Happy New Year..May All Your Goals Come True...

2016 Goals

We are heading into 2016, and it is the time to write down the next year goals. after 2015 bad fiasco in financial terms, I hope that next year would be much better.

Last week my ex-wife told me that from January my girl will have to go to the orthodontic , to fix her teeth, I need to pay half of this and it will be approx. $1600 each of us. I didn't prepared for this, so I will need to find funds for that.

So lets go the goals for the 2016 year:

Goals 2015 - End Of Year Review

This year is ended…I started my blog 10 months ago, here is the final numbers -

2015 Goals - 

1.   Earn $1,200 in dividend income.

2.   Increase value of dividend portfolio to $37,000 at least.

3.   Reduce my loans to $6,100.

4.   Write 42 posts in my blog.

5.   Reach 13,000 page view to my blog.

6.   Have 125 followers at Twitter.

7.   Have 125 likes to my Facebook page.

so lets go directly for what I did this year:

Robert Shimen And Me

Us as a group of people who want to make an passive income, I assume that my readers read like me books and blogs from the people who 'did it'… I was two days ago in the discourse of Robert Shimen in Haifa, he was telling about the book – 'how come this idiot's is reach and I'm not?', I have learned few things from this nice hour and my conclusion is he is not an idiot at all.

And if the rich people like him made their wealth with their two hands they are far far away from being idiots. Period.

Now, it was a very nice evening, we got out from the net and the blogs and the books to hear the story from first hand and take a nice photo, and touch dollars dust.

Around the week before my girl watched few videos that tells how to make an passive income more then what I have, she wanted to be more involve of this idea, here is her conclusion – passive income is a real job until it become passive one, and even after you got it, it takes time to keep it, if not it can be hobby with a little income, like she do – complete puzzles. And the people who teach us how to make a passive income – it's their real job, just like Robert Shimen do.

Merry Christmas

Sharon

Side Hustles - November 2015

It is the time to post about my Side Hustles, I try to bring as much income as I can , so I can pay my child support(Alimony), I try to build few income streams in case I will lose again my day job income - Like it was before.

So here they are:

Dividend Raise - November 2015

1 Company from my portfolio raised their dividends:

The company raised its quarterly dividend by 4.5% to $0.575/share. 

Want to know which company? continue to read...

Dividend Income - November 2015

Another month has passed by and I'm glad to share my journey to financial freedom due to alimony.
In November I've earned $60.68 (after tax) in dividends  -

Dividend Portfolio Update - November 2015

Well, the time has come to update my dividend portfolio once again as heading to another start of a new month. My portfolio is my way to freedom from looking after funds to pay my alimony. One day, the dividend income this portfolio generates will fully cover my alimony. It’s important to keep in mind that I'm updating the overall value of my portfolio because if I have setbacks  I will use the funds in my dividend portfolio to pay my alimony.

Deer, Brown Bear, Elephant Got Into The Stock Market

The Investing world uses a lot analogy from the animals world: Monkey Portfolio, Bear Market, Bull Market, Elephent Gun( used by Warren Bufett).
In this post I will add 2 more analogy to animals:

Side Hustles - October 2015

It is the time to post about my Side Hustles, I try to bring as much income as I can so I can pay my child support(Alimony), I try to build few income streams in case I will lose again my day job income - Like it was before.

So here they are:

Dividend income - $41.69

Ads on this blog and my other blog about coins and stamps - $0.17

Delcampe store - $3.75 sales (Not profit!!)

eBay Store - $21 sales( Not profit!!)

Recycling Cans and Bottles - $16.28

Total Side Hustles for October: $82.89

My side hustles don't picked up yet, the ads on my blogs still are low income, but my main problem is the low sales in my eBay store and Delcampe store that it seems sales don't pick up, but now the holidays season starts so I will keep the stores open.

The Dividend income and recycling cans and bottles generate solid income so far.

Dividend Raise - October 2015

2 Companies from my portfolio raised their dividends:

The company raised its quarterly dividend by 16.7% to $0.14/share. 
The company raised its quarterly dividend by 5.1% to $0.41/share.

Want to know which companies? continue to read...

Dividend Income - October 2015

Another month has passed by and I'm glad to share my journey to financial freedom due to alimony.
In October I earned $41.69 (after tax) in dividends  -

MO - $11.02
GE - $6.90 (Sold after I've got the dividend)
KO - $8.41
KMB - $9.24
PM - $6.12

In October I didn't put new and fresh capital to work for me - It is sad for itself, but I've sold GE and bought PEP and OHI. from now on the dividends income will be a little bit higher , now I don't have cash in my account because I used all of the cash to buy PEP and OHI along with the GE stock sale.

Dividend Portfolio Update - October 2015

Well, the time has come to update my dividend portfolio once again as heading to another start of a new month. My portfolio is my way to freedom from looking after funds to pay my alimony. One day, the dividend income this portfolio generates will fully cover my alimony. It’s important to keep in mind that I'm updating the overall value of my portfolio because if I have setbacks  I will use the funds in my dividend portfolio to pay my alimony.

Recent Buy And Recent Sell - October 2015

In the last week, I've decided to take some action in my portfolio - I've sold 1 stock and bought 2 stocks, I did this to take profit and make more dividend income.

SELL

I've sold my all GE shares, after the news about the swap (if you want) of GE shares for Synchrony shares, the stock price of GE also got too high for me before the swap, so I took the profit , and will watch  in the next couple of months to see what will happened with the stock price.

Side Hustles - September 2015

It is the time to post about my Side Hustles, I try to bring as much income as I can so I can pay my child support(Alimony), I try to build few income streams in case I will lose again my day job income - Like it was before.

So here they are:

Dividend income - $70.68

Ads on this blog and my other blog about coins and stamps - $0.09

Delcampe store - $1.25 sales (Not profit!!)

eBay Store - $14.50 sales( Not profit!!)

Recycling Cans and Bottles - $12.58

Total Side Hustles for September: $99.10

My side hustles don't picked up yet, the ads on my blogs still are low income, but my main problem is the low sales in my eBay store and Delcampe store that it seems that the sales don't pick up, but now the holidays season starts so I will keep the stores open.

The Dividend income and recycling cans and bottles generate solid income so far.

Dividend Raise - September 2015

2 Companies from my portfolio raised their dividends:

The company raised its quarterly dividend by 2% to $1.02/share. 
The company raised its quarterly dividend by 2.7% to $0.565/share.

Want to know which companies? continue to read...

Dividend Income - September 2015

Another month has passed by and I'm glad to share my journey to financial freedom due to alimony.
In September I earned $74.46 (after tax) in dividends  -

AFL - $3.80
V - $1.80
CVX - $11.23
ADM - $5.67
IBM - $7.80
TGT - $8.40
XOM - $5.47
MMM - $6.92
WBA - $4.05
HSY - $4.81
UNP - $4.12
WMT - $6.61
DOV - $3.78

In September I had less dividend income due to the sell of my 5 ETF's in August , but I got 1 new dividend from DOV that I bought in August. Also I've got some dividend rasies in TGT , HSY , WBA.

How was your September dividend income?

I'm long on all the above stocks.

Dividend Portfolio Update - September 2015

Well, the time has come to update my dividend portfolio once again as heading to another start of a new month. My portfolio is my way to freedom from looking after funds to pay my alimony. One day, the dividend income this portfolio generates will fully cover my alimony. It’s important to keep in mind that I'm updating the overall value of my portfolio because if I have setbacks  I will use the funds in my dividend portfolio to pay my alimony.

Side Hustles - August 2015

First post about my Side Hustles that I wrote before, I try to bring as much income as I can so I can pay my child support(Alimony), so I built few income streams in case I will lose again my day job income - Like I was in the last 3 months.

so here they are:

Dividend income - $26.19

Ads on this blog and my other blog about coins and stamps - $0.10

Delcampe store - $2 sales (Not profit!!)

eBay Store - $0 sales( Yes ZERO!!)

Recycling Cans and Bottles - $80

Total Side Hustles for August: $108.29

I think that for first month that I do side hustles it is good income, What do think??

Dividend Income - August 2015

Another month has passed by and I'm glad to share my journey to financial freedom due to alimony.
In August I've earned $26.19 (after tax) in dividends  -

GIS - $5.94
AXP - $3.04
CL - $4.56
PG - $5.96
FAST - $3.99
COST - $2.70

This month I've sold 5 ETF's: DVE, IYR, IXJ, FDD and KBE.

This month I've bought 8 stocks: WFC, T , VZ, JNJ, DE, DOV, CAT and PM.

Next month probably I will have less dividend income due to the ETF's sells but I offset it with 8 new stocks so in the other months I will get higher dividends.

May dividend income covers 3.90% from the monthly alimony.

I invite you to write and share your dividend income of August.

I'm long on all the above mention stocks..

Dividend Portfolio Update - August 2015

Well, the time has come to update my dividend portfolio once again as heading to another start of a new month. My portfolio is my way to freedom from looking after funds to pay my alimony. One day, the dividend income this portfolio generates will fully cover my alimony. It’s important to keep in mind that I'm updating the overall value of my portfolio because if I have setbacks (like in the last 3 months I'm not working a full time job and I 'm doing side hustles), I will use the funds in my dividend portfolio to pay my alimony.

First Of September - My Life Is On The Right Way :)

In recent months I searched again the path of my life .

A year ago I've decided to make a change in my employment and learn a new profession - an insurance broker and an investment advisor .

At age 44(in 2 weeks :-) ), divorce, father of two children who is paying alimony(child support), it was a big risk, my studies cost a lot of money, I moved back from the north to the center of the country, and my new job was enough for basic expenses and alimony(child support).

As someone who has been throgh a thing or two in his life, I jumped back into the cold water with a lot of faith I can do it.

I enrolled in four courses at the same time to finish and gradueat as quickly as possible. 

I started a new job in a new city called Herzliya and it 

seemed that everything goes smoothly.

There was only one thing I didn’t tought about…

Dividend Raise - August 2015

2 Companies from my portfolio raised her dividends:

The company raised its quarterly dividend by 9% to $0.583/share. 
The company raised its quarterly dividend by 8.7% to $0.56/share.

Want to know which companies? continue to read...

Readers Advise - To Sell Or Not To Sell

Hi All

In my dividend portfolio there are 5 ETF's that for now pays me dividends, but those dividends are much smaller then if I will hold stocks that pays me growing dividends,but in the other view they are more volatility(it is also can be very good thing).

I will write the stocks I think that will replace those ETF's:

FDD (Europe dividend stocks) - SBUX 

DVY(Select Dividend) - PEP

IYR (REIT) - O

IXJ (Healthcare) - JNJ

KBE (Regional Banks) - WFC

I find those stocks much attractive to me then those ETF's , the big problem is that for each sell or buy I pays $23 fee - so it is total of $230 fees but in 20 years perspective it is not much money but in today value it is alot.

So what do you think about my picks? Do you think other stocks can be better right now?

Side Hustles Part 2

After the first post about my side hustles, I remembered that once i wrote a blog about stamps and coins long time ago, I did a google on my name and - I FOUND IT!! , there was also google ads on this blog, so I tried my best to find in which email I wrote the stamps blog( Coins And Stamps Are Us ) and I got into the ad sense account and there it was :$17.84 waiting there for me for 7 YEARS!!! I accumulated this without any writing and promoting, so now I have more passive income and side hustle : Ads Advertising in my blogs (Google + Amazon).

Not Much but every cent count for me now so I can pay alimony without to worry much from where I should bring the money.

What else can I do to bring more money?

Dividend Income - July 2015

Another month has passed by and I'm glad to share my journey to financial freedom due to alimony.
In July I earned $200.66 (after tax) in dividends  -

MO - $10.14
GE - $6.90
KO - $8.41
KMB - $9.24
KHC(KRFT) - $165.97

In July the Heinz -  Kraft merger took place and i got the special dividend that Kraft share with us stock holders $16.5 per stock. This is my highest dividend income so far,I didn't put new and fresh capital to work for me - It is sad for itself. from now on the dividends income will be lower and normal for me, I do All the dividends are still in cash because I don't have a day job and soon I will need that cash to pay the alimony.

Dividend Portfolio Update - July 2015

Well, the time has come to update my dividend portfolio once again as heading to another start of a new month. My portfolio is my way to freedom from looking after funds to pay my alimony. One day, the dividend income this portfolio generates will fully cover my alimony. It’s important to keep in mind that I'm updating the overall value of my portfolio because if I have setbacks (like in the last 2 months I'm not working a full time job and I 'm doing side hustles), I will use the funds in my dividend portfolio to pay my alimony.

Side Hustles

After 2 months of not working a full time day job 9am - 17pm, my financial situation took a nose dive, and i needed to find resources to pay my alimony, fuel to my car (so i can drive and see my kids), my debt (consumer loans and credit card debt), so I took 3 side hustles for the time to bring money home:

1. My Dividend Income - I've decided to use my dividend income that my portfolio generate so I use this small pile of cash every month and not reinvest it back into my portfolio, it is not a good idea but I need that cash now, but later when financial situation will be better I will return that money back into my account.

Summer Time...

Summer vacation is here and with him come the jellyfish .

Every second weekend, we do not need to plan what to do ... it's obvious....The sea...

Early at the morning we're going to the sea .
During spring and summer , I take my kids to the beach as much as possible ,enjoy freedom,the atmosphere is good, and  we relaxing  in the water of the Mediterranean sea, in these hours that we spend at sea where there is no homework or friends ,or any other distractions, we're having the quality time with my own children.

Cold watermelon. Pita with humms. San. Towel. Sunscreen. Water. Sunshade and us. Father and two children.

Dividend Income - June 2015

Another month has passed by and I'm glad to share my journey to financial freedom due to alimony.
In June I earned $114.51 (after tax) in dividends  -

AFL - $3.80
V - $1.80
CVX - $11.23
ADM - $5.67
IBM - $7.80
TGT - $7.80
XOM - $5.47
MMM - $6.92
WBA - $3.79
HSY - $4.42
UNP - $4.12
KBE - $3.66
IYR - $6.91
DVY - $7.28
IXJ - $7.56
FDD - $19.67
WMT - $6.61

In June more than half of my portfolio paid me dividends (17 companies and ETF's). This is my highest dividend income so far and first time 3 digits of dividend income. soon I will get the KRFT special dividend payment due to the merger with Heinz. All the dividends are still in cash because I'm waiting for the pile to get bigger.

Dividend Portfolio Update - June 2015

As from today on I will post every month my dividend portfolio update.

So as form the end of June 2015 (still 2 days of market trading) my portfolio value stands on: $33,281.

That is a very nice portfolio size for a divorced dad that pays alimony, each month this portfolio delivers me passive income.

So for the last 5 months since I've started this blog, I've sold last month 2 ETF's: PBW & DVYE, with that money and with the dividends I've received until last month i paid for my study(I study to get insurance sales person  license) and for the remodeling the flat i live in.

There will be bumps around the road but I need to ignore them so I get to pay alimony with my dividend income.

Dividend Income - May 2015

Another month has passed by and I'm glad to share my journey to financial freedom due to alimony.
In May I earned $25.88 (after tax) in dividends  -

GIS - $5.94
AXP - $2.73
CL - $4.56
PG - $5.96
FAST - $3.99
COST - $2.70

This month I've sold 2 ETF's: PBW and DVYE to cover my study payment and a flat repair.

May dividend income covers 3.86% from the monthly alimony.

I invite you to write and share your dividend income of February.

I'm long on all the above mention stocks..

Me and My Son

Each beginner psychologist knows that the presence of both parents control a child's life are critical to develop and grow properly , the male and female model prepare him to adult life.

But what happens in a divorce, where children are removed from one of the parents against their will ?

As a divorced dad, I was hustled against my will from my children, 5 -year-old daughter and son who was only six months, by police and court restraining orders.

Dividend Income - April 2015

I'm glad to share my journey to financial freedom due to alimony.
In April I earned $47.49 (after tax) -

MO - $10.14
GE - $6.90
WMT - $6.61
KO - $8.41
KMB - $9.24
KRFT - $6.19

This dividend income covers 7.08% from the monthly alimony.

I invite you to write and share your dividend income of April 2015.

I'm long on all the above mantion stocks..

Dividend Raise - April 2015

5 Companies from my portfolio raised her dividends:

The company raised its quarterly dividend by 3% to $0.6629/share. 
The company raised its quarterly dividend by 13% to $0.40/share.
The company raised its quarterly dividend by 18.2% to $1.30/share.
The company raised its quarterly dividend by 5.8% to $0.73/share.
The company raised its quarterly dividend by 8.2% to $0.33/share.

Want to know which companies? continue to read...

A Divorced Men Life

Here you will see what happens to a men's life after he got divorced. It is very sad but this video speaks for itself. 

I joint a Facebook group that calls "D is a Dad" mainly for divorced dad in my country.
We as a group try to help each other and to bring the awareness about the things that happens to a divorced dad to the public .

Hobby That Worth Money

Today I want to talk about my second hobby collecting stamps and coins, my first hobby is collecting stocks of good companies that will generate me passive income :) ) : I've started to collect stamps and coins when I was 14 years old (29 years ago), the collection of stamps started with the stamps that where on the envelopes that my parents got in the mail, and also I got my brother's small collection. The coins I've got from family members that went abroad.

Dividend Income - March 2015

Another month has passed by and I'm glad to share my journey to financial freedom due to alimony.
In March I earned $84.44 (after tax) in dividends  -

AFL - $3.80
V - $1.80
CVX - $11.23
ADM - $5.67
IBM - $6.60
TGT - $7.80
XOM - $5.17
MMM - $6.92
WBA - $3.79
HSY - $4.42
UNP - $4.12
KBE - $3.07
PBW - $1.15
IYR - $6.93
DVY - $6.73
DVYE - $2.82
FDD - $2.42

In March more than half of my portfolio paid me dividends (17 companies and ETF's). This is my highest dividend income in the first quarter. soon I will get the KRFT special dividend payment due to the merger with Heinz. All the dividends are still in cash because I'm waiting for the pile to get bigger (soon I will write a post about that).

March dividend income covers 12.60% from the monthly alimony.

I invite you to write and share your dividend income of March.

I'm long on all the above mention stocks..

Kraft - Heinz Merger

As many already know Kraft (KRFT) is merging with Heinz to become the Kraft Heinz Company. The new company will become the third-largest food company in North America and the 5th largest in the world. The best part of the news aside from a jump in shareholder value is that Warren Buffett is involved in the deal and will keep his shares in the company, so if he keep the shares I will do the same - I will not sell my stake in the new company.

Kraft shareholders will receive a 49% stake in the new company and will also receive a special $16.50 dividend.

Since I currently own 15 shares, my special dividend amount will be $185.62 (after tax).

Dividend Raise - March 2015

1 Company from my portfolio raised her dividends:

General Mills(GIS), manufactures and markets branded consumer foods in the United States and internationally. It also supplies branded and unbranded food products to the foodservice and commercial baking industries. The company operates in three segments: U.S. Retail, International, and Convenience Stores and Foodservice. Its products include ready-to-eat cereals; convenient meals, including meal kits, ethnic meals, pizza, frozen breakfast, and frozen entrees; snacks comprising grain, fruit, and savory snacks, as well as nutrition bars and frozen hot snacks; refrigerated yogurt products; ice creams; baking mixes and ingredients; refrigerated and frozen dough products; and frozen and shelf-stable vegetable products. In addition, the company’s products comprise organic products, such as granola bars, cereals, and soups. It sells its products directly, as well as through broker and distribution arrangements to grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, commercial and noncommercial foodservice distributors and operators, restaurants, and convenience stores, as well as to drug, dollar, and discount chains. Further, it owns retail shops that offer ice creams and frozen desserts. General Mills, Inc. also exports its products primarily to Caribbean and Latin American markets. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 7.30% to $0.44/share. 

