The Dividend Family Guy

After reading an article about education and learning from Mr. Money Mustache last week I starting thinking about my kids and their upbringing vs. how I was raised.  There was lots of discipline but also a tremendous amount of freedom.  That combined with loving parents taught me many lessons in life that I believe have led me to a great career and the joy of raising a large family.  The one thing that worries me the most is a fear that my children do not value gifts or money they receive as much as I did as a child. As a child I remember talking with my sister days before my birthday.  We share the same birthday one year apart.  We would spend the time talking excitedly about what we might get for our birthday.  Gifts were usually only on birthdays or major holidays.  Easter baskets filled with candy, or presents on Christmas or birthdays. Growing up with one TV that didn’t get the best reception left us with plenty of time to day dream about Christmas morning and all

A second month of above 50% of my income saved.  I don't think I have ever done that before.  It is part result of exercising with the FrugalMaster and part extra paycheck from my day job.  Every product sounds better with Master at the end of it right?  Well my product I was born with and continue to use every day by learning new things and challenging myself.  You guessed the product right, a mind.  You have one too.  It is a muscle and gets exercised every time I bend my willpower not to buy things I don't need.  Sometimes the evil marketers win out and I do make a purchase.  But over the long term I have been winning by saving and learning more about investing.  That on top of my continual drive at work to keep improving and learning new things makes my mind more fit than the rest of my body.  I currently have a sprained ankle being iced as I type.  Ah the joys of getting older. Expenses Overall I was under budget on all major categories that aren't fixed. 

On my journey to financial independence and early retirement I take a look at stocks every month that fit my screening outlined in the DFG Stock Screen .  Whether my savings allows me to purchase another great dividend growth stock or not I enjoy seeing what companies show up in the list every month.  Some have been in there for many months now and some are brand new. This month we have a few newcomers to the list.  Ameriprise Financial Inc. Ameriprise Financial, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services to individual and institutional clients in the United States and internationall y Donegal Group Inc. Donegal Group Inc., an insurance holding company, provides property and casualty insurance to businesses and individuals in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern, New England, and southern states. It operates through four segments: Investment Function, Personal Lines of Insurance, Commercial Lines of Insurance, and Investment in DFSC. 

The dividend wheel turns just like seasons change.  It is spring and the flowers are blooming and the birds are chirping.  What is better than that?  Well dividends of course!  They keep increasing (for the most part) and growing year after year.  This month I saw 4 dividends increase from dividend growth stocks I own.  Company Held In Dividend Amount Received Shares of life purchased April GPC IRA 2.63 $7.58 0.0763 Was 2.46 so div increased 6.5% UBSI IRA 1.32 $35.12 0.9569 CRWS IRA 0.32 $6.24 0.6753 IRA $0.44 FDIC Interest HRZN Taxable 1.38 $6.99 0.6005 GE Taxable 0.92 $6.13 0.1993 Taxable $0.06 FDIC Interest KO Taxable 1.4 $0.94 Was 1.32 so div increased 5.7% CNQ Taxa