February 2023 Dividend Update. Slow month…

Dividend Income & Portfolio Update

Personal Highlights

• Since selling the cabin, we’ve got to work on a lot of the house renovations we said we were going to do.  New roof – done.  New floors – done. Rip out old fireplace – done.  We also picked up some new furniture.  One of the last things is to get the place re-painted.  We’ve started this and the whole job should be done this week!
• The kids had a school concert – it was Isaac’s first ever and they both did great. 
• Holland had her first ever sleepover party at a friends house last weekend, everyone survived and had a great time!
• Took two of my oldest friends (I’ve known them since grade 1) out for their 40th birthday dinners. We went to Nola and it was great! 
• We have one curling game left before the season ends – and just a couple soccer games before the winter/indoor season comes to an end.  I guess spring is actually around the corner!
• My little man got glasses(photo above)!  Apparently he has a slight astigmatism in one eye.  He loves them so far, and sounds like the issue could correct itself. 

Financial Highlights for February:

• Maxed out both TFSA’s in January!  I am still sitting on some cash in the TFSA’S, and I made a couple more purchases in February:
  – Added 400 shares of First National @ $38.43
  – Added an additional 100 shares of Fortis @ $53.90
  These 2 purchases add an additional $1186.00 to my forward annual dividend income.
• I also decided last minute (like VERY last minute, on the final day) to dump an extra $6500 into my RRSP.  I know I said I was going to start investing LESS, but due to the capital gains on the cabin sale and potential tax liability, I decided this one year it would make more sense to dumb some additional money into the RRSP.  I haven’t invested it yet – but will most likely just add to my position in XAW.
• Received dividends from 6 companies and  funds.  Dripped an additional 38 shares/units. 
  Dripped shares by year:
  2023: 144 (so far)
  2022: 733
  2021: 603
• February is my lowest dividend month each year – but I was able to increase my dividends by 12% vs last February.

Passive Income Update For January 2023.

TFSA’S:

Diversified Royalty Income: $33.84 (dripped 10 shares)

Artis Reit: $52.45 (dripped 5 shares)

European Residential Reit: $23.31 (dripped 6 shares)

RBNK: $92.91 (dripped 3 shares)

Power Corp: $125.24 (dripped 3 shares)

Nexus Reit: $15.84 (dripped 1 share)

Canadian NET Reit: $10.81

TFSA’s Total: $354.40

RRSP: 

Canadian Equity Income Distribution: $402.41 (dripped 10 units)

RRSP Total: $402.41

Total Passive Income February 2023:  756.81*

*46% of this was 100% Tax Free!

2023 Portfolio Update:

Portfolio dropped slightly by 1.25% to a $602,432.18!   

Dividends in February were up  were up 12% YoY compared to last February!  

Current forward dividend income is $17,934.00.

Cheers!

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January 2023 Dividend Update. New Portfolio High!

Dividend Income & Portfolio Update

Personal Highlights

• The new year is here, the holidays are behind us, and we are back into the normal routines (school, dance, soccer, curling etc).  
• I played in the Ironman  Curling Bonspiel over the weekend, which was a ton of fun – although nothing like real curling.  Basically you curl on the river, in -30 weather and the conditions are insane….no sliding out, just hucking the rock as hard as you can and hoping it lands somewhere in play.  It was still lots of fun though, they had beer inside, everyone had flasks outside, and everyone is just there to have a great time.
• Most of our house renos we wanted to get done are complete – we still have a few small things to do before spring, and we still need to get a painter in, but so far we’ve been happy with how things are looking.  I also grabbed a chair I’ve been wanting for years, as well as a couple vintage teak lamps.
• The kids both had field trips with school to the Aki center.  This was Isaac’s first ever field trip with school and it sounds like he loved it.  Holland is back in skating lessons with school as well every Monday. 
• Had a work trip to Vegas in January – so I spent 4 nights there.  The work part was good, the food was great, and best of all, I could sleep through the nights without a kid (or wife) snoring or punching me in their sleep…
• Two of my oldest friends (I’ve known them since grade 1) are turning 40 in the next 2 weeks(this year there will be a lot of us turning 40), so I am taking them out to a nice dinner this weekend to a place I’ve been wanting to try for quite some time – so definitely looking forward to that.
• Here are some pictures of the new chair and lamps I picked up in December/January:
  
  
  

Financial Highlights for January:

• Maxed out both TFSA’s in January!  I am still sitting on quite a bit of cash in the TFSA’S, although I did make my first purchase of the year.  I picked up 200 shares of Fortis.
• Received dividends from 10 companies and 3 funds.  Dripped an additional 106 shares/units. 
  Dripped shares by year:
  2023: 106
  2022: 733
  2021: 603
• Portfolio reached an all time high- cracked 600k for the first time!
• Back to back months of over $2000 in dividends for the first time ever as well!

