January 2017 Income & Expenses

The amounts below are cash amounts and are net of taxes, insurance, 401k contributions, HSA, etc. In other words, the amounts are what get deposited and withdrawn from my accounts.

Day job (take home pay) --- $9633.76
Dividends/Interest ---  $249.57

Total net income --- $9883.33

Expenses --- $15773 (Taken from Mint)

Savings  ($5890) --- Rate  (59.60%)

Well that really sucks. I honestly can't remember having a negative savings rate in the last 10 years or so. Oh wait......how could I forget the divorce at the end of 2015!!! HUGE negative.

Here is what happened in January.

1. I had to replace my 19 year old roof and paid for it out of pocket.
2. I renewed both my home owners and auto insurance. (1 year coverage)
3. My knee surgery bills are still coming in like clockwork.
4. Spent too much money while on a cruise!

I know some people might say that the insurance and the roof could be expensed over time, but I like the cash accounting method better. I simply take what goes in and subtract what comes out. Nice and simple.

Right now I'm sitting at about $3500 in expenses for February. I am in RED ALERT mode after last month!! The good news is that thanks to the market, my net worth is quite a bit higher than it was at the end of 2016.

KO raises dividend 5.71% --- New yield is 3.59%

Well it looks like I get another pay raise today. KO raised its dividend up from $.35 to $.37 today. This represents a 5.71 % increase! While not a high as some previous years, this is a solid raise nonetheless.

The ex-dividend date is 3/13 and the pay date is 4/3.

Since I currently own 262.02 shares, my yearly dividends will increase by $20.96!

2017 Dividend raises

• OHI:  1.64% --- $3.20
• KMB:  5.43% --- $8.03
• GILD:  10.64% --- $10.49
• CSCO:  11.54% --- $13.92
• TROW:  5.56% --- $9.09
• KO:  5.71% --- $20.96

Total yearly dividend increase is $65.69

TROW raises dividend 5.56% --- New Yield is 3.2%

Earlier today TROW announced a $.57 quarterly dividend up from $.54. This represents a 5.56% which is well above inflation and is certainly welcomed news.

The ex-dividend date is 3/14 and and the pay date is 3/30.

Since I currently own 75.72 shares, my yearly income will increase by $9.09.

2017 Dividend raises

• OHI:  1.64% --- $3.20
• KMB:  5.43% --- $8.03
• GILD:  10.64% --- $10.49
• CSCO:  11.54% --- $13.92
• TROW:  5.56% --- $9.09

Total yearly dividend increase is $44.73.

CSCO raises dividend 11.54% --- New yield is 3.53%

Cisco declared a quarterly dividend of $.29 per share up from $.26 per share. This represents an 11.54% increase which is really solid!! 

The ex-dividend date is April 4th and the pay date is April 26th.

Since I currently own 115.98 shares, my yearly dividends will increase by $13.92.

2017 Dividend raises

• OHI:  1.64% --- $3.20
• KMB:  5.43% --- $8.03
• GILD:  10.64% --- $10.49
• CSCO:  11.54% --- $13.92

Total yearly dividend increase is $35.64. 

Recent Buys --- KO & GE

Today I added to my KO position and initiated a GE position..

• KO:  50 shares @ $40.70 --- Yield  3.44%
• GE:  100 shares @ $29.69 --- Yield  3.23%

Total capital invested is $5017.45 and this purchase will add $166.00 to my yearly dividends.

I now have over 260 shares of Coke. One of my goals this year is to reach 400 shares which based on the current dividend would pay me $560 each year. I'm slowly getting there! GE makes a nice complement to my EMR shares which have really spiked recently. 

Forward dividends are around $7250.00. $8k I'm coming after YOU!!

GILD raises dividend 10.64% --- New yield is 3.17%

GILD recently announced a 10.64% dividend increase. The new dividend amount will be $.52 per quarter up from $.47 per quarter. When you combine a 10% raise with a 10% decrease in share price, you get an incredibly high yield of 3.17%. That is exciting stuff!!

The ex-dividend date is 3/14/2017 and the pay date is 3/30/2017. I will definitely be a buyer of more shares in the near future.

Since I own 52.45 shares, my yearly dividends will increase by $10.49.

2017 Dividend raises

• OHI:  1.64% --- $3.20
• KMB:  5.43% --- $8.03
• GILD:  10.64 --- $10.49

Total yearly dividend increase --- $21.72

Recent Buy --- BP & XOM

Today I added to my BP & XOM positions.

• BP:  50 shares @ $34.19 --- Yield  6.96%
• XOM:  20 shares @ $82.55 --- Yield  3.63%

Total capital invested is $3374.30 and will increase my yearly dividends by $179.00.

My energy position recently dropped to 9% of total portfolio weight, so it doesn't hurt to add a few shares of these energy behemoths right now.  If oil makes it's way back to $60, these will be a good buys.  However, if oil drops back below $50 then look out below!

Forward dividends are around $7080.

January 2017 Recap

Here are the dividends I received during January.

• PM --- $52.00
• M --- $38.13
• CSCO --- $29.90
• DIS --- $27.30
• MDT --- $25.80
• MO --- $21.35
• TUP --- $20.61
• KMB --- $18.40
• VIAB --- $16.08

Total dividends received in my taxable account are $249.57.

New capital invested last month was $17772.93 and this increased my yearly dividends by $725.

While this isn't life changing money, I know from experience that monthly seed planting will produce fruit over time. Plant, cultivate, and harvest is the name of the game.

Having seen some pretty massive cost restructuring at my company this month provides the motivation to continue hustling hard to build my passive income pipeline. Cost cutting can be unexpected, swift, and merciless. As a business owner (via stocks)  I welcome these types of moves as it provides longevity for the company as well as protecting future dividend payments.

On a day to day level personal level I see the devastation that results from people who have their hours cut or positions eliminated. At the end of the day business have alway been and will always be Darwinian in nature.

Anyway I'm looking forward to a great February and will continue grinding towards $10,000 in forward dividends.

Recent Buy --- VFC

Today I added to my VFC position.

• VFC:  35 shares @ $49.61 --- Yield  3.39%

Total capital invested is $1743.23 and will add $53.20 to my yearly dividends. This increases my share count to 145. This will probably be my last addition for a while. 

Forward dividends are $6900.00. $7k is ohhhhh so close!

Recent Buy --- VZ

Today I doubled my VZ position.

• VZ:  50 shares @ $48.05 --- Yield  4.81%

Total capital invested is $2409.35 and will add $115.50 to my yearly dividends. 

VZ is down about 10% this year and now yields more than T. That doesn't happen very often if ever. Eventually I would like to add T as a complement to VZ. Telecoms, while not very flashy can really juice up the dividend income stream.

Forward dividends are around $6850.00.