You can watch my portfolio to view how many stocks I have in every company. 

Did you got any raise too?

Habits To Financial Freedom

Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility, to give something back. ~ Anthony Robbins
After reading a number of books and blogs about financial freedom, the thought occurred to me to write a post about the habits you should adopt to achieve financial freedom?
I divided the post to habits that will help us to achieve financial freedom, but first we need to understand before what is, in fact, self-sufficiency? This is when a man puts enough money to maintain a lifestyle provides without having to work as an employee time every day.

Dividend Income - February 2015

Another month has passed by and I'm glad to share my journey to financial freedom due to alimony.
In February I earned $58.51 (after tax) in dividends  -

GIS - $5.53
AXP - $2.73
CL - $4.32
PG - $5.79
FAST - $3.99
COST - $2.40
COST Special - $33.75

Thanks to the special dividend from COST it was a better than usual February, now I'm waiting to March dividends because more than half of my portfolio will pay me dividends (18 companies and ETF's) hope to get first time ever over $100 in dividend income.

February dividend income covers 8.7% from the monthly alimony.

I invite you to write and share your dividend income of February.

I'm long on all the above mention stocks..

I've Got Divorced - I've started My Journy To Freedom.

On the day I decided to get a divorce, I decided very clear - to be released and be free period.

My decision to be free not only on the physical level of separation of houses and at my I.D. card writing 'divorced' but actually free. Check every corner in my soul which 'scratches' engraved in me during marriage, the places where I do things because that this is my will or my personal need, and what I'm doing because I'm still under the influence of marriage and want to do things the way my ex wanted, but ... oops ... she no longer lives at home with me . It's just me live at home with me .A little curiosity about release started at the small things and coming to the big things -
Introduction - when we were married laundry and shopping were her responsibility.

Dividend Raise - February 2015

4 Companies from my portfolio raised their dividends:   

Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL), together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets consumer products worldwide. The company operates in two segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 5.60% to $0.38/share.  In addition, the company approved a $5 billion stock buyback .


Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) operates retail stores in various formats worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Wal-Mart U.S., Wal-Mart International, and Sam’s Club. The company delivered a disappointing dividend raise to its quarterly dividend of 2.10% to $0.49 /share.


The Coca-Cola Company (KO), a beverage company, manufactures and distributes coke, diet coke, and other soft drinks worldwide. The board of directors hiked Coca-Cola’s quarterly dividend by 8.20% to $0.33 /share.


Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB), together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets personal care, consumer tissue, and health care products worldwide. It operates through four segments: Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, K-C Professional, and Health Care. The company raised its quarterly dividend by 4.80% to $0.88/share.

You can watch my portfolio to view how many stocks I have in every company. 

Did you got any raise too? 

I'm long on all the above mantion stocks..

Dividend Income January 2015

This is my first post about my dividend income.
I'm glad to share my journey to financial freedom due to alimony.
In January I earned $42.08 (after tax) -

MO - $10.14
GE - $6.9
WMT - $6.48
UNP - $3.75
KMB - $8.82
KRFT - $6.19

This dividend income covers 6.3% from the monthly alimony.

I invite you to write and share your dividend income of January.

I'm long on all the above mantion stocks..

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog

This is my first post and the first step shering my dividend and financial activity with other people.

For twenty years I invest money at different channels at the stock market.In all this years I earned and lost money, but always I belived in myself that this is the only way to be financial freedom at young age, and another way to earn money to buy an apartment or to have money for retirement.

Five years ago I've got divorced after 7 years of marrige, I had to give up on my share at the apartment we had, as a part of the alimony agreement till my kids will be 21.

At age 38 I found myself starting my financial life from the begining.
I pay 670$ every month alimony and it will be over at 2031, when my young son will be 21 years old.
I invite you all to follow me and open your mind to a new way to be financial freedom, and not rupture under the burden of alimony or the oppsite of those who raise the kids alone with out any help or financial backup.

Yours,
Sharon