Passive Income Update For January 2023.

TFSA’S:

Diversified Royalty Income: $32.91 (dripped 11 shares)

Telus: $67.17 (dripped 2 shares)

Artis Reit: $82.88 (dripped 8 shares) *Special Dividend*

Artis Reit: $51.80 (dripped 5 shares) 

European Residential Reit: $23.55 (dripped 7 shares)

RBNK: $92.25 (dripped 4 shares)

Algonquin Power: $259.45 (dripped 27 shares)

Nexus Reit: $15.79 (dripped 1 share)

Canadian NET Reit: $10.81

TFSA’s Total: $636.61

RRSP: 

Canadian Equity Income Distribution: $400.04 (dripped 11 units)

Equitable Group: $248.16 (dripped 4 new shares)

XAW: $295.60 (dripped 9 new units)

GoEasy Financial: $395.85 (dripped 3 new shares)

Transcontinental: $220.95 (dripped 14 new shares)

RRSP Total: $1560.60

Total Passive Income January 2023:  2197.21*
*29% of this was 100% Tax Free!

2023 Portfolio Update:

Portfolio increased 12.02% to a new all time high $610,029.29!   I’m still holding cash for the coming months to try and scoop up some great companies.  A few I have my eye on: Brookfield, Interrent Reit, CP/CN Rail, RBNK and XAW.

Dividends in January were up  were up 25% YoY compared to last January!  This was also the first time ever I’ve had back to back months with over $2000 in dividends!

Update on Goals for 2023:

1. Max out TFSA’S – DONE
2.  Read 1 book a month – Finished Soccernomics in January
3.  Pay an additional $10,000 on mortgage. – Haven’t started this yet. Though I have upped RRSP contributions.
4.  Bring wife on at least 1 work trip & do at least 1 family trip – 0/2
5.  Finish house renovations – Mostly Done
6.  Crack $20,000 in passive income – Current forward income is $16,441

As I mentioned in last months post – going forward, the plan is to actually invest LESS.  I will continue to max out both TFSA’s each year and put a bit of cash bi weekly into our RRSP, but now that I’ll be FORTY this year, I want to start working on getting the house paid off, and slowly getting portfolio built more for retirement in the 5-10 years.  I also want to start spending a bit more on things like travel, and entertainment, nights out with the family and friends, and other cool experiences. As of September 2023 the kids will also be out of daycare which will free up an additional $12,000 a year to either invest or pay down mortgage.  

Cheers!

December Update, Year in Review & Goals for 2023!

Dividend Income & Portfolio Update

Personal Highlights

• We made it!  2023 is upon us, and holy shit was it a busy December to cap the year off.  Here are a few highlights….
• Holland had her winter dance recital.  This was her second ever recital – last year she did 1 routine, this year she is in 2 classes (Acro & Jazz) so she performed two different dances.  She killed both of em of course….
  
• Like complete idiots, we decided to do a bunch of renovations in December (right before we were scheduled to host 2 Christmas dinners and a New Years Party).  Somehow, we managed to get almost everything done in time.  We ripped up the old floors, and put new luxury vinyl planks down, we ripped out our old ugly gas fireplace and patched up the wall, we got a new 75″ tv and mounted it, and got a new area rug delivered just in time.  We still need to do a few small things and paint, but the house is looking much better these days.
• Holland had her 7th birthday party, unfortunately I had tonsilitis so I had to miss it, but I was told it was great.  I also missed a friends bachelor party – but did recover in time to make it to the wedding! 
• Lots of parties & events in December including: Jets game with the work team, Work Christmas party, Curling Christmas Banquet, friends annual Christmas potluck, hosted New Years Eve dinner for my family and boxing day dinner for Amber’s family, Dinner @ Amber’s dads, brunch at my cousin’s and lastly a New Years party at our place that went until 4:30 AM!  
• One of my favorite things about hosting dinners/parties besides getting together with everyone is sharing some exceptional cocktails and pours.  Here are a few highlights from Xmas Eve:
  
