The month started off with a welcome £50 win on the premium bonds (2 x £25).
It was then pretty much just a blur of work, gym, a lovely weekend away (which will be in a future blog post) and a trip to the cinema to watch ‘Avengers: Endgame’ (which I thought was epic). Is it wrong to take my own water and snacks to the cinema?
There were a couple of unexpected costs which had me dipping into my emergency fund – the down-pipe/gutter at the back of my house had blown down so I had to get that fixed and my car failed its MOT, requiring a new tyre and repair to windscreen washer.
Anyway, on with the numbers – how did I get on in May?
I saved 39.3% of my net salary, which was better than I thought as some expenses (holiday ones) have been carried over into June on my credit card.
I should be due the second part of my work bonus next month, plus a small pay rise will come into effect, so should in theory, be able to save more of my salary.
The above savings includes top ups of the above-mentioned £50 premium bond win, £67.40 from Google Adsense income and £138.30 affiliate income from OddsMonkey (thank you to all who signed up via my links!).
Shares and Investment Trusts
As mentioned recently, I sold some AJ Bell shares (which I acquired from IPO) and used this money to open up an investment in International Biotechnology Trust.
Current share/IT portfolio can be found here.
(Entire portfolio here)
Future Fund
The markets have been rather jittery this month I believe and my Future Fund has gone a little backwards at £164,227. Nothing to worry about, just continuing to invest.
Dividends and Other Income
Compared to last month, a more typical amount of dividends received.
Total dividends received so far this year comes to £1,378.50 so am a little behind on my goal but it’s still early days yet.
Here’s the main dividend income graph:
Matched Betting (MB)
Although the month passed quickly, in respect of MB, it dragged on because I was on a big unlucky losing streak! Note that this is not with ‘normal’ MB but with my more risky each way (EW) betting strategy. At one point, I think I was over £300 in the negative but a few lucky days and a strong final day of the month hauled me back into profit.
It wasn’t a big overall amount at £154, but I was so relieved to get it, plus it’s more than what I made last month.
Total MB profits so far this year come to £1,722 so am running behind on my goal but there’s time to turn this around. The next couple of months will be all on horse-racing with the domestic football season over. Just need the variances to be on my side.
As mentioned before, the MB guide I subscribe to is OddsMonkey*, which is great for beginners and experienced matched bettors alike with quality tools such as the Oddsmatcher, Each Way Matcher, Racing Matcher and Acca Matcher among others. There are step by step guides and also a friendly forum for you to ask questions and get help on any of the offers.
Some people find Matched Betting boring and too repetitive, but you won’t know until you try it and for me, it’s the ideal ‘side hustle’ to do when I want to. Anyway, check out the free trial* (with no obligations).
Goals Update
Here’s how I’m doing versus my goals:
My average savings rate continues to drop but I’ll carry on saving/investing what I can.
Passive income (dividends) was only marginally beaten by active income (MB) this month – the MB profits should be a lot higher.
I’ve finally finished all those books in that pile I showed at the end of my last update, so gleefully went to the library last weekend to grab a couple of books.
Prompted by SavingNinja, I’ve started to read a non-fiction book, the first of 3 which I hope to read this year. A few pages in, and I’m already struggling but I shall persevere and will do a short review when I’m done.
And that’s it from me. Both looking forward to and dreading tonight’s all English Champion’s League final…
So, goodbye to May (in more ways than one) – how was yours?
PS – for those who don’t see my sidebar when you visit my blog, you might be able to see my header where I’ve added a blogroll to check out other FIRE blogs.
[*referral/affiliate link]
I’m glad May is over, to be honest! Your savings rate is still great and your dividend income is also fab! I’m aiming for £1000 this year – fingers crossed.
Thanks Nicola and it looks like your own dividends are coming along nicely. Good luck with the £1000 goal!
I’ve been wanting to watch the new Avengers but I haven’t got anyone to go with (cue the sad violins). Mrs CFC is not a fan of fantasy, magic, action, guns, cars…basically all the fun stuff! I haven’t been to the cinema for must be about 5 years.
Nice set of numbers. Every time I see your updates, I always say to myself: “must read more into dividend investing”; but I never do. Maybe I need to set it as a goal or else it will never happen.
