Varadero, Cuba: be ready, I am coming!

As the TSX keeps going down, I am preparing my first Cuba trip with my mother. We plan to go sometime in February. These past days, I had been checking Air Transat Web site. You just need to click there to book your next getaway! The resort I spot was about $100 cheaper last week... I have to do quickly!

I plan to go to Varadero, in a little resort well located, closed to Varadero airport and, most important, close to the beach. I have to say, I wasn't very excited to go to Cuba this year when my mom present the idea, but now, I am into it. Especially when its -16°C outside. All included insurance (which is needed), is $95 (taxes include). The trip itself, including insurance, is, at this time, a bit more than $1 000. But prices vary day-to-day. 

Its very simple to book a resort package. You pick your week, the city and your hotel, everything is included. You call Air Transat and you book over the phone with a credit card. You get the tickets by email, one month before the trip. And you need to be at the airport 3 hours before the flight.

I need to quickly confirm my vacation and closed the trip as soon as possible. Prices are very expensive in March!!

Finest Sherry ever: Regency Fine Old, Canadian Apera, Fortified Wine, 20% alc.: drink your life while you can

Sometimes in 2016, I will be turning 36.

(Off topic).

When its a cold -17°C outside, that Montreal sidewalks are on ice and that the TSX closed at less than 13 000 points, when all of those events happened on the same day, well, in such a day, you have the right to finish the day with a glass of sherry, or a beer if you don't have anything else, in front of your laptop. Its what I am doing right now. Not that I am trying to escape from the reality, but I am seeking for a consolation price. While the world is all falling apart, the worst is to follow it.

The year 2016 start the wrong way.  I didn't update my portfolio in a very long time but since April 2015, the TSX just kept going down. In the real life, the TSX is a hard place to be. It take good nerves. But its how it goes. In some years, the TSX is heaven, in other, hell, and in some other, you can only dream you would had never EVER invested a single penny out there.

(If you ever get tired of the present post, you can always tune to this one).

I do no longer update my portfolio online because in that fantastic month of April 2015, I was on top of my game. I was at my highest value ever registered. I did not update my portfolio because ever since, the value of it went down. I never again exceed that value, but I have a lifetime to recover.

In the meantime, following Christmas, the holidays, and my mother visit in Montreal for the New Year Eve, better watch out, Santa Close is out, but debts are in! Not exactly debt, but the credit card statement in coming and it need to be pad on January 11.

After surfing on a very difficult year on the stock market, trust me, it won't be very difficult for those who are extra serious investors to respect a very tight budget in order to pay debt, or inject fresh hot new money into a portfolio or to pay down an investment margin.

Currently, I am doing all right, I always said that I was feeling ok with a margin usage of 65k - but not everywhere exceeding it. And currently, I am at $64 512.17. And I also always said that I was feeling comfortable with a margin left-over of at least 13k. And my margin left-over is exceeding a bit 13k. Everything is awesome. But I want more money, I need a net worth of at least 200k to be happy. There's no magic trick. With an annual salary of something like 50k, choices need to be made. Never forget, life is a bitch and is hard. But who can you beat if its not yourself?

I came with this budget:

Monthly living budget:
Rent: $635
Internet: $48.50
Cell phone: $40.24
Coffees: $51
Grocery: $320
Entertainment: $76
Total: $1 170.74 x 12: $14 048.88

This is the budget for my basic covering needs - this doe not include: my Cuba trip sometime in February, my numerous visits to my hometown province, gifts, clothes, hair cut, coloration... Life is expensive, but only your personal choices will make of you a loser or a winner, not the market TSX ugliest bitch on earth.

Happy New Year 2016 Investors!

Finally, 2015 is now part of the past forever! 2015 had been very rough. The stock market had been too volatile. There was nothing that could be enjoyed. Until April 2015, everything was super great, but following that... NIGHTMARE. Ohhh my goshhh!

