Excluding my RRSP, I will be earning $5 917.88 in dividend for the year 2015. Its still a good amount of money, enough to pay off a few trips, depending of where I want to go.

For 2015, I won't be making any resolution, but I won't like something easier as year. PLEASE.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

My investment portfolio on date of December 31, 2014

On date of December 31, 2014:

Cash: $800

Non registered Investments:
Stocks and Units investment portfolio $CAN

Timminco (TIMNF): $0.46
Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS): $7 294.10

Blue Note Mining Inc. (BNT.H): $0.46
Hanwei Energy Services (HE): $28.50
Methanex Corporation (MX): $5 472.39
Fortis Inc. (FTS): $4 245.55
Pembina Pipeline Corporation (PPL): $19 533.36

Just Energy Group Inc. (JE): $4 902.54
Pengrowth Energy Corporation (PGF): $830.30

Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (ENF): $13 577.46
Corby Distilleries Limited (CSW.A): $2 628.90
Davis + Henderson Corporation (DH): $7 896.96
Premium Brands Holdings Corporation (PBH): $10 764.90
EnCana Corporation (ECA): $3 348.80
iShares S&P/TSX Capped REIT Index (XRE): $2 467.08
Horizons Gold Yield Fund (HGY): $1 204.74
Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (CFX): $1 551.96
New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI): $1 447.20
Exchange Income Corporation (EIF): $5 014
Colabor Group Inc. (GCL): $339.66
TMX Group Inc. (X): $402
K-Bro Linen Inc. (KBL): $4 581
Westshore Terminals Invest Corp (WTE): $6 452.52
WesternOne Inc. (WEQ): $1 174.20

First Majestic Silver Corp (FR): $583
Kinross Gold Corp (K): $490.75
TransCanada Corp (TRP): $1 421.50
Canadian National Railway Co (CNR): $7 200
Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (FC): $496
Enbridge Inc. (ENB): $1 668.52
Agrium Inc. (AGU): $2 857.40
Canadian Utilities Limited (CU): $1 718.22
Crescent Point Energy Corp (CPG): $591.36
JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN): $1 993.86
Black Diamond Group Ltd (BDI): $317
Emera Inc. (EMA): $965.50
Cineplex Inc. (CGX): $1 118.75
Barrick Gold Corp (ABX): $499.20
BCE Inc. (BCE): $1 170.84
Stella Jones Inc. (SJ): $650.20
Saputo Inc. (SAP): $1 395.20
Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD): $1 110
Lassonde Inc. (LAS.A): $1 300

Loblaw Companies (L): $745.08
Lumenpulse Inc. (LMP): $820
Laurentian Bank of Canada (LB): $995.80
The North West Company Inc. (NWC): $1 305.50 

Glentel Inc. (GLN): $1 506

TOTAL: $138 078.72


Stocks and Units investment portfolio $US:
Sprott Physical Silver Trust ET (PSLV): $942

Cash: $4.12

TOTAL: $946.12

Tax-free savings account (TFSA):
EnerCare Inc. (ECI): $43.23
Dumont Nickel Inc. (DNI): $20.09
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): $1 421.68
Sprott Strategic Fixed Income Fund (SFI.UN): $367.50
RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust (REI.UN): $925.05
Precious Metals and Mining Trust (MMP.UN): $338.40

Sprott Inc. (SII): $2 489.53
Data Group Inc. (DGI): $317.59
AltaGas Ltd (ALA): $1 298.70
CT Real Estate Investment Trust (CRT.UN): $1 220
National Bank of Canada (NA): $1 134.36 

Canadian National Railway Co (CNR): $3 200
Glentel Inc. (GLN): $2 259 
Cash: $87.97

TOTAL: $15 035.13

RSP investment portfolio:
Sprott Canadian Equity Fund: $2 912.31
iShares Gold Bullion Fund (CGL): $3 552.38
Emera Incorporated (EMA): $9 191.56
EnCana Corporation (ECA): $1 706.60
Sprott Physical Silver Trust UTS (PHS.U): $473.89

