My vacations at Mercure Playa de Oro in Varadero, Cuba - Part 1

I came back from my trip in Varadero last week. Going back to work in the snow, rain and slush was quite rough and it seem like I saw nothing yet because a big snowstorm is about to hit Montreal tonight. My portfolio is doing better now than before I left. My non-registered portfolio is now at a good $130 024.33. I should definitively go to Cuba more often! I have to say, during my week in Varadero, I went to Havana one day and there touch the water from a so call magic water fountain next to a church. And I sadly wish it all about money... but it seem to be working!

Here' the fountain:

I was in a hurry, with a tour guide, and some pictures are... dancing. But its all very authentic.

Vising a communist country where people live poorly and have access to barely nothing was never in my plans, and I am still against the principle, but my mother really wanted to go to Cuba, and I was the only one who could go with her. By visiting massively Cuba, foreigners encourage the current system. Cuban people are just too nice and sweat to begin a revolution and fight against their poor living conditions. They don't know anything else, but they are perfectly aware of what they don't have and don't have access to. This being said, Varadero and Havana seem to me like being 2 very safe place to visit. Cuban are poor, but there's no sign of any aggressiveness in them. They are happy people, but they are struggling to survive and to make ends reach. Havana is very magical and despite everything, I think we should all visit Havana at least one time in our life. I visit once, but it wasn't enough. I would like to spend a 5 days in Havana, maybe for a next trip, now that my portfolio is doing better. 

The good thing about Cuba is that trips in all inclusive resort are cheap. For a 7 days at Mercure Playa the Oro with Air Transat, I pay $929 + an $80 for insurance. So this was quite cheap in my sense. If I would had book one week earlier, I could had pay only something like $850.

My father suffer from severe asthma, so I didn't push for him to go with us. I had no idea how he could react to a hot environment and sincerely, if you are not in perfect health, don't go to Cuba, Mexico or any south destination. Since the environment is not the same, someone who is more vulnerable physically may catch some other type of germs to which him or her could react badly in reason of an existing sensibility. One thing for sure if you go to Havana and anyplace else in Cuba: don't drink any water. Asked for drink with no ice. Eat moderately. Water can be easily replace by Crystal beer or any delicious alcohol at any time of the day while being at the resort. And bring a thermo cup, coffee cup or something similar to keep your drink free of any sand.

I stayed at Mercure Playa de Oro located in Varadero Cuba for one week. The hotel was nice. Our room was actually nicer than the one and a half apartment I have in Montreal. I was in the room 1237. No hotel room was a direct view to the sea, even if the sea is about 5 minutes walk from the hotel. When we enter in the room the first day, a strong humidity smell came out from the room. We quickly open the patio door. After what, I check the bathroom - everything was fine. Toilet and shower in very good conditions, like new. We had a safe in the room, which was descent. The door of the room closed perfectly. We had to leave a towel on the ground while taking out shower because water was going on the bathroom floor, no matter what. There was a lot of humidity. Nothing would dry. We left the patio door open during out stay. Also, probably because of the strong humidity, we had some very small insects on the bathroom sink, but on the bathroom sink only. Not very much, but still noticeable despite being very small, maybe 1 mm. So we never left our toothbrush or anything in the bathroom.

Here are some pictures of the room 1237 of Mercure Playa de Oro:

The safe that work with the room card.

We had a nice TV in our room, we had a US and one French Quebec TV channel. But of course, we didn't watch a lot of TV. We were there for the beach! The beach next to the Mercure Playa the Oro was very nice, very clean. And when we hit the beach, usually, there was one hotel employee who asked were we wanted our chairs and brought it where we wanted. A real princess treatment.

The beach was very beautiful and the sea was nice.

However, there must some days had some beach bugs or something because I had some irritation at some points and I got a few bites on my sexy thighs. I no longer suffer from irritations but my skin is quite dry. During our first few days, it was really windy, I couldn't even wear my cute little beach hat. The sea was quite violent too. At the end of our stay, the earth elements finally became more human.

Brian Gallant is stealing the show at Tout le Monde en Parle. Way to go Brian!

New Brunswick economy never been on a golden road, and it seem like now more than ever, my hometown province is suffering from the current financial environment. Its a fun game when you have to leave your province just to be able to have a job and earn some money. At least, a compensation is coming forward for your favorite Dividend Girl as I am soon going to fly to Cuba Varadero for a week of sun, sea and beach.

