Weekly Roundup - October 3, 2015


This was another sunrise I was able to catch this past week.  It was absolutely gorgeous and the picture doesn't do the majesty of it justice.  I love how the rays are lighting up the clouds.

This past week was crazy.  We had all sorts of issues with work, none related to my stuff, and then Wednesday afternoon I finally got to go home.  Or so I thought.  I made the 10 hour drive back home and then Thursday afternoon I get a phone call.  Turns out the company we were working for changed their mind and wanted to use our tools to finish the well instead of the other company that they had been using.  So early Friday morning after about 24.5 hours at home I got back in my car to drive another 10 hours and get everything ready again.  What a mess!  I can't say I was too happy about that and was very close to telling them there's no way I can go back out there.  But like the good little worker bee that I am, plus since I'm the sole provider for our household, I grudgingly drove back out there.  It should hopefully be for less than a week but you never know how things will go out here and you could easily be 5 hours from going home and then end up being gone for another 3 weeks.

I got some writing done this past week with two stock analyses going up on Seeking Alpha but for the most part I was doing data collection.  Data to catch up on my own finances from the previous month or two and also to start being able to write some more stock analyses.  I've got several lined up but now I need to spend the time writing them.  It's good to be back into a routine and back to "normal" and I plan on writing much more often that I have been so far this year.


If everything works out right I think I can squeeze in a purchase in the second half of the month.  At least I hope that's how things go.  I've been having to sit on the sidelines as the markets started to go a bit haywire and that's been absolutely frustrating.  There's a lot more value available now with dividend growth companies and it's quite refreshing.  I remember just a few months back how everyone's watch list, mine included, was just a few companies long and even those needed 5% pull backs in the share price to reach the buy targets.  But after the markets have retreated some the watch lists are much more rich and offer better value.  Now the tough decision changes to which one to add instead of which one do I settle for as being the closest to my buy zone.  That's a good problem to have and it's crazy how much can change in just a few months time.

In case you missed them, here's the posts from the last two weeks.
Also, be sure to sign up to receive posts via email and to follow me on Twitter@JC_PIP so you don't miss anything.  I also started a Facebook page to give people another option for keeping up to date on posts and happenings with the blog.

Also, I know several of you use Scottrade and unfortunately they announced they were hacked and had a data breach.  They say it's just contact information but make sure you check into your accounts and make sure to change your passwords.

Once again I'd like to say thanks to each and every one of you that read, commented, and shared posts from here this past week.  I think this dividend growth investing and financial independence community is amazing and the openness from everyone is awesome.  Thanks again!

Now on to the links!

Freedom Fund Update - October 2015 by Dividend Mantra

Whatever will happen, will happen by Dividend Hustler

The endless chase by Tawcan

Dividend Portfolio Sector Allocation - September 2015 by DivHut

Define the right stock price in a volatile market by The DivGuy on My Dividend Growth

An update and a new buy by Income Surfer

How to properly weight dividend portfolio holdings by Dividend Growth Investor

A few quotes from Seth Klarman's "Margin of Safety" by Building a Stable Dividend Portfolio

How to create multi-generational financial security by Financial Samurai

Progress towards a balanced lifestyle by Financially Integrated

Outlook for October 2015 by Roadmap2Retire

Also, if you're looking for investment ideas, A Frugal Family's Journey keeps a list of stock analyses and recent buys from fellow bloggers.

I hope you all have a great weekend and that you all get to enjoy some nice weather.  The slightly cooler temperatures here are more than welcomed.

Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing my New Buy buddy! I'm sorry you only got to spend a few hours at home this time. I'm sure it's great motivation for you to get into semi FI in the near term. I know you look forward to living with your wife full time. Be safe and find that crude :o)
    -Bryan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bryan,

      Yeah this whole situation was kind of messed up but you're right it just makes me want to reach FI or semi-FI even quicker. We're up to $6k in annual dividends but we've still got a ways to do. Go drive some extra miles to waste some gas so I can keep working! ;)

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  2. Great set of links here. Thanks for including me, JC. Too bad you had to drive all the way home and then drive back to work next day. Hope things ease up.

    Have a good weekend
    R2R

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. R2R,

      It was a huge pain to drive that far just to turn around and come back. But at least I got a day at home. The guy that does my job on another rig close by had the same thing happen to him but he hadn't even got home yet. He had done about 8 hours of his 10 hour drive. Normally it doesn't work like this.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  3. Thanks for the weekend read and including me JC. Keep hustling it up bud. Get back to normal and plug away. A wonderful new chapter. Let's wish for the best.
    Can't wait to hear your new buy. Take care JC.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DH,

      That's about all that we can really do, just get back to doing something and move forward. I hope to be able to actually make a buy this month and it looks like I'll be close as far as capital. I think I should be able to. Now the problem is going to be deciding which one although I think I'm leaning towards ETN right now because I'd like to add the company to my portfolio and the current valuation is solid.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  4. Thats a cool sunrise JC. I saw a bunch of beautiful sunsets on my trip to Greece recently. Amazing what viewing this simple daily act can do for your spirits!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Integrator,

      A trip to Greece! That sounds awesome. I've wanted to go and heard the views are pretty amazing. Being able to see the sunrise and sunset on a daily basis is one of the things I like about my job. Plus whenever the weather cooperates and I get to go for a walk or run I'm out in the middle of nowhere so it's quite peaceful and rejuvenating.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  5. Thank you for the DivHut mention. Always appreciate it. Awesome photo by the way. It was such a calming image right before I read about your insane driving trek. Appreciate any time you can write/contribute to the FI blogosphere. I know you are busy with "life." Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DivHut,

      A bit of a contrast I guess. I should be a lot more active now that I'm back to working. That's one big advantage of my job, I can write while "on the clock" as long as things are going well.

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  6. Ugh, that driving adventure made me feel the road rage! Way to suck it up though, it'll only make you that much more reliable and valuable to your work. Thanks for the reading list and for linking to my site. Hope you at least had a good weekend and have a nice week ahead my friend!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment