August proved some changes in my Portfolio. From sneaking into Apple dividends with 1000 shares to buying over 150k Reits on Margin. but we cant forget the main reason for it all. THE DIVIDENDS! One day I will not have to make any moves at all and just live off my dividend income. Till then I will grind aggressively forward!
Here is my Dividend total for August
2014 Running Total - $3861.82
*Aug - $1,482.38 Interest total $87.79
*July - $1,239.74
*June - $608.62
*May - $531.13
August 2014 Dividends Paid
58.75 - REI.UN RioCan Reit
39.37 - HR.UN H&R Reit
105.00 - COS Canadian Oil Sands
18.33 - SJR Shaw Communications
50.70 - BMO Bank of Montreal
28.00 - D.UN Dream Office Reit
22.92 - ENF Enbridge Income Fund
52.65 - AX.UN Artis Reit
46.00 - CPG Crescent Point Energy
38.00 - PG Proctor Gamble
30.60 - CL Colgate
60.31 - KMI Kinder Morgan
704.07 - AAPL Apple
8.80 - DOL Dollarama
37.74 - CLX Clorox
50.91 - VZ Verizon
71.00 - RY Royal Bank
59.23 - T AT&T
$1,482.38 - August Total
$87.79 -August Interest Total
- Added new interest total for cost of borrowing on Margin- August interest total $87.79
- RY Royal Bank increases annual dividend by 5.6% from $2.84 to $3.00
- BNS Bank of Nova Scotia increases annual dividend by 3.1% from $2.56 to $2.64 making it its second dividend increase this year
In Summary
Highest total yet. Since I have started borrowing money at margin I will be paying interest charges that will eat up my dividend totals but as long as my dividends total outweighs my interest total it will all be good. Yes it is risky to borrow money to make money but it is not a significant portion of my net worth and I will be fine if things go sour.
Real Estate News
Not much too report but been pounding the pavement. I have been looking at rental income homes, Potential downsize homes and Lots for sale to build on. There has been a few interesting opportunities but not the right one yet for me to jump on.
Also helped my parents list a home of theirs for sale. Maybe an early inheritance soon coming for me. We will see how things pan out. I am not counting on or expecting anything from them but hey if they want to help me and fund my children's education I would be very grateful.
Market News
Portfolio is rebounding quite nicely from the other months late dip. I hope to report a decent net worth gain mid month if things stay on track.
As detailed before I made a big bet
LINK on APPLE for 100k. Things worked out and my option was called for an overall 5k gain after all fees and borrowing costs. The last few days Apple has dropped hard due to the ICloud Scandal. I have to admit I browsed through the pics of Jenifer Laurence ( Thank U Intrawebs!!!) I have since jumped back into another 1000 shares of APPLE at $99.11 average cost which is so far down a $1. I plan on writing options again on it once the price rebounds on it. I am hoping for another 5-10k gain on this bet and will update its progress.
My Big REIT purchase
LINK is down a lil bit 1% overall. I am not worried because Bank of Canada just announced no change to interest rates and also I snuck in a day before the Ex-dividend date on the REITS so it naturally is down a few days after.
Brewery News
Not much too report but just some standard closing documents for share structure. Official possession of new building is next month but we have access to it now. Equipment has been ordered and building improvements have already begun. Hopefully by Christmas we will be pouring our first batch of brew.
Other News- In perspective of it all
School is in session. Oh not for me but my daughter. She is starting junior kindergarten. We have been looking into schools in the area and we have found a non religious private school close by. Yes it is very pricey but I want better for my children's education. I know for me growing up the school system failed me many times. I just skated by as a young punk in over crowded classrooms with teachers not giving a crap about you. For me school was not a safe place and the last few years of high school I carried a knife with me to school for my own protection and a couple occasions I had to use it. School was an extremely stressful time for me and I dont want my kids to have the same experience.
This was a one of reasons why I moved out from the big city. I am very grateful and lucky for what I have. That said I have been debating back and forth about private school for a few years. Yes it is an enormous cost. I have estimated it will cost me $450,000 just to put both my children through to grade 12 and that's not including post secondary. Insane huh. How can one justify this cost.
To me its all about sacrifice. I am willing to sacrifice A fancy home to live in more modest dwellings. I am willing to skip out on personal indulgences (New cars, Vacations, Man toys) for my kids education. This is why I have been looking at downsizing my current home primarily to tell you the truth. Its an investment in their future. As a parent I have learned to stop being so god damn selfish. I used to be Scrooge McDuck grasping my money tight. I was wealthy but miserable. My only purpose was to make money. Now I realize life isn't just about money but living a fulfilled life with purpose. My purpose is to be happy and take care of my family. Dont get me wrong as money places a close second behind my family.
So as my daughter just finished her first day at school I was very impressed with the school and happy about my decision. The amount of time teachers spend with students, the amount of staff on hand, the smaller classroom size,the increased amenities at the school, the extra curricular activities they offer. Its everything I never had at a school. Perhaps my daughter will be CEO of a a fortune 500 company or a hedge fund manager one day. You never know! Even if my daughter wants to pursue a sports, arts career I am fine with it. Hell even if she wants to be a mechanic or a plumber as long as she has the opportunity to do whatever she wants to is all I can ask for.
This does not deter my end goal in life. My end goal is still to grind forward every year with an increasing net worth. I don't want to die penniless but hand down a legacy my kids can continue with as well grinding forward into the billions and trillions one day. I want them to become asset grinders always reaching for that next rung and challenging themselves in life.
So how was your guys August for investments? Any thoughts on private school?
