Continuation from last post
After we were chosen, my wife started chatting, through text, with the birth mom. At first, the birth mom was very shy. Only ever texting when we texted first. This is to be expected as we are complete strangers and are looking to adopt their child. So the conversations start small. How is she feeling, what are her hobbies, etc.
Before we knew it, she wanted to meet with us. So at the end of July we took a trip down to Florida to meet the birth parents, both mom and dad. The meeting as you can expect was challenging. Both families shy, anxious, nervous, hoping things go well, but overall... grateful.
And after the initial jitters wore off, both families opened up about their histories and talked as we had been friends that we hadn't seen in year. We elaborated on the texts that had been sent back and forth like how they met, hobbies, family, future plans, you name it. The conversation never felt awkward and there was never any hostility towards the situation we were in. Both families were grateful that each other had come in to their lives.
So after the meeting, the birth mom continued to text back and forth with my wife. The conversations growing deeper and more elaborate with each passing month.
The process was going as smooth as it could go...
Friday, December 15, 2017
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
WE ADOPTED A CHILD!!!! - Part One, Background
Hi Everyone,
For those of you following along with the blog, you might have noticed that I have been a bit vague with upcoming (read: historic) news and how it relates to our financial situation.
I have been putting this news off for quite some time because I just was not ready to put it out there.
But now I am: WE ADOPTED A NEWBORN CHILD!
With this blog starting as a financial independence blog, I want everyone to know that - Our financial landscape has changed so drastically that it is hard to be on the path of financial independence any longer.
I hope this does not push any readers away from the blog, but it is the truth.
Kids, especially the cost of adoption, change things.
So here is how it all went down...
For those of you following along with the blog, you might have noticed that I have been a bit vague with upcoming (read: historic) news and how it relates to our financial situation.
I have been putting this news off for quite some time because I just was not ready to put it out there.
But now I am: WE ADOPTED A NEWBORN CHILD!
With this blog starting as a financial independence blog, I want everyone to know that - Our financial landscape has changed so drastically that it is hard to be on the path of financial independence any longer.
I hope this does not push any readers away from the blog, but it is the truth.
Kids, especially the cost of adoption, change things.
So here is how it all went down...
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
BTI Buy
And just like that, the next purchase is under our belts..
38 Shares of British American Tobacco (BTI) were purchased at $66.90.
Using a dividend of .57, this should add around $85 to the income total for next year.
Although not at its lowest level of the year, it is about 8% off of its highs set back in June. They are still trying to absorb the RAI purchase and they recently announced that they will be moving to quarterly dividend payments.
I like tobacco/sin stocks and MO took off and I already went down the PM road for a while with lack luster results over the course of 3 years. Therefore, it was time to give BTI a try. I loved my LO and RAI positions and this company has parts of both!
What do you think? Good Purchase?
ADD
38 Shares of British American Tobacco (BTI) were purchased at $66.90.
Using a dividend of .57, this should add around $85 to the income total for next year.
Although not at its lowest level of the year, it is about 8% off of its highs set back in June. They are still trying to absorb the RAI purchase and they recently announced that they will be moving to quarterly dividend payments.
I like tobacco/sin stocks and MO took off and I already went down the PM road for a while with lack luster results over the course of 3 years. Therefore, it was time to give BTI a try. I loved my LO and RAI positions and this company has parts of both!
What do you think? Good Purchase?
ADD
Saturday, December 9, 2017
Dividend Income November 2017 - My birthday & Spending $10,000
Hi Everyone,
With 2017 coming to a close quickly, its time for another dividend income post for November! Short and sweet income statement this month because I only had two companies paying me, OHI and ABT. A change from the previous quarter because I no longer have my Verizon position. That was liquidated a while back to help pay for BIIB, CELG, LL and VHT.
For those of you following along, it looks like the bleeding is done for CELG and BIIB has been holding steady as well. Looking forward to them resuming their climb in the new future... fingers crossed!
Even though this month only had 2 paying companies, the total was quite large!
My OHI holding is butting right up close to 500 shares now... at 495.69. The payout in November provided another 11 shares so the next payout will put me over the 500 share mark!
My ABT holding is too small to sell (fees) and to be honest it is one of my better performing holdings so there is no reason to sell.
With all that being said, the totals are as follows:
OHI $314.98
ABT $4.04
Money Market: $.16
Total: $319.18
Since last quarter, OHI has fallen pretty significantly and unfortunately there are definite merits to this fall which scares me a bit. Hopefully they will be able to weather the storm of tenants going bankrupt and not being able to pay them rent and stay with companies that are best of the best and slowly work their away from tenantss such as Orianna.
At this time, there are no worries about OHI paying their dividend as they have a very comfortable safety margin, but should more tenants experience issues, this could be a problem in the future. I will continue to monitor this situation over the next few quarters and make a decision on whether or not to cut and run or hold out. For right now, picking up 10 shares more each quarter is a truly remarkable thing to watch. I'm a bit in awe of the compounding nature of this holding.
To give readers the full history, I bought my final tranche of OHI back in May of 2016. In total, I have personally bought 428 shares of OHI. I now have 495. A difference of 67 shares. In August 2016, I received $264 in dividends from OHI. Through strictly reinvestment and OHI raising the dividend by a penny each quarter, I just received $314. $50 more each quarter!! and it is only continuing to increase. Like I said, I am a bit in awe. Now lets just hope they can manage their tenants and the stock and dividend keep performing well.
As for new updates... My birthday was yesterday, the 8th. I told my wife I wanted absolutely nothing for my birthday and she did it!!! So proud of her. She was feeling a bit weird (as I'm sure most people would) not getting me anything as it was a pretty big birthday.. 30... but, getting me nothing was the best present I have received in a long time. Just spending time with her and knowing that $50, 100, 250, etc was just saved on gifts was great! Knowing that there was no stress trying to figure out what I wanted but didn't really need makes me feel happy. We have so much stuff already, just give me time!
What she does not know is that I spent $10,000 dollars yesterday!! hahaha
I bought 182 shares of Realty Income Corp. at $55.15. I missed the opening price $54.93 by .03.. had a bid at $54.90. Oh well... if this holding performs in the future like it has in the past, .25 is not going to make much of a difference. This purchase adds $40 per month to my income! All total, with reinvestment, I should earn more than $500 next year with this purchase.
Talking about time.. $500 more a year is essentially one entire week of work I know longer have to perform. Talk about a birthday gift!
So, depending on the 401K payouts, I am looking to receive around $2,750 in dividends this year. With another $500 from O next year, I am back up to around $3,250. Moving back up finally! $3,250 should pay for 1.5 months of all expenses. With no mortgage, my wife and I are around the $2,000 mark each month for all expenses, including taxes/insurance on cars/house. For proof, my expenses spreadsheet has an average of $2,087 over the last 6 months. To get below $2000 we only have to not eat out twice or combine more shopping/grocery trips so we fill the gas tanks up a little less. Can't beat that!
I have a little bit more money to invest... I wanted DPS and MO but I did not transfer money in time so I will look for them to pull back a bit after nearly a straight line up.
In other news... how do you like the new google finance?
Personally, I think it was a giant step backwards. I wish they would have kept the recent stocks and chart page all on the same page. It was so nice to click back and forth and not have to jump to a new page each time. I also liked the way the charts were set up. The rigidity (is that a word) of the chart was nice. Now, they have moved it to look more like other finance pages and I don't like it.
Thanks for reading! Have a great Holiday Season. Save money, Invest and Spend more TIME with family this year.
ADD
With 2017 coming to a close quickly, its time for another dividend income post for November! Short and sweet income statement this month because I only had two companies paying me, OHI and ABT. A change from the previous quarter because I no longer have my Verizon position. That was liquidated a while back to help pay for BIIB, CELG, LL and VHT.
For those of you following along, it looks like the bleeding is done for CELG and BIIB has been holding steady as well. Looking forward to them resuming their climb in the new future... fingers crossed!
Even though this month only had 2 paying companies, the total was quite large!
My OHI holding is butting right up close to 500 shares now... at 495.69. The payout in November provided another 11 shares so the next payout will put me over the 500 share mark!
My ABT holding is too small to sell (fees) and to be honest it is one of my better performing holdings so there is no reason to sell.
With all that being said, the totals are as follows:
OHI $314.98
ABT $4.04
Money Market: $.16
Total: $319.18
Since last quarter, OHI has fallen pretty significantly and unfortunately there are definite merits to this fall which scares me a bit. Hopefully they will be able to weather the storm of tenants going bankrupt and not being able to pay them rent and stay with companies that are best of the best and slowly work their away from tenantss such as Orianna.
At this time, there are no worries about OHI paying their dividend as they have a very comfortable safety margin, but should more tenants experience issues, this could be a problem in the future. I will continue to monitor this situation over the next few quarters and make a decision on whether or not to cut and run or hold out. For right now, picking up 10 shares more each quarter is a truly remarkable thing to watch. I'm a bit in awe of the compounding nature of this holding.
To give readers the full history, I bought my final tranche of OHI back in May of 2016. In total, I have personally bought 428 shares of OHI. I now have 495. A difference of 67 shares. In August 2016, I received $264 in dividends from OHI. Through strictly reinvestment and OHI raising the dividend by a penny each quarter, I just received $314. $50 more each quarter!! and it is only continuing to increase. Like I said, I am a bit in awe. Now lets just hope they can manage their tenants and the stock and dividend keep performing well.
As for new updates... My birthday was yesterday, the 8th. I told my wife I wanted absolutely nothing for my birthday and she did it!!! So proud of her. She was feeling a bit weird (as I'm sure most people would) not getting me anything as it was a pretty big birthday.. 30... but, getting me nothing was the best present I have received in a long time. Just spending time with her and knowing that $50, 100, 250, etc was just saved on gifts was great! Knowing that there was no stress trying to figure out what I wanted but didn't really need makes me feel happy. We have so much stuff already, just give me time!
What she does not know is that I spent $10,000 dollars yesterday!! hahaha
I bought 182 shares of Realty Income Corp. at $55.15. I missed the opening price $54.93 by .03.. had a bid at $54.90. Oh well... if this holding performs in the future like it has in the past, .25 is not going to make much of a difference. This purchase adds $40 per month to my income! All total, with reinvestment, I should earn more than $500 next year with this purchase.
Talking about time.. $500 more a year is essentially one entire week of work I know longer have to perform. Talk about a birthday gift!
So, depending on the 401K payouts, I am looking to receive around $2,750 in dividends this year. With another $500 from O next year, I am back up to around $3,250. Moving back up finally! $3,250 should pay for 1.5 months of all expenses. With no mortgage, my wife and I are around the $2,000 mark each month for all expenses, including taxes/insurance on cars/house. For proof, my expenses spreadsheet has an average of $2,087 over the last 6 months. To get below $2000 we only have to not eat out twice or combine more shopping/grocery trips so we fill the gas tanks up a little less. Can't beat that!
I have a little bit more money to invest... I wanted DPS and MO but I did not transfer money in time so I will look for them to pull back a bit after nearly a straight line up.
In other news... how do you like the new google finance?
Personally, I think it was a giant step backwards. I wish they would have kept the recent stocks and chart page all on the same page. It was so nice to click back and forth and not have to jump to a new page each time. I also liked the way the charts were set up. The rigidity (is that a word) of the chart was nice. Now, they have moved it to look more like other finance pages and I don't like it.
Thanks for reading! Have a great Holiday Season. Save money, Invest and Spend more TIME with family this year.
ADD
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