Time flies

Another month is over.

This month is affected by the extra deposit we made with the holiday money. The extra dividends the holiday money gives us during this time are not large but still more than zero. I welcome all the money.

We have also sold some securities and invested in others. We sold DX and bought more of the NRZ to name just someone.

Click to enlarge

Water your grass

Many people always think that the grass is always greener on the other side.

If you water your grass it will be the greenest grass of all.

I water my marriage, family, investments and work a lot.

Strategy

I have selected more than 70 securities that I invest in or will invest in. The wide range of securities gives me several options each time I invest.

I always follow my 5 factors, stock price, yield, dollar rate, ex-div date and if it's a monthly or quarterly pay date. Not necessarily in that order.

At the moment, I mainly concentrate on ex-div dates. If I am lucky, I can reinvest the dividend from a securities twice a month. I hope to perform better than the forecast for 2019.

Everything is a competition.

Veni vidi vici

In my eagerness to buy securities to update my new Google Sheet, I almost bought the wrong securities. Fortunately, the purchase did not go through before I discovered the error.

I almost bought TWO. It would have been bad because Ex-Div was yesterday and it is 3 months to next Ex-Div. Today's purchases became ARR and NRZ.

Success feels good.

Bad loser

I'm not going to miss any acquisitions today.

In order to ensure this, I will become the stock exchange's first customer today! I will start knocking the door 5 minutes before opening.

Last night's event still disturbs me and I have to perform better than he today.

Patience is a virtue

There is a healthy and sane competition between my self-appointed brain, AKA my husband, and I.

Imagine my disappointment when my account, once again, was completely blank. There is a small note that says "Some accounts are currently down, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause".

I am used to Nordea's, THE WORLD'S WORST, website by now so I'm not that upset. What bothers me is that my brain's account is completely intact. He could buy the securities he had planned.

If happy wife equals happy life, then we are deeply unhappy right now!

Acquisitions

One of my qualities is that I like numbers very much. I have compiled a document that will show my total future dividends as of 12.31.2019.

I will be able to make the first preliminary reconciliation 6.30.2019. Since some of my shares do not have a straight dividend, I will not be able to determine the result until 12.31.2019.

Yet I am very excited about this.

Since I failed to transfer money last night, I hope for a better hunting luck tonight!

Not again Nordea!

I have called Nordea's customer service so many times that I can almost just say "hi, it's me".

On several occasions, I have received conflicting information regarding the time of the last data run regarding transfers. Sometimes it is 4 p.m. and other 3 p.m.

Today, the man at Nordea informed me that it's 3 p.m. that applies and nothing else. This seems to be correct because my last transfer that I made at 3:20 p.m. has not enter my account yet. According to him, I will get them at 11 p.m. local time, 2 hours after the exchange's closing for the day.

I wonder what my significant other and I can do instead?

Alone time

Tonight the offspring is at the golf school. He comes home at 7:40 p.m. Which means my better half and I will have almost 2 hours for ourselves.

With a small resistance (here we go again) I agreed to invest the holiday money. As soon as I have made the decision, I am very eager to shop for dividends. My husband is much cooler and waiting for the right moment.

Let the hunt begin!

Nordea can export to Excel!

When I called Nordea's customer service, even their staff were not sure they had that function. Their customer support staff and I surfed the site without finding it first. It took us more than 10 minutes to find it. It's fun when their staff say the site can be more user-friendly. Even themselves have problems finding functions.

I have heard from several sources that Nordea is aware of the poor quality of their website and works with it. When I disregard that not even Nordea's own staff find the different features on the page, I am nevertheless satisfied.

The feature is available!

Forecast vs established

On March 31, I will receive an indication of the total dividend for 2019. Since I reinvest all (so far) my dividends and have a savings, I really hope for a snowball effect soon.

This is the first year I keep track of my estimated dividend compared to the coming actual dividend as of December 31, 2019.

I sincerely hope I am 2% over, but I have no idea. Nordea does not add up the dividends. I have to export the amounts to either Google Sheet or Excel. I'm not even sure it's possible.

I will give it another try before I call customer service at Nordea.

I wish I had said it

I have not a clue on who said or wrote quote: "successful investing consists of long periods of boredom and short periods of horror" unquote. But it is spot on.

The periods of horror can be scary or pleasant. It doesn't matter if the portfolio is up or down. Everything depends on what decision you have to make.

It can be scary to decide whether to sell off holdings with a large profit or take a chance and wait. With the risk that the course goes down.

It can also be scary to decide to sell a holding and take a big loss.

Everything is more or less just guesswork. If you do not have inside information.

I am not sure of if I like boredom or horror most.

Here we go again

My husband wants to put our holiday money to work, while I prefer to keep them at the savings account.

When I use my brain I am very aware that an investment with a 10% return is a smarter way to use the holiday money than to have them on a savings account with 0% interest. When the time comes and we have to use the dividends to pay for the credit card invoice after the holiday, I get very annoyed. I always want to reinvest all dividends.

Last year we used this procedure. In the spring, we invested the holiday money with the knowledge that we would be forced to take out future dividends to pay the holiday. When the credit card invoice came in July, we were unable to make any acquisitions, instead the credit card invoice was paid.

I know it's smart, but psychologically stressful!

Benefit

It's a privilege to have the authority as a CFO to advance the payroll day if I wish.

Since we save a part of our salary, it is a luxury to advance the payment date when a purchase opportunity arises. Buying a security at $19 instead of buying them at $19.75 2 days later is more fun.

I am very well aware that this is not something that everyone can do, so I am very grateful for this advantage.

Double standard

MSM, mainstream media, has just started to pay attention to FIRE which is the opposite to my formula, FUEL. The other day a TV program had a feature about FIRE.

It is, for some, provocative that people prioritize retirement over materialism. I am very aware of the problem that arises when people stop working and downsizing. Our entire society is based on consumption. If many people embrace this lifestyle early in life, we can have problems in the future.

One thing that struck me was the guests' double standard. They want to reduce consumption and negative environmental impact. At the same time, they invest in shares that require consumption and environmental impact.

Uncertain

When I find a securities that interests me, I buy a monitoring post. It is much easier to see the development. Usually I buy 10 shares.

The latest one I decided to buy was GNL. I thought for almost a week before I made the acquisition. The next day, I read a post where the person in question really advised against to buy it.

Time will tell if he is right!

NOOOO!

I wanted our domestic currency to be weak in the near future. In contrast to my desire, our domestic currency seems to have gained unexpected strength.

I  am expecting many dividends shortly. More than 11% of this year's total dividend within the next 6 weeks, all in US dollars. Due to the standard of our government I might get unexpected help. Any of our politicians can be inadvertently helpful. A single one of them can make a statement at any time that lowers our currency.

I don't know what scenario I prefer, it's like a choice between two evils.

Lost in mergers

In order to have relevant and updated information specifically for me, I have linked my Google Sheet to Google Finance.

Due to mergers, acquisitions, etc., my Google Sheet has not been properly updated in recent weeks. I have kept my cool and last Friday it paid off. All information was back and updated.

Throughout the weekend, I regularly picked up the document in my mobile and just enjoyed that all the information is back.

I am incredibly satisfied.

Nothing is written in stone

A week ago I sold off SCM and bought NRZ instead. This resulted in a profit of 7% and an increase in the annual dividend of 1%. Right now it was a good deal because the price of SCM has decreased and NRZ has increased.

When the yield for the SCM is higher than 10% again, I can very well buy them back again.

One of my best buy

Yesterday I made a good investment. I bought some joy for Young Master Dewlar.

I bought him a year at the Roblox Builders Club. He has been very good at his school work and I want him to know that hard work pays off.

The joy I saw in his eyes is marvelous. These are the investments I love most.

I knew it

Almost as surely as the sun rises in the East, my new acquisitions loses in value shortly after I bought them.

ARR went down (todays best advice) in price after I bought them. The main reason for this is that EX-DIV was the day after my acquisition.

It is still annoying to see the red numbers. Especially the days between EX-DIV and payment date.

Better late than never

The unit-linked insurance (young and stupid) I have was not so unchanging after all. I could not change from savings funds to shares, but I could change the savings fund. Only that was a huge relief.

I have had 100% of the totalcapital in one and the same savings fund for more than 16 years and growth has just been over 10%. I got my husband to login to his account, and it was exactly the same thing.

I felt so bad for him, but at the same time I was a little happy. I want him to have a lot of savings. At the same time there is always the competition between us.

There!

The choice fell on ARR, due to several factors. First of all, Ex-Div date is tomorrow. That means I get this month's dividends. It also is price-worthy, a slightly stronger domestic currency, MOPAY (abbreviations) and a yield of over 11%.

I feel like a winner today! Due to past experience (todays best advice) you can become a winner in a few days...

Today's best advice

I plan for the evening's purchases. Right now I choose between ARR and NRZ.

After I have made my purchase I will inform you. According to previous experience, the shares I buy tend to decrease in value after my acquisitions.

I am ready to take one for the team!

Size does matter

My husband has his AGNC shares at Nordea. He received the dividend yesterday morning.

I have my AGNC at Nordnet, I got my dividend this morning. It is frustrating to have to wait nearly 48 hours more. But Nordea is a much bigger bank.

The money that remained in the account and this dividend will allow me to make a small acquisition tonight.

It's going to be a good evening, hopefully!

Tax arrears

For many people, tax arrears are the worst that can happen.

In my world, it is the opposite. I have control over my income tax and know more or less what amount I owe to the tax authority.

I pay on the absolute last day due to two reasons:
Avoid unnecessary interest expense
Do not lend money to the tax authorities for free

I know that I can be perceived as obsessed, but I do not want to pay a single penny more in tax than I need.

Impatient

I really long to get some dividends now. I understand that I can be perceived as a bit spoiled, but I have not received a single dividend in the last 6 days.

I want to replenish my holdings. The feeling when I buy and update my Google sheet and get to see the increase of the dividend is very satisfactory.

I'll get a little payout this week, maybe as soon as tomorrow.

Young and stupid

I started a couple of pension insurances in my twenties. Since I was less aware I naturally chose to place one of the pension insurance in a unit-linked insurance.

Since my husband (senior citizen) is starting to approach the age when one can start to withdraw money from these insurance policies, they have become more relevant to us.

Last Friday I got an annual summary of one I had completely forgotten. I called the company and got my login. I logged in and discovered that I had saved in a unit-linked insurance that cannot be changed.

How stupid can you be?

FIRE

I read blogs on the topic FIRE, one is J.D. Roth blog named Get Rich Slowly (Get rich slowly). Briefly, he mentions 6 steps towards financial independence.

Fortunately, I haven't been on stage 0, 1 and 2. Fortunately, maybe it's not the right word, nerdy is better. I've always been careful and boring. Have never been out partying all night and gone straight to work. I always stayed at home and went to bed early on weekdays.

My passive income is to secure my future, not necessarily to retire early. Besides, I like my work. Nerdy again, I know. But most of all, I want to enjoy life. Now, not later.

I prefer FUEL (Financial Unbound Enjoying Life) much better.

Without fuel you will nowhere.

Free fall

I have to correct previous posts, the US dollar is not strong. It is our domestic currency that is unimaginably weak. Our domestic currency has been weak compared to the rest of the world during the year and in free fall since the ECB (abbreviations) left the interest rate unchanged 2 days ago.

I will receive 12% of this year's total dividend within the next 7 weeks. Since all of my dividends are in US dollars, this may continue until the end of April this year.

A dream would be a very weak domestic currency over the next 7 weeks, after which the US dollar could lose 50% of its value relative to us during the summer.

We have a 4 week holiday booked in America this summer.

To tread carefully

Me and my hubby have decided to speculate with some of our money. We sold SCM two weeks ago, at a high selling price and a strong dollar. We made a decent profit on this transaction. This made me want to work a little more actively with our money despite the risks.

Last Friday I bought back SCM at a lower price and a weaker US dollar. Today I sold SCM with 7% profit. I invested the entire sum in NRZ. In addition to profits, I increased my annual dividend by 1%.

As Scrooge McDuck would have said:

The experiment

Below is a diagram of my OXLC experiment that started on 9.25.2018.

The chart shows the time period 9.25.2018 - 3.6.2019.

This chart is updated after each purchase, or as soon as possible.

Click to enlarge

All good things come to he who waits...hopefully

As I have previously written, I intend to buy the number of shares needed to reach my fixed goal per company and year in dividends.

However, I do a test on one of my securities, OXLC. After the first purchase, all future dividends will be earmarked for purchases in only this securities until I have recovered my original investment.

If I was free to choose, I would have chosen REML instead, but because of EU rules I must not buy these securities anymore.

It will be exciting to see how long time it takes.

A small contribution to my stream

Although I prefer to make bigger purchases, I appreciate every little acquisition.

The choice today fell on OXLC. It met 3 of my 5 criteria. Ex-Div, yield and monthly payment. The toughest opponent is still the US dollar. The purchase price isn't high but not low either.

When you do not appreciate a purchase, regardless of size, you have a problem.

March 2019

Here comes one of the worst months of the year, which together with three others make up the year's worst, if you look at dividends. But just afterwards one of the best comes!

April gives me about 10% of the entire year's dividend income compared to March, which gives only about 7%. I am satisfied with the distribution of dividends. This is not something I have done with intent.

Sometimes it just gets good by itself.

Kill two birds with one stone

I sold some holdings last week (Don't know if I made right decision). I transferred the money as soon as I could to Nordea.

I was fortunate to sell when both the US dollar and the securities price was high. I bought back exactly the same holdings that I sold. After I bought back the holdings, I still had over $1,500 left. I just missed one dividend, SCM's.

The result of me chickened out last week was:

The upside

A profit of $1,500

20% of the total holdings were moved to Nordea, which gives an immediate tax refund

The downside

A lost $200 dividend

Here goes nothing

I finally made a decision. I'm going to stick to the original plan. I intend to keep buying, despite strong US dollar.

I lost myself for a while. My husband and I sat down and talked about why we were investing. Since we trade for the future, we came to the conclusion that it is better to buy regularly over time.

So we will continue to buy securities, despite the strong US dollar.

Been on vacation

Young master Dewlar had school holiday last week.

We have worked a lot and realized that time cannot be saved, as opposed to money. So we try to prioritize him when it's possible. This time we went to London.

It's a luxury to earn money (dividends) when you are absent from work. Given how expensive London was, it's good that I have some dividends coming next week.

Many passive income investors use this strategy to retire early. We use it to secure our future, but also to live a little extra on the road.

Much wants more

I have changed my mind. I don't want a river anymore, I want a waterfall.

My husband always complains that I never is satisfied. I disagree, I call it ambitions, shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars.

Were would we have been without my ambitions? He should thank me!