I don’t often go to the cinema on my own but occasionally I will and Avengers is a film I would have done so, except that I didn’t need to, as a couple of my friends did want to watch it. Your description of the films you like match the ones I like, though I’m not so fussed about cars – one film I’m looking forward to next is John Wick 3 – just re-watched the first 2 back to back, I do like Keanu! 🙂
You’ll get into reading more about dividend investing when you’re ready – I was a year or so into my own FIRE journey before I decided to do something about it, so perhaps it’ll be time for you too, soon!
I like Keanue movies as well. Not sure why, since I don’t think he is a good actor; very wooden and stiff. Perhaps that’s what I find appealing about him and in particular, the types of movies does; a bit niche and out there.
You’re probably right about dividend investing. With every month which passes by, I find my motivation increases a little more.
After the second leg v Barcelona, surely it can only be the Reds? My prediction is Liverpool 4 Spurs 1 …hoping for a really good match and atmosphere!
Not the greatest of finals, especially after the exhilaration of both semi-finals.
A most deserved victory however, #YNWA
I remember getting the single in 1963… seem to remember it cost 6/8d in old money (38p)!!
Avengers Endgame was soooo epic. It practically defines the word. Look forward to seeing where they take it all now.
My EW profits for May were about the same as yours although I only played 1/3 of the month- maybe I missed the bad days! Let’s hope for a good June
Loved it and need to watch it again!
Good that your EW profits were about the same and you spent less time on it. I’m actually looking forward to taking a break from it – down days are hard to take!
Oooh thanks for the blog roll – I love finding new blogs to read! Have pursued a more FI/work optional.path than going for full on RE.
(And yes, you’re not alone in taking drinks & snacks into the cinema)
Hi Faith
Good to hear that the blog roll is useful, wasn’t even sure it was a thing as not many blogs have them these days and I miss them!
I’m glad I’m not the only one then taking my own munchies into the cinema! 🙂
Looking good Weenie!
I started the book with you, it is difficult to read in places, but some of his theories are mind-bending! So different from anything else I’ve read about 🙂 I can’t wait to see how the book pans out.
It was probably a bit of a weird book to read to ‘gain happiness’ like my post suggested but it should change the way you think anyhow.
Cheers SN.
Yes, the book isn’t easy to read but is very interesting. Makes my brain hurt so yes, must be changing the way I think haha!
Another great month Weenie despite the dodgy markets, keen to hear how you get on with the non-fiction books!
Hey Ms ZiYou
Yes, it’s a bumpy road for the markets but I tend to ignore, until when I have to do my updates!
I think this non-fiction book might take me a while to read but I’m trying to read a bit every day.
Avengers was fantastic, I agree! And no, nothing wrong with taking your own food and drink into the cinema. They always charge outrageous prices!
Maybe I missed it, but, I’m curious which non-fiction book you’re reading at the moment?
Funny you mention the Champion’s League final at the end of your post; one of my friends is a huge Spurs fan, so that game was probably the most important one he’s ever watched! I’m just a casual observer, so didn’t mind who came out on top. Otherwise, not sure I would be able to cope with the tension!
Hi Dr FIRE
You haven’t missed anything, I just hadn’t mentioned yet what book I was reading (it’s The Black Swan) but SavingsNinja knew as he’s friends with me on GoodReads where I track my reading!
I didn’t think I would get emotional by the end of the Champions League Final but I did – not sure how I’ll be when/if we ever win the Premier League!
I had a quick read of the Wikipedia page for Black Swan, and it sounds interesting. Looking forward to a potential review in a future update!
Nice work on the Google Adsense income! I’ve had troubles trying to get approved onto the system (with emails going back and forward between Google)! Achieving £200 of passive income per month via OddsMonkey and Adsense is awesome!
PS – Thanks for adding me to your blog list! (I need to do something similar!)
Hey Jase
I don’t get £200 of passive income per month via OddsMonkey and Adsense every month! I probably get Adsense (minimum payout is £60) like twice a year, probably just about covers my website costs.
I hope a few more readers will find their way to your blog via my list! 🙂
Hey Weenie,
Congrats on another (x2) premium bond win. I went to see End Game in the cinema too. I enjoyed it, but felt a bit sad the story arc was over. I slightly preferred Infinity War probably because it left so many questions.
If I’m being organised I take drinks & snacks with me, but I have to confess to loving cinema popcorn so I do sometimes buy a tub of that. I use a cinema loyalty card so sometimes we get money off.
Nice to see your dividends still beating last year’s for the same month.
Corinna