I haven't wrote anything in a little while, I was away on vacation during Christmas week and after that my mom came from New-Brunswick to spend a week in Montreal with me. We have a nice time. As we arrived at Berri-UQAM bus station, we needed to take a taxi to go to my apartment. But there, it was a bit crazy, taxi drivers were fighting to take us. One of them had his hand on my bag and my mother began to freak out as two taxi drivers were fighting over us. I told to the fucker to leave us alone. My mom was disturbed by the incident, but I told her that while facing disturb people like that, you need to scream and fight back. Stuff that she's not use to in our very peaceful, perfect and wonderful New Brunswick province. And to that she replied: what would you had done if he had continue? I told my mom very seriously: I would had punch him in the face! She was surprised by the answer and laugh hard. Ahahah! I always dream to have the opportunity to beat up someone one day, but for a good reason. If someone attack my mother, no discussion, you'll see hell. I have an angelic look, but I am no angel, and I don't have any mercy. I could eventually be an excellent drug dealer, among other.

Now, this being said, this incident speak to itself. In 2016, we'll need to fight in different ways in our life. We'll need to handle the rise cost of food, and probably again in 2016 the volatility of the stock markets. We'll need to spend our money wisely. And more than ever before, it will be very important to save money and pay debt. Its been said that paying down debt is among Canadians top financial resolution for 2016 and its a great thing that it is.  

My non-registered portfolio closed 2015 session at only $121 406.07. To talk seriously, I am getting very tired of the stock market. When I invest, its to shine, not to feel like shit. While investing, I want to feel important and be on top of my game. But lately, nothing good from the market is coming for me so I will need to find love and valuation someplace else.

I am personally getting ready for another difficult year on the market.

Cash will always be king

Today, I find a 5 dollars bill on the ground on my way to work and it make my day! It was all wet because of the rain but never mind, I used the $5 to pay for my morning coffee. Its all I needed to forget about how bad my portfolio is doing right now. I am good to find things on the ground. I once find 2 $20 bills outside a bar, $10, $2. I found several metro pass, credit cards, debit cards, health cards... Finding money on the ground is one of the most exciting things ever at the time it happen.

Today TSX gains made things easier for my very delicate non-registered portfolio - it closed today session at $119 151.15. Its really not easy to be an investor these days. My portfolio look ugly ugly. While being 100% invested, its really hard to face such market volatility. Investing is fun when the stock market is gaining points, but it become less interesting when the market points on the opposite direction. 

In those difficult times, I like to put my focus on other things, among other, on my beauty blog, on my weight loss, on my job???!!!

Yes. Also.

It doesn't feel good loosing a chuck of money on the stock market. You get to feel empty inside and like real shit. While being stuck right in a stock recession, our weakness appears more. My financial weakness is to be 100% invested and not to have more money in my bank account. But an investor remain an investor - its hard to resist the appeal of the stock market. And its even harder when you had experiment the best like the worst of what it had to give.

This year, the TSX stole Christmas

Christmas is coming soon, but no matter what, the TSX is not treating its investors very kindly lately!! My non-registered portfolio closed at a terribly low $118 185.74. But no panic. Its just money.

!!!

I don't know for you, but when I see how deep low the TSX is going right now, its just wanna make me... RETURN MY CHRISTMAS GIFTS RIGHT DOWN TO THE STORE. (I am just kidding, of course). So far, I spent $140 on Christmas gifts. Once completed, I guess I will be around $240, very reasonable. I only have my bus ticket to pay for after that.

We can say that this year, the TSX stole Christmas! This is a nightmare coming to live.

I really wanted to see the year closed on a more positive note, but its seem like 2015 had been the shittiest of the shittiest of all.

And what if Donald Trump was right after all regarding his Muslims ban proposal?

Yesterday, my non-registered portfolio closed at $121 220. Today, my non-registered portfolio closed at $120 595.97. Is it going to continue going lower and lower like that or what??!! This is rough and not fun at all. At 35 years old, I was imaging myself as pretty as I am, but in much much better financial situation! Anyway, when the market drop like this, I know the drill. The best is to ignore what's going on and act like it doesn't matter. 

While we are waiting to "welcome" 25 000 Syrian refugees, our stock market is going all the way down, real Canadians are losing their jobs, Liberal party had cut our TFSA contribution to $5 500, we'll soon going to face deep red deficit from that same government... Should we really welcoming as many refugees? Canada is not strong enough financially speaking to cover such heavy costs. The mayor of Montreal Denis Coderre had hired a special adviser to co-ordinate Montreal's efforts to welcome Syrian  refugees. And to do so, Micheal Dorais, our new refugee coordinator, will earn $1800 per day! Its so scandalous, especially knowing how heavily tax are the homeowners here in Montreal. 

