We are now over halfway through the calendar year for the July 2021 instalment of the portfolio update. The investment was kept low this month to due placement with my course. The investments can wait until some cash buffer has been built to avoid spreading my savings too thin.
Building on the portfolio from June 2021, I did not have any additional funds to invest this month into my Pearler Account in ETFs. I would like to continue my strategy to diversify providing consistent returns and growth. This month, I focused on savings and budgeting. I undertook a review of my own budget to identify strategies for overspending. For a breakdown of the WeMoney budgeting app, have a read of the article I wrote here.
Goals July 2021
Unfortunately, I did not reach my goal to achieve an overall portfolio value of $20,000 by July 2021. However, reach the realistic target of $18,000 by the end of the financial year across the platforms. Ta new target of $19,000 will be set for the month of August as a more achievable goal.
Superhero Account
The Super Hero portfolio had a slight increase in the previous month but little movement in the short term. Currently, I am building the balance of ETFs in the Pearler platform. However, I would like to try investing in US stocks on the Super Hero platform. I received a distribution from the VGS and NDQ mounting to almost $100.
Pearler ETFs
Firstly, I have continued to invest in ETFs with Pearler in particular VAS. I want to continue to build a solid foundation of ETFs in case of a market correction impacting growth stocks. Secondly, I want to try and purchase some US stocks and continue the consistent returns over time. Thirdly, I am still resting at 3% of my target goal to reach a portfolio value of $100,000 in 5 years. More importantly, I am not overextending myself during times where I can spend money on items that are needed in the short term.
Cashback Rewards
A new area that I was keen to learn more about is the world of cashback rewards from your shop. Shopping is hard work at the best of times so knowing that I’m getting a reward back for doing makes it that much sweeter. I am always seeking new opportunities to save money to invest and this is one of those chances. Whether it’s on the weekly shop or for a present that you need to buy for a friend, these apps can save you money over the long run. They are encouraging customers to spend online and therefore you must be careful not to buy any necessary gifts just for a small cashback reward. To signup and start saving you can follow the link to ShopBack Signup Page. Once you have signed up you need to make your first purchase before being entitled to the $10 reward and an entry into a draw to win $1,000!
There is also Cashrewards that offers new customers $10 after they have made their first purchase with an affiliate partner brand. As this is an affiliate link I would receive a small commission on the referral. If you are interested in learning more about reward programs have a read of the article Do you want a cheap holiday in business class?
Sharesight July 2021
The online investment tracker Sharesight provides an easy to use investment tracker streamlining your investments. I use to track my investments in excel now I can see a live graph of their performance and automatic updates for dividends and distributions. Moreover, the tracker makes it easy come tax time as you can export the data straight to your accountant or financial advisor. I enjoy the features that allow the platform to link with Pearler and other brokerage companies. This makes it easy to sync he share information between the platforms. For more of an insight into Sharsight have a read of the following review Sharesight Review.
Looking Ahead
Next month, I will aim for the $19,000 mark. I would like to invest in some more ETFs and stocks that will generate a consistent return. I would like to find some extra time over the month to build the investment portfolio and stay on course to achieve the targets.
