| | | Just chat/off topic: Busy last week and early this week in retirement.
1) A tree's roots on the side of my yard had created a rising crevice in the sidewalk. After researching, I discovered it was my responsibility to fix the side walk. I did that last week, but the tree had to be removed to do it. $3,700, for tree removal and sidewalk replacement.
2) Because the side yard was pretty tore up, and the grass (since we moved here) seemed to be half grass, half weed, I decided to get a new sod lawn. $1,900. Looks great! Love it.
3) During the above, a shower faucet started to drip. Leaky. I called, non-emergent service, they came a few days later, fixed out the part, no leak now $494.
So, $6,100 due in the past week and a half, on top of normal regular expenses.
I put it all on a credit card that I want the points from. I live off my dividends for all expenses so this is a bit of a challenge. My plan since retirement (2021) was to always have 3x expenses just in my Schwab sweep account. It earns nothing--I know that, but is a backstop to my inner EF (6-months expenses-USFR) and my outer EF (27-months expenses-CFG bank).
I use the Schwab sweep account to pay the bills, with a pad, and make strategic portfolio reinvestments when I think something I want is on sale. So far as I can tell, I can have all this work paid off just using my sweep account and not even dipping into any EF. I will have to allow time to replenish for a month or so, but that is OK by me.
Yey for divided growth investing!
Back in 2012 when I started investing I had this dream I could build a portfolio that could throw off enough income to pay all my bills and finance my life's other interests. That's pretty much what happened. I told the story many times on the SA blogs, but Dividend Mantra was my inspiration and I always like to give him credit for my journey.
My first investment was in Aug 2012 (INTC) and the first dividend I received was $22 in Dec 2012. In 2013, I earned $329 in dividends--so after investing for 16 months. I got $351. But I could quickly and easily see how this snowball could amp up with amped up investments and so thats what I did. Luckily I made a good salary.
After 2013, I threw everything extra I had into DGI investing. What a blessing I found this group and the groups back in the day on SA.
Just wanted to say thanks to all here and SA. |
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