Canadian National Railway Company (CNR) is paying a treat to investors

That's quite nice, Canadian National Railway Company (CNR) had increased its dividend by 25%.

And its not the only fantastic news. My non-registered portfolio closed today session at $139 408.14. I could barely believe. I hold CNR in both my TFSA and non-registered portfolio and watch out the fantastic gain. Back in October 2014, I had invested in CNR and since that time, I made more than $300 in capital gain, a 10% gain.

I was disappointed to see my precious Exchange Income Corporation (EIF) down, but its part of the game. This one is a bit more volatile. The TSX gain a few points, but no matter what, Royal Bank of Canada (RY) is also down. At this point, RY appears to be attracting.

I find it quite hilarious to read over the Internet that a household that make $120 000 is being considered "middle" class. That is certainly not a middle class history... If would make 120k a year, I would be rich, not part of the middle class. But that's where we stand. Under the Tories of Stephen Harper, a Canadian middle class salary is $120 000. Really? Will I really have to vote for Justin Trudeau for Prime Minister? Hell no.

Shake up Tories, don't make me vote for a damn Quebecker. PLEASE.

Good profit on the TSX, but for how long

Once again, its terribly cold in Montreal and New York, Boston and part of the Maritime are soon getting a heavy storm. 

My non-registered portfolio closed today session on a nice $139 515.04. I even have a left-over of $16 550.19 on my margin. I was quite surprise to have my non-registered value so high. I guess Bank of Canada rate cut of 0.25%  might play in something.

I had came with a little money plan and by the end of February, I will have my CIBC Visa and BMO MasterCard paid off. I only have left $720.85 balance on my CIBC Visa and a $1 087.39 on my BMO. Not huge amount, but it's required me a lot of effort to pay it all down. But by the end of February, it will be thing done. And by the end of March, I will have something I haven't have in a very very long time: money in the bank! I plan to leave in a 1k in my bank account to cover, at least, my monthly banking fee.

With a rate cut and multiple promotional credit card balance flying by to me, it would be quite tempting to do the exact opposite. In time like now, we could thing its the best time ever to borrow to invest, but I don't think so. There's too many people loosing their jobs. Target is closing, Mexx no longer exist (I got my hands on a Mexx purse as a souvenir...), Jacob had closed most of its store, Sony is about to close its few stores... I always found that Target was too much in the landscape. There's just too many stores out there and all those closing all came up naturally. I went to Target a few times, but it never became my favorite shopping spot. Its just sad because thousands are going to lose their jobs and I doubt that there're going to all be relocated to... Sears...

We live in a strange word were we combat terrorist by saying we defend the freedom of speech. All of the I am Charlie is all bullshit. We never live in a more depress, individualist word. A newspaper as Charlie Hebdo who published very disgusting cartoons against not only Mahomet, but Christianity  - in the name of freedom of speech - well, you know what? I am not Charlie and at the end, those journalists had what they deserved. Anyone who make fun of religion should prepare to die in horrible ways. That's is my freedom of speech. I am certainly not a Charlie asshole. I am the Dividend Girl.

RBC Visa is offering 1.99% credit card balance transfert to the Dividend Girl

Isn't funny? Just at the time that I am very desperately trying to pay off my CIBC Visa, RBC Visa had just come up with that promotion to me, 1.99% interest rate + a one time fee of 1% and that's good until October 2015. So really people. I begin to think that the providence doesn't want me to pay down my debt at all!

The timing was perfect RBC Visa, but I will pass on that one. But I have to admit, the promotion is pretty dirty attractive. But no worries, I am now really turning into that perfect sexy girl and I am really slowing down on debt. And I no longer get excited when I received a credit card balance promotional offer. OR almost.

Not to long ago, I had a 6k on a CIBC Visa at 0%. My 0% interest rate is valid until March, but that come is a hurry... I now only have a $1 500 balance on that same CIBC Visa. I found it very difficult to pay off that debt. Among the way, I even sold a stock I no longer wanted to hold inside my non-registered portfolio, Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (CFX).

I had another huge surprise today. Even now that I no longer hold CFX, my non-registered portfolio closed today session at $136 741.33, which is pretty good knowing all the yo-yo going on the stock market and the oil crash.

No matter what, I am a pretty sexy good investor.

And thank you for reading.

Getting debt free is so terribly hard

Once my payments will be process, I will only have left $1 522.85 on my CIBC Visa. The biggest part of the 6k had now be paid. And following what, I will do my best to keep me on the good road, I will do my best not to crack on 0% credit card balance transfer. But you don't have to worry, because I no longer feel tempt. Paying off my debt had been a very long painful process. I used to have an RRSP loan - remember that one? I also used to have a student loan, that's now gone too. I used to have an American Express at 0% a long time ago too... But now all those things are gone. And once my CIBC Visa will finally be paid off, I will only have left my margin as debt.

And the deal on the margin is that 67k is way too much to be paid back - or I am going to turn crazy. So deal is, no pay back on the margin never ever TD Waterhouse can kiss me.

I don't have any money left at the bank so I would eventually get a 1 to 2k there. Also, I would like to hide away something like $200 that I would hide not to say my mattress or close just in case of an emergency situation. I would like to put down around 10k on my margin to keep it safe so that I don't have to worry while I am away in places where I dn't have access to the Internet - like in somewhere like New Brunswick for example. Those of the type of things I plan to do with my money once my CIBC Visa will be paid off.