New Brunwsick Prime Minister Brian Gallant was at Tout le Monde en Parle this evening - a popular French Quebec show. He was there to talk about Energy East project. He had an interesting talked. Oil need to travel in some ways. If its not pipeline, it will be by train. I know my home province is desperately in need of jobs, but I am not ready to accept Energy East project just because it will create jobs in New Brunswick. I cannot believe that we are still today rely so much on oil. No matter what, I am very proud of Brian Gallant, he did a nice job with that interview, New Brunswickers are being nicely represent. His job is so hard. New Brunswick has to deal with a lot of issues. Energy East is an easy solution for New Brunswick lack of economical prospect, but Brian Gallant needs to seek help somewhere else. There's no easy solution.

In the meantime, the TSX is not going through an easy time. I would just like to see a more stable stock market environment. It would make me feel less powerless. My non-registered portfolio is now at $124 348.94. Not too bad, I seen worst days.

I didn't have time to call back TD Direct to find out about JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN) dividends that I never earned. Back in December 18, 2015, this was the announcement made for JFS.UN:

"For the Fund listed below (JFS.UN), the Estimated Special Distribution will be paid on or before January 15, 2016, to holders of record on December 31, 2015. The Estimated Special Distribution will be paid by the issuance of units of the Fund, and immediately thereafter, the issued and outstanding capital of the Fund will be consolidated such that the number of issued and outstanding units of the Fund does not change."

???

I understood from this that I was going to earned direct dividend. But it seem like I can only dream. It was too complicated for the JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN) to please its investors.

Again, JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN) playing with my nerves

Sorry to begin this new post this way, but I still didn't received my JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN) dividend. Tomorrow, I am going to call again TD Direct and this time, I am going to push over the use of my sweetest, sexiest kitten voice ever and BEG for my dividend. PLEASE SIR. PLEASE!

One thing for sure, I am not going to give up on my JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN) dividend.

Another short post.

JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN): where are my dividends from the January 15 special distribution???!!!

It was a released to see the TSX going back to almost 13 000 points. My non-registered portfolio almost closed at 125k. It actually closed at $123 656.42. The stock markets are playing with investor nerves. Its not a good financial environment. Its disgusting. And when I read articles like this one, it make me laugh. Life is getting more and more expensive, you can't never save ENOUGH money. It wasn't long ago when I saw cauliflower at $10 each... At that price, you better buy frozen ones. In my hometown in New Brunswick, grocery can get really expensive.

I am very very disappointed, I didn't received yet any dividend distribution for my JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN) units. I should had received my dividend on January 15, $0.811 per units. I call TD Waterhouse to find out what was going on. As you know, I book a trip to Cuba and I especially need my money now. 

See, this is the reason why you always need to always check on EVERYTHING. I like to note in my agenda my upcoming distribution date. Because distribution date = fresh new cash to pay for my diet pills, makeup, anti-cellulite cream and so on. :-)

I just hang up the phone with TD Waterhouse - which is no longer TD Waterhouse, but I found that name much more elegant than just a boring TD Direct. The broker create a ticket and I need to call back in 2 business days to find out what's going on. This is the first time that I am not receiving expected payment. So I wonder if its not a problem going from JFS.UN, who suddenly decided to keep the money in their pockets. I had received some JFS.UN special distribution in the past, but not this year. I am upset. And all that for a bit more than $230... What can I say? I want my every pennies. That amount is actually paying a part of my Cuba trip, so sexy keep running for money wherever it can be found.

I will of course keep you update regarding the situation with JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN).

The only condition to received JFS.UN special distribution was to be holder of units since December 31, 2015.

You don't need Weight Watcher to lose wait, common sense is the key

My non-registered portfolio closed today session at $119 098.23 - which is way better than what I had been on lately. These days, I spend a lot of time at the gym and a lot less in from of my laptop. Its been announced that Weight Watchers stocks jumped after Oprah announced losing 26 pounds on the program. To lose weight, eat less, and go to the gym every single evening of the week. No need to enroll in an expensive problem like Jenny Craig or Weight Watcher. Keep your money for investment purposes, no Weight Watcher super junk weight loss program.

This post was short.