I would be curious to know how much it will cost us, Canadians, to welcome 25 000 Syrian refugees. But this is not a straight cost. Because it will take several years for those refugees to learn the language and find a job. And during that time, it will be our tax money that will feed those Muslims. 

There's a lot of common sense in the message that is trying to deliver Donald Trump these days. While facing the possibility of having to deal again with terrorist attacks, its just really logical to ban everyone who's Muslim from entering the country. Its of a perfect logic. Its unfortunately not possible to tell who are the good Muslims from the bad. And while facing the possibility of a "maybe" a another terrorist attack could happen, well, its the government to play its role and protect the citizens.

After all, look at what had build Muslims around the world. There's no success stories to tell. The Muslim religion itself had grow strong and stronger while facing wars. Muslims have to deal with their heritage. Its not our duty to live and pay for them.

At a time of incertitude, we need to fight for ourselves, not for Muslims that we don't know anything about. Life and the well-being of our country is to precious to take any chances, but Justin Trudeau is truly disconnected and live in a world of dreams.

What we need to remember from Guy Turcotte second trial

It took a second trial, but at the second one, Guy Turcotte received a second degree murder verdict. My wild guess is that if a third trial would had been launched, it would probably caused mental illness to Isabelle Gaston, but Guy Turcotte could had received the sentence he truly deserved: first degree murder for killing his two children. But hey, I am wondering, since Quebec justice is so unsubstantial and incompetent, I am surprise to see that things are going to stop here. Is the show really over now?

In Quebec, the justice system is as sick as the criminals who directly benefit from its lack of intelligence and integrity. While living in Quebec province, outsiders like myself are directly exposed to a reality in which its not good to live. Quebeckers are really sick people. Never put your trust in them. 

Guy Turcotte trials were the mirror of Quebec society of today: selfish, of pure arrogance and miserable. I can read all of the stupidity of Quebec society in the conduct of what had been a second long trial - one wasn't enough, it took a second one. And during that time, other causes cannot find their way to a judge. A man killed his children, and he haven't been punished. And still today, Guy Turcotte did not received the sentence he deserved. In Quebec, justice doesn't exist. Its not possible to have a good life here.

And its exactly the kind of things that define Quebec province. In many ways, I find that Denis Coderre shares a lot in common with Guy Turcotte. Not that Denis Coderre had killed anyone - at least not of what we know of - but I find Montreal mayor has the same deep arrogance as Guy Turcotte. Denis Coderre believe he's capable of everything, and so did Guy Turcotte. He had the power, and used it to defend his own interests.

Education, health and justice system - they're a bunch of stuff that is not doing ok in Quebec. A poorer province like New Brunswick is much more efficient. In New Brunswick, it doesn't take days at the hospital to see a doctor. In New Brunswick, we don't let our children go in schools who are rotten to the core. Fact is, Quebec arrogance had build many disparities over the year and with these disparities come the incapacity of dealing with their own richness.

I thank God everyday for making me a New Brunswicker.

AMEN.

Can the TSX stock market hit on back the 14 000 points by the end of the trading year?

For one day - yesterday - we were back in business! The TSX gains almost 200 point yesterday. Its feeling good, and in result, my non-registered portfolio closed the session at $127 074.61. I am secretly dreaming that the TSX will closed this super shitty trading year on the 14 000 points. But am I dreaming too much?

**If you dislike my writing about personal finance, always feel free to click right on here to try something new**

Oil sectors had left many unemployed. Its truly heartbreaking to read testimonies of Alberta workers who are having a real hard time. The value of houses had decreased in area of Fort McMurray and time will come when banks will suffer from all the monetary loses. Recently, BMO and Scotia Bank announced enormous profits. I guess that helped in yesterday gains.

But sooner or later, the TSX is going to go down hard - one more time. Liberal government is not helping in any way. We are dealing with real issues in Canada. We cannot afford to overspend - but already - Justin Trudeau is hiring TWO nannies to take care of his 3 children. But why is that? Hew wife Sophie Grégoire doesn't currently have no real job, she doesn't have any occupation. Grégoire is a stay-at-home mom. So why does Justin Trudeau is employing two nannies to take care of his family? Its because Sophie Grégoire is a lazy bitch who want to play her first lady role and want all the advantages associated with it, including employing nannies using our tax money. And more than anything else, Sophie Grégoire want to be "a lady of the world". But she's not. When that woman speaks, she sound retarded.

