Another dividend income report – yay! I love writing about dividend income; I wish I could inspire everyone to try it out. I promise you that it isn’t as scary as it sounds! Consistency is the key when it comes to building dividend income. Slow and steady will win the race 
Five years ago I had yet to receive my first dividend payment, so this just shows what a little time and patience can achieve! Although the markets have been quite volatile lately, I just need to sit it out and continue to follow with my plan. However, I already know that the plan from the beginning of the year has changed; quite a few of my holdings have suspended their dividend payments for the rest of 2020 which will have a direct impact on my dividend income.
See also: Dividend Income
Eventually, the aim is to use the dividend income to pay some household bills. Things like council tax, or water rates. That’s when passive income really takes over. We are such a long way off this! To pay fixed expenses each month from passive income would be amazing. To be able to pay for things that we have no control over, such as our council tax or the water rates, by using dividend income would take the pressure off other areas of money. One day, I am hoping to say we can do this! In fact, I’m sure we will be able to at some point, if we continue on the same path. It will be so exciting when we get to pay our fixed expenses with passive income. That’s the dream, right there In fact, I am aiming to have £1,000 a month on average to ensure this. Of course, some months pay out more than others but an average of £1,000 a month would be great.
The dividend income received in March is small – in fact only one of my holdings paid out during the month of March. There are always going to be swings in terms of how much income is produced by dividends, just because different holdings pay out at different times. Slow and steady wins the race. I am never going to be able to invest huge amounts, so this is something that will take time. We will get there! I provide up-to-the-minute updates over on my Patreon so make sure you join me over there.
Dividends received in March
Sage Group – £16.68
Total: £16.68
So, as expected – very small! This would not cover any of our fixed expenses. Far from it. So March is a month where I need to research having more holdings that pay out at that time. At the moment, all dividend income received is reinvested. Because my holdings are within my stocks and shares ISA with Hargreaves Lansdown, I don’t pay any tax on them either.
As I wrote about the effect of the magic snowball, mine is beginning to move slightly. By reinvesting the dividends, it’ll only create more income. I believe that continuing to live a frugal lifestyle and save as we go along will see us right in the end. I hope this is inspiring someone else to begin their frugal journey. If we can do it, anyone can! We are not depriving ourselves of anything, just making purposeful choices and it’s beginning to pay off. Literally!
My dividend income aim for 2020 is £1,600 received. As of now, I feel like this is a massive aim for us; it’ll be tricky to reach but I am going to continue to invest with my strategy and hope. To get that means an average of £133 a month, which as you can see I’m a long way off! At the end of the second month I’m up to £152.09 so very much a long way to go! In fact, I don’t think I shall hit my aim this year but it was set back at the start of January when things looked very different. Here’s a visual look at my dividend income for the past four years, with 2020 being added as the red line:
And as a quarter:
The growth should continue going up in an ideal world but I just can’t say at this point; I will continue with my investment strategy and just see what happens over the next few months. I’m in it for the long haul so things should even out – hopefully! I provide up-to-the-minute updates over on my Patreon so make sure you join me over there.
Have you received any dividends this month? Thanks for reading!
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Inspired entirely by your blog, I started my Stocks and Shares ISA in June last year.
March was my best month on record, I nudged into a three figure dividend payout (£113).
This would cover my council tax and monthly electric bill.
But March is, by contrast one of my busier payout months.
Although the monies aren’t available for me to reinvest yet.
Just crossing my fingers that the current troubles will soon be over as a lot of companies have pulled up the drawbridge with their pay outs.
Amazing! I have had some dividend payments suspended, so it’s a case of wait and see.