All in a bad day for the stock market

While the TSX kept losing points like crazy, I was at work, and following that, I hit the gym. As I was upset because the TSX went all down, I burned down 700 calories and went back home. At a point, I taught that the TSX was going to hit the 10 000 points, it was going all the way down, what a misery. The weather is quite cold in Montreal these days so I am quite happy to be able to move my booty at the gym rather than outside. Imagine, I train at the gym 2 hours everyday.

This being said, my non-registered closed this bad day at $114 245.91. I did not received yet any special dividend distribution from the JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN), I am still waiting.

Thank you JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN) for the special dividend distribution

Rough day on the stock market as the TSX closed today session under the 12 000 points. In result, my non-registered portfolio finished the day at $112 999. But I have at least a good news, the JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN) is about to pay a massive special dividend to its investor: $0.811 per unit. It may sound like its nothing at all, but its not. I hold some JFT Strategies Fund (JFS.UN) units inside my non-registered portfolio, TFSA and RRSP. Only from my non-registered and TFSA, I will be earning $234.38. I just wonder if the distribution will DRIP or not - and I hope not because I need money!

I currently hold $262.84 in cash inside my TFSA. With that extra $234.38 coming it, its about half of my Cuba trip that will be paid off. Recent reviews on Tripadvisors.ca of the resort I book continue to be so-so. I bought a little first aid kit as well as stuff against the mosquitoes - just in case. I also brought some Imodium (!!!) and Benadryl pills, and Advil as well. I don't want anything bad to happen, but at a point, there's nothing much I can do.

While the TSX seem going all the way down, I continue to train daily at the gym. I can do more than 2 hours without any pain now, which wasn't the case last week. I like the gym machines because they show how much calories are burn. This evening was a good 700 calories burn. While burning calories, I don't think of all the money I lost, had lost, or will lost on the stock market. I walk/run, walk/run and I sweat a lot, but I don't get to think a lot. Its the beauty of training. After work, if you train let say like me 2 and a half hour, following that, you won't have much time left to see how bad is going your portfolio and trust me, it might be better this way.

Personally, I would like to invest again in one of my longtime favorite, CNR.

These days, the stock market doesn't deserve any attention

This past Friday, my non-registered portfolio closed the session at a horrible $115 282.07. 

If I don't write a lot lately, its because I am very busy. Its busy at work, but I try to leave as soon 5 pm arrived so I can hit the gym and burn some calories before hitting to... Varadero Cuba. 

I registered to my local Econofitness and I had been working out every single day ever since, at the exception of today, because the gym is closed on Sundays. Working out is like a drug., but a good one. Its easy to get in the rhythm of work-gym-bed time. I really like working out.

I am expecting to continue even following my Cuba trip - if I ever come back lol.

The stock market is very disturb. In the meantime, I prefer to put my energies someplace else other than watching the tragedy taking place. I barely pay attention to what is going on right now, believe it or not. My portfolio can go as low as it wanted too, as long I can cover my margin account, I will have the rest of my life to recover. 

Things are extremely shacked up because, among other, the drop in the value of oil. CNR, RY, could worth right now the investment. It take a lot of resilience to invest in those down markets. Its when the markets are down that we need to invest - try to remember that.

I am getting my suitcase for Cuba ready.

How to deal with yourself when the stock market becomes frightening: investors don't panic

These days, the stock market is a rough place to be. My non-registered portfolio closed the session at $117 577.57. Its better than the 116k I was on not too long ago. During those hard time, its important to stay a bit detach. Of course, we all follow our stock, but it shouldn't be of a great concern when the markets are down. Its not anytime soon that the markets are going to recover. I never saw such terrible financial conditions since I started investing. Its frightening and its ugly.

While dealing with problems that never seem to come to an end, its important to stay focus on other things, if not, its going to be ugly. We all take at heart our finance, but there's when nothing much can be done. As for myself, I decided to let it go. I let my portfolio take whatever direction it want. Despite my detachment, I can feel your pain, I can feel my pain. And its quite of a maybe too hard symbolic to learn that someone like David Bowie died recently. He must have been a good fellow. What a voice and what an enigmatic star.

Now is the perfect time to invest your time and energy in all kind of activities. Now more than ever, its a good time to do it like a Dividend Girl:

-plan a cheap trip (like in Cuba, like I am doing now).

