Reinvest Dividends or Take Them in Cash?

I’m wondering if I can collect some other opinions on this.  Not only do I see the benefit of creating synergy by allowing dividends from many companies accrue in your brokerage account, but now I’m thinking that taking them in cash might create even more synergy at a larger level in day-to-day living.

What does that mean?  Receiving cash dividend cheques or deposits would allow you to live more in the here-and-now rather than snowflaking it all into some future source of income.  I suppose it’s a trade-off.  Money spent now obviously won’t grow for the future.

You’d also need a substantial dividend cheque/ deposit to make it worthwhile, I think.  I’d want to receive at least $100 in order to make taking a cheque to the bank worth my time and energy.

I have dividends accruing with more than one company, but maybe I should pick one security’s earnings to deplete on a monthly basis.  I really haven’t considered that strategy before, since I’ve always been a very focused long term investor.

But I’m also interested in creating synergy.  If taking that cash now can open up another line of energy in a current project, that’s worth considering.

What do you think?  Do you reinvest or use the cash monthly/quarterly?  What would your limit be?  Are you really going to get excited about having an extra $50 a quarter in income?  Shouldn’t you just reinvest that?