The stock market can be a spooooky place. This is especially true in volatile times such as the ones in which we find ourselves. One tool that, if used properly, can help you navigate the dark and foggy terrain is dividends. That little qualifier is an important one, but that is why I, as well as several other dividend bloggers track their progress. I mean, it's fun too, but ideally it will help educate and inspire others to take their first steps in the path to financial freedom. I've been at this for a couple of years now and while the numbers did start out comically small (they usually do) if you stick to it, you will see progress and growing momentum. Will this month prove the point or will a jump scare knock me down a peg or two? Let's find out, shall we?
PepsiCo (PEP): $5.23 ($1.78 taxable/$3.45 IRA)
SpartanNash (SPTN): $1.07
Domino's (DPZ): $0.09
iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO): $4.45 ($0.34 taxable/$4.11 IRA)
Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF (VOOG): $0.07
Coca Cola (KO): $4.98 ($1.46 taxable/$3.52 IRA)
Paramount Global (PARA): $1.71
Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO): $3.36 ($0.40/$2.94 IRA)
Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU): $0.63
Iron Mountain (IRM): $3.78
Kimberly Clark (KMB): $1.22
HP (HPQ): $0.11
AGNC: $1.28
GlobalXSuperdividend (SDIV): $0.12
Franklin Resources (BEN): $2.92
Leggett & Platt (LEG): $1.38
Realty Income (O): $3.57 ($1.34 taxable/$2.23 IRA)
Main Street Capital (MAIN): $0.14
JP Morgan Exchange Traded Fund (JEPI): $3.85 (IRA)
Stag Industrial (STAG): $0.13
Best Buy (BBY): $6.62
McCormick (MKC): $0.05
Wisdom Tree (DON): $0.03
Invesco High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (SPHD): $0.12
That brings the taxable sub-total to $26.78, barely up from last quarter.
Over in the 401K, the Baird Aggregate Bond fund threw in $2.35. If we add that to the IRA dividends, it comes to $22.45. Thus, the grand total comes out to $49.23. That is a lot better. Obviously, those IRA buys made the month. Be that as it may, coming close to breaking the $50 threshold in the weakest quarter month is pretty nice.
Interest clocked in at $1.45.
In addition to the buys on Robinhood (which you can read about
here,
here,
here, and
here) I also made single share buys of Westrock (WRK), VF Corp (VFC), Paramount Global (PARA), and Leggett & Platt (LEG). Nothing too crazy, but a steady and consistent round of buys for the month.
On other fronts, as expected, the balance sheet took an Ivan Drago right cross to the face, as I had to make a car purchase. The lease was up on my Civic and while Honda did extend it for another six months, I did need to finally wrap it up and I chose to purchase it. Of course, I needed a loan, which was a hassle, but there are actually quite a few upsides to this.
For one, there's an endgame. The lease cycle goes on and on. At least now, I'll hit a point where the loan is paid off and I'll be able to eliminate that expense from the budget. Not going to lie, I'm looking forward to it. More money to invest or enjoy, not to mention the fact that it's going to result in a lot less off-season hunkering.
Better yet, the monthly payment on the loan is less than what I was paying on the lease. So, if I keep paying what I've been paying, I'll still have it paid off early. This is the plan, though I'm going on top of even that by throwing another 10 bucks at it every week just for a little extra. As much as I love the idea of having it paid off in 2023, I'm not sure how realistic a goal that is. 2024 on the other hand, that seems much more doable. We'll see how things play out, though.
In the meantime, we still have a little under two months left to make moves and set the stage for 2023... or at least prepare for whatever random curve balls the year decides to throw at us. Hold on to your butts...I guess.
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