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD): $1 665
Barrick Gold Corp (ABX): $624
Stella Jones Inc. (SJ): $3 251
Telus Corp (T): $2 093.50
Cash: $102.81 


CIBC Dividend Growth Fund: $724.08
CIBC Emerging Markets Index Fund: $320.41
CIBC Monthly Income Fund: $1 254.73


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


GIC National Bank: $1 289.70


Manulife Fidelity NorthStar GIF CAP B: $1 017.54
Manulife Simplicity Growth Portfolio: $1 135.47
Maritime Life CI Harbour Seg Fund: $1 255.26 

Maritime Life Fidelity True North Seg Fund: $1 427.92
Manulife GIF MLIA B World Invest: $901.42


Great-West – various: $2 539.73

Various other mutual funds: $1 355.54
Other: $987.63

TOTAL: $41 780.79

Social Capital at Desjardins Membership share: $40 Savings + Stocks, units, mutual funds + Tax-free Savings account + RRSP
:
$196 680.76

My debt situation on date of December 31, 2014

$67 865.46 at 4.25% (margin money coming from my broker account) = 
$2 884.28 in annual interest
$6 008.85 at 0% (credit card at 0% for 6 months, expired in March)
TOTAL: $73 874.31
TOTAL in annual interest: $2 884.28
[In date of December 31, 2014]

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Next investment for my TFSA: Royal Bank of Canada (RY)

I came back to Montreal on Sunday night after a few days in New Brunswick. The vacation was nice. I felt bad going back to Montreal, I was like real stress out and I wasn't feeling well for no obvious reasons, if not that I didn't want to go back to work. I didn't want to go back to Montreal. I arrived at 2 am and I was working the next morning so you can imagine the sexy mess. I am doing better now.

2014 had been a rough real. Canadian stock market was a shitty very bad girl. My portfolio is doing better now. My non-registered portfolio closed today at $138 637.62, with a margin value left of more than 15k Wouuuuuhou. 

I rank up to $1 600.25 on my credit card, but I already have the cash needed to pay it off. I even have money left to also pay my rent. And after that, without even considering the next paycheck, I still have left $803. I bought a bottle of sherry AND brandy for the New Year Eve. Its doing to be quiet a bit like last year and its better this way for my budget after my episode of over-spending during Christmas season.

With this upcoming paycheck, I am going to have close to 2k available to invest and I was thinking about Royal Bank of Canada (RY). Later on, I would like to invest maybe in Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (ATD.B).

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Hard Time for investors just before Christmas

One thing thing is sure, 2014 haven't been an easy year for investor. Lately, my non-registered portfolio hit as low as the 128k mark. On its highest ever, I hike almost 145k, also in 2014... That's very concrete volatility! Now at $130 176.91, I am doing a bit better, but its still shitty. I am all Christmas ready now, I am only missing my bus ticket and the only damn thing I really need now is a rough stock market.

Its hard to get inspired to write so I am just doing to stop here.

Saturday, December 6, 2014

In New Brunswick, killing people = life prison sentence. In Quebec murder and life don't mean much

In New Brunswick, when an individual commit murder, the sentence is life prison. There's no fool play, even if the individual is completely insane and out of his mind.Quebec has its tragedy with Guy Turcotte, and we in New Brunswick got ours with Justin Bourque.

In Moncton New Brunswick on June 4th, 2014, Justin Bourque, a man in his young twenties, had killed three RCMP officers and had left two others injured. Bourque was an anarchist and in many ways, I find a connection between the murderer and Amir Khadir Quebec Solidaire group. Like all of the very dumb people of Quebec Solidaire, Jules Bourque was an anarchist, thinking that our government is oppressive. Well, to that I can only say, go live in China, Japan, or Middle East, you'll see who's being really oppressive... In Canada, its possible for men and women to have a job, live in dignity. Its possible here to make savings - something that is almost impossible to do for the middle class living in Europe and other part of the world. And best of all, we have one of the most powerful stock market of the world. What else can you need? Why an individual would kill police officers in the name of liberty?

