Man, its' been a long road.
2005 I first signed up here with a 438 credit score. No excuses, but I learned some really poor money management skills when I was growing up. Spend fast, it won't last was the motto. And man, we did!
Got older, married and started to try and explore my options and found my credit score really killed all my chances. When I subscribed to Score Watch I was sitting at 438. I had tax problems, liens, bad debts, late payments and pretty much everything else you can imagine. About 5 years ago I got a real job and got my score into the mid 600's and got a few cards with $4-5k limits and promptly maxed them all out because I was an idiot.
Around this point I really started one good habit, to sock some money in investment accounts through payroll deductions. My goal was to have enough saved so that I could consider retiring. But, I screwed up and maxed out all my cards... so when I went for the bucket list card, the Fidelity Amex I got denied. #sadpanda
Spent the next few years paying off these cards and I'm proud to say that right now I'm under $5000 on a $25000k overall credit line. I've bought a house, new truck and generally learned to live frugally. Still, Fidelity wouldn't give me any love.
Today was a good day though. After having applied for almost 5 years (about once a year) for the Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card and getting denied, I applied and got the standard message '7-10 days letter in the mail'. Meh... whatever.. dont' need you.
Anyway... in my email last night I get this message "Welcome to the Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card" I literaly coudn't believe it. I had to read the email 2-3x to let it sync in. Bucket List! Yes!
But, I knew my credit was improving but not perfect so I figured it would be some lousy limit like my $1,000 Amex Delta Platinum. Ya, no.... I logged into Fidelity and have a $11,500 limit! WOOHOO!
So, bucket list achieved for me. 2% into my Fidelity account? Yes please!
So, I know this post is long and rambly. Thanks for reading. Just had to celebrate with the crew that helped me get hear. Seriously, this forum (and Reddit/r/financialindependance) has saved my financial life more than once. I learned all my core lessons about money and credit management here and will be forever grateful.
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3 ficos 670-680; Current status, csp 5000, fidelity 11500, amex delta plat 1000, chase freedom 4500, amazon sync 1000, capital one crap totalling 2550, barclay apple $4650 and maybe some other stuff I can't remember.
total cl is 36000
Congrats on hitting one of your bucket list credit cards and a great credit limit! Really awesome and I am happy for you!
