Mini App Spree. DONE for 18 months.

[kristin93]

Good Morning All, 

After gardening and paying down my overall debt to about 11%, yesterday I decided to pull the trigger on a few cards I have been stalking online for awhile. My profile PRIOR to the spree is as follows:

residence: TEXAS

full time student and full time employee (on apps I select full time employee, not sure which title works in my favor)

income: ~40,000 after all is said and done

AAOA: 1 yr 7 mos /Oldest Account: 3 yrs 4 mos

Scores: 753 (TU via CreditKarma) 746 (EQ via Credit Karma) 719 (via Discover Statement)

Accounts: 8 student loans, 3 revolving, 5 charge

NO Derogatory Marks OR Late Payments

Inquiries: 3 on TU 8 on EQ 8 on EX

Applications:

Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard: Applied for in the AM: instantly approved: $4000 

American Express Everday: Applied for in the early afternoon: instantly approved: $4500

Citi Diamond Preffered Card: Applied for just before midnight: instantly approved: $2000 **PULLED EX SCORE OF 715**

I am not sure what Barclays and Amex pulled but I've heard Barclays normally pulls TU while Amex pull EQ and/or EX. 

QUESTION FOR THE COMMUNITY: I was moments away from applying for the Amex Gold Card. I was really considering it until I realized the benefits sucked (in short) AND that it was a "Charge Card" NOT a credit card. I am by no means rich (obviously), therefore I cannot charge much. But I CAN pay my balance in full each and every month no problem.  I guess I just wanted it for show. I am thinking of applying for it tonight. I am not worried about HPs, as I have everything i want and need for the next year and a half (except gold).

So, Should I just throw caution to the wind and apply to meet the status quo? or should I just settle? Again, I am happy with what I have. One thing I dont want isAMEX to see red flags, freak out, and freeze everything if I apply again. I Just want another shiny card for my wallet.  

**SIDE NOTE: if anyone is at all curious about CreditKarma Accuracy, look below:

My scores were definitely off (Credit Karma is much higher than what CC companies pulled) BUT my “approval odds” were seriously accurate.

Barclaycard Arrival + World Elite: odds on CK were “Good” and listed in recommendations - APPROVED

American Express Everyday: odds on CK were “Very Good” and listed in recommendations – APPROVED

Citi Diamond Preferred: odds on CK were “Fair” – APPROVED

American Express Premier Rewards Gold: odds on CK were “Good” – APPORVED

[NRB525]

Congratulations on your planning and spree results!

Do you have a bonus spend requirement for the Arrival Plus?

Bonus spend on ED?

Adding another bonus spend requirement for the Gold?

Arrival+ and PRG cards have AF? Perhaps delayed but it sounds like you intend to keep?

The ED will contribute MR points, the Gold / PRG will still be available in 18 months so one possibility is: it becomes your Next Goal Card for later.

Good luck!

[kristin93]

NRB525,

Thanks! 

there is a bonus sign up for arrival +, $3000 for 40,000 points (enough for a $400 travel voucher). I am going on a long spring break trip in March and will be able to reap those benefits. There is also a bonus on the Everyday, $1000 for 15,000 (not sure how much that is). I will use that for monthly bills so I will make that quota as well. The basic Gold (the one  I fell like I have a shot at) has no bonus spend. The AF is waived for first year so my plans were to use it and lose it after that period (or transfer/upgrade funds to my everyday) Same with the barclaycard, unless I can get the CSRs to waive the fee again, I'll downgrade. 

Thank you for the advice! Wise words!

[elim]

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@kristin93 wrote:

NRB525,

Thanks! 

there is a bonus sign up for arrival +, $3000 for 40,000 points (enough for a $400 travel voucher). I am going on a long spring break trip in March and will be able to reap those benefits. There is also a bonus on the Everyday, $1000 for 15,000 (not sure how much that is). I will use that for monthly bills so I will make that quota as well. The basic Gold (the one  I fell like I have a shot at) has no bonus spend. The AF is waived for first year so my plans were to use it and lose it after that period (or transfer/upgrade funds to my everyday) Same with the barclaycard, unless I can get the CSRs to waive the fee again, I'll downgrade. 