Like Guy Turcotte, Justin Bourque is mentally ill. Both are suffering from psychological disorders.

In New Brunswick, Justin Bourque got sentence life prison. In Quebec, Guy Turcotte who had killed his two children - is currently in LIBERTY while waiting for his SECOND trial. In a society - even in my dear New Brunswick - there's f up people. But problems are very major when its the whole provincial system that is all mess up. Quebec province is showing multiple signs of failure and I am only prouder to be a New Brunswicker. Because in New Brunswick, we know how to treat murderer. We don't need to give a second trial to make people understand that taking the life of other is WRONG. At least, it is being seen that way in New Brunswick.

I don't feel safe living in Quebec because I know the system doesn't work in favor of its citizen. And its for that reason that I still have my New Brunswick health card. If I would become seriously ill, I will go to New Brunswick. Quebec institutions, including hospitals, are all insane and corrupt. And that doesn't matter if in Quebec tax are higher than in the rest in Canada. It doesn't matter because Quebeckers don't care on how much corruptible their system is. Where the money of my tax goes? It goes in the pocket of a government that doesn't do is duty. It goes in the pocket of doctor who don't do their best to cover the minimum care required for the population.

If I am never sick and I am in good health condition - I have this because I am not being followed by the Quebec health system. Hospitals, doctors waiting room are not getting sufficient proper cleaning. By going there, you expose yourself to high dose of risks. Also, doctors in Quebec are tempt to make their patients goes on all kind of check up just so they can get a higher pay. They are corrupted. They are not there to look on your health.

Its really important for immigrants and outsiders to look for themselves while living in Quebec and take all precautions needed because Quebeckers are very dangerous and corruptible people. Make a lot of saving, invest in your TFSA and the sooner you'll be leaving the better it is. Because a tragedy like the one of Guy Turcotte can happen to anyone. No one can go and say mental illness won't ever affect them directly or indirectly. And in Quebec, since the system is shit, individuals are not protect. Our rights are not being respected. And its why Quebec isn't a real part of Canada and it will never be consider for me being a Canadian land. Because Quebec doesn't what it is to be Canadian. Quebec doesn't know what it mean to protect the rights of individuals. The right to health care and the right to be treat equally in front of the law. When the base of a society is not being respected, how do you expect its people to do well? We are currently assisting to the destruction of Quebec society. Institutions are falling apart, law system is not clear and straight forward. In result, it gave situations that are being post in the everyday press. Two little children being kill? Well,its too bad, but in Quebec, the system does not heavily punish that.

In time like these, its time to be even prouder for New Brunswickers to be who we are and for Canadians, its time to push for our nation and our protection. As a nation, we need to protect our democracy and way of living. And its for those reasons that I am totally in favor of any kind of global surveillance programs. The government has the right to be oppressive in a certain way to protect our own interest. If you are a normal citizen, you should mind that the government check on your bank account, trading account. Listening to my calls, checking out on my Internet activities? GO AHEAD. We should allow stuff like that to be check. Its a case of protecting our liberty to spot the bad people from the good ones. If surveillance program can help in any ways to prevent murderer and any other bad actions to happen, as Canadians, we can only be happy and in favor of such spying activities. If you are not criminals, your daily activities being monitor shouldn't be a pain in the ass. Somebody out there is watching and its absolutely AWESOME.

The countries that are currently protecting the traitors Julian Paul Assange and Edward Snowden should be severely punish. And I hope the US will capture them and sentenced them to life sentence. Because giving away confidential information to the press, to ANYONE and everyone - including terrorists is an act of murderer.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

I want to say goodbye to Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (CFX)

Another catastrophic day on the Canadian stock market. The TSX lost close to 300 points. But surprise, my portfolio didn't take a hit at all - for once!!! I hope I will get the same kind of luck next time.