I am not a fan of Justin Trudeau. He's not the man Canada needs but Canadians were not bright enough to see that clearly. We are going to go down in mountains of debt, oil sector will probably remains as it is for a while, banks are going to make less money and... the stock market will go down, again and again and again.

Dror Bar-Natan: this immigrate lied at the Canadian citizenship ceremony and we let him be

How many little bastards like Dror Bar-Natan do we welcome in Canada as new citizens each year? Don't tell me or you'll make me cry.

Dror Bar-Natanwas is born in Israel. If you watch the news just a bit, you might know that Israel is not a country in peace. I don't quite understand this, but apparently, he's a professor at the University of Toronto Department of Mathematics. That kind of give you the very poor level of education giving at the University of Toronto.

Dror Bar-Natanwas is a big fat liar. Soon after stepping out from his Canadian citizenship ceremony, "professor" Dror Bar-Natanwas recant oath to the Queen. This mean that during his Canadian citizenship ceremony, that man declared to be faithful and bear true allegiance to Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, her heirs and successors. That is a rule to become a Canadian citizens. However, Dror Bar-Natanwas wasn't true to his words. Right after getting out of his Canadian citizenship ceremony, Dror Bar-Natanwas disavowed the mandatory Oath of Allegiance to the Queen.

How come we tolerate those kind of things? Take that Dror Bar-Natanwas and put the bastard on the first plan to his so love Israel country - we all dream of living there right? 

The allegiance to Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, her heirs and successors is very important. Canada wouldn't be the country that it is today. I am myself born and raised in fabulous New Brunswick, I wear a classic Acadian family name. My ancestors probably came from France. There's almost no doubt about it, I am a real pure blood Acadian. I was once told by my dad that our  ancestor came form Nova Scotia... So right there,  chances are that I am probably from Acadian roots. 

You may know a bit of Acadian history. In 1755, Acadians started being deported from their land where they had build their home and cultivated the ground. The British took it all.

I didn't live all those atrocities, but I am very sure that our well-being that we have today in Canada directly results from the British heritage. This is why today I have money to invest and that I can make money on the TSX.  

Check out for yourself: Commonwealth countries are all good rich countries. On the other side, look what happen to France colonies - they are all poor. Each year, many immigrates come directly from France - they come here massively and take jobs that don't belong to them here in Canada. They enrich themselves on our back and during that time, some Canadian suffers, like the workers from the oil sectors, for example, or even new "real blood Canadian" young graduates.

We are extremely weak to let immigrates like Dror Bar-Natanwasto make fun of us, to not respect our heritage. Because our heritage is what had made the Canada of today.

Dror Bar-Natanwasto: go back to your lovely in war Israel country and finish in hell!

These days, boring is the usual on the TSX stock market

These days, the TSX could be what we could say "stable". No real gain, no real lost. Just a stock market that is there to annoy investors. Such stock market conditions are really not interesting at this point.  2015 is about to pass over and nothing much will be left of it in my memory.

On this Black Friday, my non-registered portfolio closed the session at $125 720.31. Nothing to be much excited about, but still, I am exceeding the 125k. My margin usage is at $65 844.02. I try to stay on the 65k. So let say that my financial situation is "ok" at this time. the stock market is not giving u the chance to get very enthusiasm and excited. This had become the usual these days. Very BORING.

I went to the Black Friday, but I didn't need anything. And it was raining like crazy and I didn't have an umbrella so I hit home quite quickly. I currently have everything I need to face the winter and I am trying to control my expenses. I bought a new pair of boots last year. I recently bought a new pair of jeans (really needed) a new purse at Aldo (no so needed) and a winter little hat. Those were the Christmas gifts from me-to-me. When a girl has a new purse, its like she has change of skin. Like a sexy snake.

Black Friday makes it the perfect time to buy a winter coat, boats or whatever else - but only if you need it.

 

When you have one winter coat, one pair of boots, one pair of shoes, a few nice tops, a few pair of pants, makeup, a few fake jewelries... Really, a nice girl doesn't need more. And that leave plenty of place for investment, or at least it make things much easier. However, I do spent a bit more than what is post on here - that being really the minimum. Control is the key and if you can control the way you spend your valuable money, you'll become powerful, and very sexy.

Have a nice Saturday.