Most dividend stocks and dividend ETFs pay quarterly, and this creates awkward gaps if you're trying to cover monthly expenses. It's thus a good idea to look into monthly dividend ETFs like Invesco S&P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (NYSEARCA:SPHD ) , SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:DIA ) , iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:TLT ) . They align much better with most people's rhythm of life, and they also compound faster than quarterly payouts.