All of those things are really great, I am quickly getting rid of that 6k debt on my CIBC Visa which is currently at 0% interest rate for now. BUT, fact is, I am currently a heavy spender too. My BMO MasterCard is showing up a balance of $986.89. I pay my daily expenses using my BMO. If I buy a coffee, I buy it with my BMO MasterCard, etc. My cell phone and Internet payments also go on that card. I am pretty close to the 1k in expenses of all sort and the month of January is not even over yet...

I review my budget and stuff and my living cost shouldn't exceed the $500. That amount doesn't take in consideration my rent, cell phone and Internet bills. My overall budget is $1 210. Knowing everything I need to do with my money, I need to slim down my expenses. And that is not easy, especially while living in Montreal. I drink a lot here, I buy a lot of coffees, I eat out too often and I buy all sort of makeup and skin and hair products. Oh and nail polish. I never used completely one full nail polish bottle of my life, I just pick different colors from different brands whenever I go by a drugstore... I had been addict to nail polish my whole adult life - confession from your Dividend Girl.

Great, but if I continue to carry over my credit card, I will continue to spend like this - I know myself. So from now, I am getting a cash diet. I am giving myself $50 for the last week of January and after that, it will be a $500 every month in cash. That's what is waiting for me starting tomorrow.

At least, I got my hair and coloration done today so I will be looking good at least to begin this cash journey - just like I use to be in the old days. I was so penny wise, I can get back to my old else even if my hair are different now.

Saying goodbye to Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (CFX)

I recently note that Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (CFX) was hitting on the $14.75 mark, so at the first occasion, I jumped in - with the help of an automatic sell act - and I sell of the shares I hold of CFX at exactly the ask price, $14.75. Not that I don't believe in CFX, but currently, I only have my TD Waterhouse margin and a $6 008.85 at 0% for 6 months which will come to an end sometime in March. Right now, I really want to pay off that 6k debt as soon as possible. So I did it, I sell my Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (CFX) shares today at $14.75. All of them.

The plan to pay off my 6k CIBC Visa card is quite simple. I currently have $2 049 in my banking account. I will use 1k from my sell of CFX. I have earned $94.08 in dividend inside my TFSA. I also earned a little bonus of $813.45 at work. And I earned $530.54 in dividend inside my non-registered account. That make a total of $4 487.43, with only left $1 512.57 to pay off. But good news, with the upcoming pay check next week, I should only have left to pay, in minimum, $840.57... I really hope to get rid of that 6k debt as soon as possible. And following what, party time will be on the place! 

I will be able to invest all of my savings inside my TFSA. I will only have a margin as debt and I plan to carry on forever because $67 000 is too much money to be completely paid off.

I currently have more than $23 000 available in contribution room for that TSFA. So 2015 will be the year of the TFSA.

 

Next money move need to be decided

Its terribly cold in Montreal these days and the stock market is all rock and roll! One doesn't go without the other. And in conclusion, my non-registered hit on the 135k mark. Oil is still down, but no matter what, the TSX is still strong and exceed the 14 000 points. I stop a long time ago to try understanding the stock market. I mean how can the TSX be that high when the oil value is so low? In Canada, we depend so terribly much of our energy sector. The current situation with oil doesn't seem to have that much effect on the TSX, and that is something I really cannot understand. Its just so crazy.

But of course, its a good thing that the TSX remains independent of the oil, if not, I will be crying right now. I was stress today because I have absolutely no time to check on the market during the day. I had no clue if I could hit on Horizons BetaPro NYMEX Crude Oil Bear Plus ETF (HOD). Its busy at work and I had to do some overtime. But this is good because it cover my taxi cost rides. I hate this very cold winter, its pretty rough. You know, when you only want to go out on a Sunday afternoon but you have to stay inside because of the rain changing in ice...  than you can say it, life suck!

Personally, I was attracted to Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. (WB), but I now have about 2k that will be available for investment, and I am more tempted to invest that money in Royal Bank of Canada (RY) for different reasons. First, its a money problem. If I would had like 4k to invest, I would invest in both RY and WB, but its not the case at this time. I need to be extra careful with my money right now. A part of my portfolio took an in deep hit because of a failure in oil and silver. I am actually quite surprise and amaze that my non-registered is at 135k. My next investment moves need to be made carefully. With RY, its boring, but the yield is almost at 4%. And they're good chances that RY could be a good investment that will gain in capital value in the years to come.

Other than RY, I maybe invest inside my RRSP by the end of March. I exceed the 50k in income this year again and investing inside my RRSP could help reduced my taxes. The really true reason why I need to invest inside my RRSP is because I had lost a LOT a LOT of money on the Sprott Canadian Equity Fund and I am looking to cover up the gap. And I am seriously thinking about investing that 2k inside my RRSP. The Sprott Canadian Equity Fund is quite disappointed and its really not a good investment. Jean-François Tardif with his JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN) is doing much better.

The last for not the least, I have to pay off my CIBC Visa by the end of March... $6 000. 

I won't be able to do it all, time will only tell what my next money will be.

In mood for some day trading? Try Horizons BetaPro NYMEX Crude Oil Bear Plus ETF (HOD)

Since oil is still going down, that is very good for the Horizons BetaPro NYMEX Crude Oil Bear Plus ETF (HOD) because it reproduce, in the opposite direction, the value of oil. So since the oil is all the way down and only seem to go lower, it could be a fantastic move to buy-and-sell HOD in a sexy hurry, in a good hit and round old fashion move. Especially if you believe, like me, that oil could go as low as $35...

Can oil go any lower? YES, YES, YES!

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.

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.

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