-do an in deep cleaning of your house/apartment (I did so the weekend ago).

-sort your clothes and give away things you don't wear anymore (done!) 

-registered to a gym and train (I registered this evening after work to Econofitness, tomorrow will be my first ever gym session!)

-read a good book

-start a blog (like me!)

 

 As you know, I book a week at a Varadero, Cuba resort and ever since, I am checking the reviews on TripAdvisor. Most of the reviews are good, but in the last one or two, its been said that some rooms got in fire following a storm and left tourists without electricity. True or not? Its barely possible to know. I gave a call to Air Transat, and from their ends, everything is ok with that resort... So I really don't know, but I am bringing a little flashlight with me in my backpack, who knows, I might need it. 

I have more than one month still left before leaving for Varadero, but I am already preparing my stuff. Once I will be back, you'll know where I had been. I will do a full completed post on my experience. Until that time, I am getting ready.

Regarding the currency, its better to bring in Canadian cash rather than US one. The money bills need to be in good shape - like new - so that way, they won't be refused. According to Air Transat, the best place to exchange the money is at the hotel (CADECA?), where they have a place there to exchange money - their rate is lower than the one at the airport - but that is difficult to know.

Yesterday evening, I was at the Trudeau airport - my brother was taking a plane to go to New Brunswick. As I left him so he could take his plane, I stopped by Currency Exchange ICE and just for fun, I asked about CUC Pesos. Its coming, soon they will offer it. The rate is $1.60 for 1 CUC - which is very expensive. Currently, $1,42 = 1 CUC.

That is for Cuba news for now.

In a desperate stock market environment, real cash is hard to save

Today was supposed to be an important day. I was supposed to hit the gym (yes!), but before going, I check online, and the local Econofitness where I wanted to registered was closed... Too bad! I was going to respect one of my many New Year resolution, but it just didn't happen. At least not today.

However, I did exercised anyway, despite the rain. I went for a walk on the Mont-Royal Avenue. On my way back, I stop by the Renaud-Bray library on Saint-Denis to read magazines, like I usually do, and to my surprise, I saw a "Quebec celebrity" with his young baby: Guy A. Lepage. I wasn't sure if it was him or not, but I check later on his Twitter account, and I saw that he had post a message about pushing a stroller... and taking note of all the stores that are closed in the Plateau Mont-Royal... It was the man. People left him alone. Only New Brunswickers like myself can get really excited when seeing a celebrity! hahaha! And it honestly very often happen when I am at my worst, wearing   jogging and no make-up on because its Sunday. I didn't learn my lesson yet. 

Plateau Mont-Royal is among one of the most expensive places in Montreal, its not a surprise that many stores have to closed. Rent for business owners might be extra expensive. At a point, there's too many restaurants and little boutiques, all cannot survived. And I think that this reality will be more present in 2016. As the stock market go down, people are getting scare and spend less. Its actually how I react to the very stressful climate we are in right now. Its not something that will be fix overnight. Some compare what we are living right now to 2008 but its far different. 2008 was about the US mortgage crisis. Lately, we had been facing a big drop in the value of oil, many jobs lost in Western Canada, China is coming out with a bunch of new problems that we never had to deal before - or choose to ignore. In all this what 2016 will be like? What I feel is that 2016 will be another very rough year.

You can imagine, now more than ever before, I am extra careful with my spending and I am currently writing down in my agenda how much I am spending and for which purposes... It could seem quite drastic, but I lost thousand of dollars on the stock market alone, I had book a trip to Cuba in February, and I am trying to put away some cash that would eventually stay in my bank account... Possible or not? Montreal itself doesn't make it an easy place to save money. It need a lot of self-control. Everything become possible only from the minute you put time and efforts into it. For the week of January 3th, I spent $120.73.

I don't have any formal cash reserved; its been the cased for the several past years. My dividend earnings bring in some cash, but all the extra money I earned in the past years went directly to buy new investments or to pay down some debt. I would like to have a couple thousands saved at the bank. My worst fear would be to have to sell some of my investments to cover some emergencies spending. Be 100% invested is not a good thing, for the simple reason that money is always and will always be needed. This is really not easy for me because the thrill of my next investment move is what used to keep me going. But in a market with such volatility, its my own little world that is collapsing under my feet and its not fun. Its not fun at all.