April Review / May Preview, 2016

Second Job Gremlin here to talk about April, and the prospects of May.  As I've stated before I have started a second job, working at a nearby brewery dispensing beer to the masses, and hopefully in the future becoming part of the team responsible for making it. It is still work, and can be exhausting; but it is probably the most fun I've had at a job since high school or summer college work.  I truly enjoy showing up, being useful, and dealing with both other employees and customers.  Its hard to relate this job to my Monday - Friday gig, where I cannot fully support that claim.  Having a second job definitely has pushed my consciousness of saving further, as I have to plan more meals in advance.  It also is helping me save money, because it will prevent me from doing something else those nights where I might instead be going out with friends for a good time.  All in all it has been a wonderful experience, and one that certainly keeps me extra busy.

April:

I was able to put $425 to work in Loyal3 over the course of last month.  I added no new Loyal3 positions this month. I did add one new position this past month.  I added 15 shares of Prudential Financial (PRU) in my Roth account.  This is the 3rd addition to my Roth account this year, with one sale also being a factor.

Last month I brought in a total of $84.31 in dividends ($64.80 taxable, $19.51 Roth).  This is an increase from last year ($75.32 total) by 11.94%.  These amounts and the increase is as expected.  My accounts have been pretty consistent in their upward dividend trending; this is exactly what I am aiming for.

In terms of dividend increases, I realized six this month from Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS), Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM), Dr Pepper Snapple (DNPS), Coke Cola (KO), Realty Income (O), and WalMart (WMt).  The range of raises is from 0.3% of O to 10.4% from DPS.  Also note that BNS and CM raised their payout in terms of their local currency, the Canadian Dollar aka the Loonie, so raise must still suffer Forex conversion.  Those are my favorite kind of raises, the ones my money earns for me.

Next month I will realize one dividend increase: Amerprise Financial (AMP) who have rewarded shareholders with an 11.9% increase.  (Post publish edit: Apple (AAPL) is also giving me a raise of 9.15%, sweet.  Don't know how I missed that one.)

Thus far for 2016, I have realized 12 dividend increases, and after May it will be 13 total.  Boom.

May:

Our only long term debts are our cars and my wife's student loans, and her loan won't last the year.  I will continue next month to throw some extra money at her student loans and my car.  If we paid her student loans at the minimum rate it would take around 1.5 years to finish otherwise.  I have already gotten ahead on my monthly payments on my car and that will not stop as well.  Her student loan should be finished around September or October, if everything else remains constant.

Next month should produce around $85 in dividends, which is a 25% YOY increase.  On the Loyal3 front I will probably invest $400 on existing positions.  I am trying to pump up our safety net savings a little bit on the side as well, which is the reason for the slight edging down of Loyal3 investing, especially as we head into summer.

My portfolio page is currently up to date.

Hope everyone has a great May!
- Dividend Gremlin
- Long all stocks tickers mentioned