Thank you for the advice! Wise words!

---

   PRG has a current offer of 50,000 for 1k spend / AF waived for 1 year. Although it is a charger, during the app you will be asked if you would like to apply for "pay over time" feature that will add revolving features to the card (any charge over $100 with $35,000 total charges allowed to add to the feature). Being a charger.... many are hit with just 1 HP when they app for a revolver and a charger in a very short amount of time.

You already have a nice spree and you can easily stop and be very happy with it.

congrats

[NRB525]

Ok, I think the general comment you will get is the regular AMEX Gold is stale. The points are only 1 MR per $1 spend, and still the $125 AF. You get 1MR point already, plus 2 on groceries with the ED and no AF.

The PRG, on the other hand, usually has some sort of sign up bonus you can get (for required bonus spend of course) and then starts earning 2MR points on categories. Slightly higher AF, but if you are looking at the use-then-cut program, the bonus award on the PRG is a big consideration.

And if you are looking to book travel in March from bonus spend on the Arrival+ that is not quite in hand yet, that's a short window to get $3k through the card and still allow time to get the bonus points, turn around and use them on a ticket. You'll be like Tina Fey, except using your Arrival+ more than the ED 

Edit: Arrival+ uses Statement Credits, so no worries about using the card to book the travel then circling back to use the awarded points later. The Tina Fey image still stands.

[uswala]

Congrats on the spree success!

[b_diddy]

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@kristin93 wrote:

Good Morning All, 

After gardening and paying down my overall debt to about 11%, yesterday I decided to pull the trigger on a few cards I have been stalking online for awhile. My profile PRIOR to the spree is as follows:

residence: TEXAS

full time student and full time employee (on apps I select full time employee, not sure which title works in my favor)

income: ~40,000 after all is said and done

AAOA: 1 yr 7 mos /Oldest Account: 3 yrs 4 mos

Scores: 753 (TU via CreditKarma) 746 (EQ via Credit Karma) 719 (via Discover Statement)

Accounts: 8 student loans, 3 revolving, 5 charge

NO Derogatory Marks OR Late Payments

Inquiries: 3 on TU 8 on EQ 8 on EX

Applications:

Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard: Applied for in the AM: instantly approved: $4000 

American Express Everday: Applied for in the early afternoon: instantly approved: $4500

Citi Diamond Preffered Card: Applied for just before midnight: instantly approved: $2000 **PULLED EX SCORE OF 715**

I am not sure what Barclays and Amex pulled but I've heard Barclays normally pulls TU while Amex pull EQ and/or EX. 

QUESTION FOR THE COMMUNITY: I was moments away from applying for the Amex Gold Card. I was really considering it until I realized the benefits sucked (in short) AND that it was a "Charge Card" NOT a credit card. I am by no means rich (obviously), therefore I cannot charge much. But I CAN pay my balance in full each and every month no problem.  I guess I just wanted it for show. I am thinking of applying for it tonight. I am not worried about HPs, as I have everything i want and need for the next year and a half (except gold).

So, Should I just throw caution to the wind and apply to meet the status quo? or should I just settle? Again, I am happy with what I have. One thing I dont want isAMEX to see red flags, freak out, and freeze everything if I apply again. I Just want another shiny card for my wallet.  

---

Hmm.  I don't get the need for the additional AMEX charge if your travel and spending habits don't warrant it.  IMO, there's no real upside (other than "feel good"), like reducing your credit to debt ratio.

Congrats on your approvals!

[gdale6]

Grats on your successful app spree

[Anonymous]

Fantastic Job, congrats on your approvals- enjoy

[Anonymous]

Congratulations!