• Made it our good friends wedding on December 30th.  Isaac stole Amber’s phone and was snapping selfies & photos of us all night. Here are a few.
  1) Wifey being cute
  2) Isaac and our friend Mitch being goofs
  3) Mom & Isaac
  4) The bride & groom
  5) Holland & Isaac lounging at the wedding
  
  

Lastly, Christmas was great – the kids got spoiled, and we will probably be opening new toys for months:

Financial Highlights for December:

• TFSA’s are maxed out – so no new contributions were made.  The plan is to max out both TFSA(s) on January 3rd.  I am still contributing $200 bi weekly to a spousal RRSP which I might increase a bit in 2023. Besides that I don’t plan on contributing much more this year – instead excess cash will probably go towards paying down the mortgage.
• I didn’t make any stock purchases in December, but I did receive new shares of the newly spun out Brookfield Asset Management.
• We are currently sitting on around $63,000 cash in our TFSAs, waiting to scoop up some more great companies at discounted prices over the coming months.
• Received dividends from 9 companies and 3 funds.  Dripped an additional 107 shares/units.  Last year I dripped a total of 603 new shares.  In 2022 I ended up dripping 733 new shares.
• With this months drips & dividends I surpassed last years total of each.  There are actually a few big year end distributions coming as well which won’t hit the account until January as well, so 2023 should start out nicely!
• Finished 2022 with $16,282.99 in dividends, a 16% YoY increase.  I was expecting to crack 18k, however I never ended up putting all my cash to work, so once I invest the cash in our TFSA’s our forward income should go up quite a bit.

Passive Income Update For December 2022.

TFSA’S:

Diversified Royalty Income: $32.70 (dripped 11 shares)

Artis Reit: $51.55 (dripped 5 shares) *Should be an additional $165.76 hitting account soon from a special dividend*

Western Forest: $26.65 (dripped 23 shares)

European Residential Reit: $23.32 (dripped 7 shares)

RBNK: $92.25 (dripped 4 shares)* Note there should be an additional $800+ special year end distribution coming in January*

Nexus Reit: $15.73 (dripped 1 share)

Canadian NET Reit: $10.64

Manulife: $351.45 (dripped 14 shares)

TFSA’s Total: $666.95

RRSP: 

Canadian Equity Income Distribution: $1019.61 (dripped 28 units)

Couch Tard: $84.98 (dripped 1 share)

RBC US Index Fund: $410.93 (Dripped 12 units)

RRSP Total: $1515.52

Total Passive Income December 2022:  2182.47*
*31% of this was 100% Tax Free!

2022 Portfolio Update:

Portfolio decreased 5% to a new all time high $544,579.13!   I’m still holding cash for the coming months to try and scoop up some great companies.  A few I have my eye on: Brookfield, Interrent Reit, CP/CN Rail, RBNK and XAW.

Dividends in 2022 were up 16% YoY compared to last Year!

Here is a breakdown of the last 8 years:

Going into 2023 I plan to put the money in our TFSA(s) to work, investing mostly in XAW, and a couple other stocks. A few other goals for the year:

– Max out TFSA’S (this will be done tomorrow)
– Read 1 book a month (minimum)
– Pay an additional (on top of regular payments) minimum $10,000 on mortgage
– Bring wife on at least 1 work trip & do at least 1 family trip
– Finish house renovations (painting, a few new pieces of furniture and some backyard work)
– Crack $20,000 in passive income

Going forward, the plan is to actually invest LESS.  I will continue to max out both TFSA’s each year and put a bit of cash bi weekly into our RRSP, but now that I’ll be FORTY this year, I want to start working on getting the house paid off, and slowly getting portfolio built more for retirement in the 5-10 years.  I also want to start spending a bit more on things like travel, and entertainment, nights out with the family and friends, and other cool experiences. As of September 2023 the kids will also be out of daycare which will free up an additional $12,000 a year to either invest or pay down mortgage.  I hope everyone had a great 2022, and I wish you all a wonderful 2023!

Cheers!

December Dividend Update & Year in Review

Dividend Income & Portfolio Update

Personal Highlights – December 2020

• My fitness kick has slowed slightly over the last week as I was on holidays and Christmas and New Years made it tough – but I fully plan on continuing into the new year.  I’ve got a fitbit tracking my steps, i’m running on the treadmill almost every day and besides the last few days I’ve been eating better and drinking less. Over the last month I’ve already lost around 10 pounds.
• Christmas & New Years Eve although very tame (we stayed home obviously) were great.  We had a very low key Christmas, but were able to see our families on both sides via video calls, and the kids got spoiled as usual.  We had a bunch of appetizers for Christmas, and I made some cocktails, and for NYE the wife made Manicotti with salad and garlic bread (I chipped in with more cocktails, including a Raspberry Margarita to start the day off in the new Blender that Santa brought)!
• We started out the new year by heading to Kildonan Park and going sledding. The kids had a blast (okay I did too) and since the weather is supposed to be great all weekend, I think we will probably be heading back the next couple days.
  