My non-registered portfolio closed at $135 307.47. Enbridge went up closed to 8% today. I hold both Enbridge Income Fund Holdings Inc. (ENF) and Enbridge Inc. (ENB) inside my non-registered portfolio. So that really help my portfolio to take the hit on stuff that are really hurting... like Black Diamond Group Ltd. (BDI) for example. BDI announced a really nice 27 millions that we recently got, but that didn't help. BDI title lost $3 per share today! This is hard because BDI is exactly the kind of stock that I like.

Other kind of bad news. I rank on $1 091 on my credit card... And I didn't buy my bus ticket  for home yet. I think I am done with Christmas shopping! AH NOO! HELP.

Help could come from me selling my Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (CFX). I am now only on a lost of less than $7 on the stock. CFX had been in my portfolio since 2011. Back in the "old days", CFX was paying a super big juicy dividend. The dividend had been  cut and following what, CFX value drop, but its now slowly getting back to the same value as it was back in... 2011. I have to say, I had been more than patient on that one so trust me, I deserve to sell it, even if its only to pay off my credit card.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

The National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) is trying to fool the Dividend Girl

Yesterday, I received a letter from the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) saying that yeah, I had paid off my student loan, BUT I could get a revision and I could need to pay more on the loan upon verification. Come on now! If the student loan is not even able to calculate up front what I own them, well you know what, they can eat whatever they want but they won't get a penny more from me. 

On an happier note, my non-registered portfolio closed today at $135 812.42 - which is good because yesterday, it closed at 132k.... Currently, Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (CFX) is doing great. I am only experiencing a lost of $28 on this one. The road had been rough and tough for CFX, a bit like NFI actually. And even like EIF. I am still having trouble with BDI - so oooo awful. I am in real down with FR. But some other stocks are making the 135k mark possible. Like PPL, CNR etc...

Jean Béliveau died today. I am not a hockey fan, but there was certainly a good aura around Jean Béliveau. When I was a little girl, I met him in my hometown in New Brunswick. He was going a celebrity tour with Zellers - signing free autographs - and I got my autograph of Jean Béliveau and I still remember it clearly today because it was very moving and Béliveau was charming and just happy to be there in my very small tiny New Brunswick town. Its quite unbelievable. There's no such fantastic star in the hockey today. The only Quebec star that I truly liked for reasons I don't really know has died.

In case you don't know this one, you can check on interactivebrokers.com and I was told by a reader that margin was something like 2.5%. Could worth it to check it out.

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Welcome in my non-registered and TFSA portfolio Glentel Inc. (GLN)!

The stock market is very hard these days. Gold and silver, as well as oil are all the way down, creating a difficult climate for investing. Nothing is easy these days. In the circumstances, I guess that my portfolio is doing ok.
 
This pas Friday, I learned that BCE is going to acquired Glentel Inc. (GLN). For the acquisition, BCE ill give a mix of $26.50 per GLN share and a mix of BCE share. When I learned he news, LN was trading at $25.90 so I jumped in. I bought some Glendel Inc. (GLN) inside my TFSA - since I had over 2k in cash being to be invest in whatever I wanted. I also made a small investment inside my non-registered account.
 
The deal should go through in the first quarter of 2015 from what I understand. I guess I will be receiving a voting paper soon. And if so, I will go with the option for a maximum of cash. At the most, I will be making a bit more than $60 after commission fees with those 2 investments move. Not much. If you have some cash hidden somewhere, you may like to jump in Glentel Inc. (GLN) now because its will probably trade lower than $25.90 this upcoming Monday. You won't be able to say that I never give great investment tips on this blog!

So go get your hands on some Glentel Inc. (GLN) stocks now before its too late!
 

Thank you

Thank you for visiting!
 
Blogger Templates