  
• My Brother turned 40 on December 29th.  For his birthday his lady turned one of the spare bedrooms into a study/library/whisky room.  It looks great, and his shelves are now full.  My sister and I decided to get him (and myself) a membership to the Winnipeg Whisky Club, which will allow us to sample a ton of fine & rare whiskies over the course of the year.
• Over the last couple weeks we finally got some snow.  I’ve started piling it all in the backyard for the kids to play on…so far they love it and it’s been nice to get outside when we can.
  
• The wife and I started watching Lost.  She has already seen it – but I never did, so we’ve been spending almost every waking hour (when the kids are asleep) binging it.  Currently on season 2.  There are a LOT of episodes…
• Last but not least, a good buddy had a layover in Calgary on his way home, and stopped by the World of Whisky and was nice enough to bring me back a few bottles that we cannot get in Manitoba.
  
  

  
  Financial Highlights for December:

• Made my first purchase in 3 months.  I picked up 1078 shares of Nexus REIT.  This purchase adds an additional $173.92 to my annual dividend income.
• Portfolio hit a new all time high.
• With the addition of December’s dividends my dividend income for the year was over $10,000 for the first time ever.
• Next month should be a very nice month as far as dividends go.  A few large positions are paying dividends in January such as: Algonquin Power,  Telus, Go Easy, Transcontinental and most importantly XAW (which is my largest holding).
• Already got my T4, so I plan on filing my taxes within the next couple of weeks.  Normally I wait for the first 60 days RRSP contributions, but since I had taken a temporary pay cut for part of 2020 due to covid my income was lower so I’ll save those RRSP contributions for next year.

Passive Income Update For December 2020.

TFSA’S:

Artis Reit: $36.63 (dripped 3 shares)

European Residential Reit: $7.78(dripped 1 share)

Plaza Reit: 31.03 (Dripped 8 Shares)

Diversified Royalty: $24.05 (dripped 10 new shares)

Interrent Reit: $4.50

Manulife: $41.44 (dripped 1 share)

Intertape Polymer Group: $55.15

TFSA’s Total: $200.58

RRSP:

Canadian Equity Income Distribution: $361.76(dripped 12 shares)

RBC US Equity Index Fund: $292.38 (dripped 9.978 units)

Total Passive Income December 2020:  $854.72

Portfolio Update:

My portfolio increased nother 2.73% in December to a new record high: $430,000.53!  Although I still think the market is insane right now considering the state of the global economies and unemployment rates I am feeling pretty optimistic about a few of my holdings for the future.  Specifically Western Forest and New Flyer which both had a terrible year, but things have started to run around.  I am hopeful Western Forest will reinstate the dividend before the end of 2021.

As I mentioned above 2020 was the first year I made over $10,000 in dividend income.  Since January 1st, I earned $10,822.54 in passive income.  Assuming no dividend cuts or increases, my current Forward 12 month dividend income is $12,294.49.  My goal for the year was finish 2020 with a forward dividend income of $12,000 – which I accomplished even with a few dividend cuts due to Covid!  I still haven’t made a goal for 2021 yet, but I’m leaning towards $15,000.

Here is a look at my total dividend income per year since I started tracking this 5 years ago:

Here are my year end Portfolio values on Dec 31 each year since I started as well:

One thing I’ve been working on this year was to try and get more income from my TFSA vs RRSP.  Currently 26.4% of my dividend income is tax free.  Hopefully when I write this recap next year that number is even higher.

This last year has been a wild ride.  We said goodbye to our fur baby Penny, I started a new job after being laid off from my previous job of 16 years, we went to Mexico in January and basically when we got back the whole world shut down.  All things considered the year could have been a lot worse.  We both still have jobs, we have got to spend a lot of time with the kids and we have all remained healthy.  We miss our friends and family, but we are hopeful things start to return to normal in the next few months and until then – like the rest of the world we will continue to stay positive and wait out the storm.

I hope you all had a great year, and have an ever better 2021!

Cheers.