Addicted to App'ing - Reports Frozen, joining the garden

[kdm31091]

For some it is a true addiction and sometimes the advice here leans too much toward app app app. Of course one has to exercise their own discipline too.

[TRC_WA]

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@kdm31091 wrote:
For some it is a true addiction and sometimes the advice here leans too much toward app app app. Of course one has to exercise their own discipline too.

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Exactly... and yeah... the "app app app" advice here doesn't help.

I did go for the Venture because the bonus was useful.  I avoided the latest FOTM NBA card because it wasn't useful.  The mega approvals had no effect on my decision.

[medo]

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@TRC_WA wrote:

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@akula wrote:

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Admitting there is a problem is the first step.  I think if it was a tad bit more inconvenient to unfreeze your reports, it might be more useful - example, you should mail in the form for EQ.  You made the right choice, and congrats on taking the first step.  It may be even useful to stay away from the myfico forums, if the allure of new cards starts to be a problem; I have seen examples of certain individuals feeding off the attention of others when their erratic behavior gets out of hand.  Some never learn and just go right back to their addiction of apping, so if it gets to that point, it may be best to distance yourself.  Best of luck to you!

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I'm amazed at these "I'm addicted to apping threads" like it's a drug addiction or something.

Gardening is not difficult...  I did it for all of 2014 prior to my end of year app spree and new car purchase in January.  I set goals to get those accounts and told myself unnecessary apps and INQs would only cause me to fail.

Didn't take anything more than that.

I opened another account a couple weeks ago... and will be gardening the rest of 2015.  I've got a new goal... and that is my reports will be clear of my BK13 derogs on 10/1 (TU) and 1/1/16 (EQ/EX) with early exclusion.  When everything is clear I will have clean reports and 6+ months of no apps.

It isn't any harder than that for me... no need to freeze my reports.

I've never once woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat thinking about applying for a CC but based on what I've read on these forums I'd guess it happens quite frequently to the "addicts."

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That's good for you, but it can be an addiction and can be seen by a few users here just from their posts.

It sounds like you have discipline.  I, my friend, am not so displined, so I have to do things to lock myself out of my bad habbits.  

It can indeed be an addiction.  I had very impulsive behavior with CC app'ing that I felt was out of control.

Just because it does no harm doesn't mean it is less of an addiction.  Everyone is addicted to something, good, bad or neutral. 

[Anonymous]

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@TRC_WA wrote:

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@akula wrote:

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Admitting there is a problem is the first step.  I think if it was a tad bit more inconvenient to unfreeze your reports, it might be more useful - example, you should mail in the form for EQ.  You made the right choice, and congrats on taking the first step.  It may be even useful to stay away from the myfico forums, if the allure of new cards starts to be a problem; I have seen examples of certain individuals feeding off the attention of others when their erratic behavior gets out of hand.  Some never learn and just go right back to their addiction of apping, so if it gets to that point, it may be best to distance yourself.  Best of luck to you!

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I'm amazed at these "I'm addicted to apping threads" like it's a drug addiction or something.

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I'm not surprised at all.  For those who have appd in the past and got constant denials it is a very fulfilling experience once you clean up your reports, get your scores up, app for a card and WHAM< instant approval!  I very much remember the first time my scores broke 700 and apping for the Marriott Premier Rewards, totally nervous, then pressing that button and WOW, instant approval, I am in with Chase and a great card to boot.  It's rather rewarding when in the past it was not just denial but no way jose.  Same thing for the Ritz card when it game me my highest limit to this point, another booster.  Maybe it is stroking our credit egos? 

Kudos to those that recognize the need to stop.  Nixon said a good one about when it becomes a game, and for some here it is undoubtedly a game for sure.

[TRC_WA]

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@medo wrote:

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That's good for you, but it can be an addiction and can be seen by a few users here just from their posts.

It sounds like you have discipline.  I, my friend, am not so displined, so I have to do things to lock myself out of my bad habbits.  

It can indeed be an addiction.  I had very impulsive behavior with CC app'ing that I felt was out of control.

Just because it does no harm doesn't mean it is less of an addiction.  Everyone is addicted to something, good, bad or neutral. 

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Yeah I do... glad you are getting a grip on the situation. 

[Anonymous]

I did get SUPER lucky with Chase.  I re-started a banking relationship with them a while back.  I actually applied for Freedom in-branch and was denied, then two weeks later I'm going over pre-quals and see Freedom is there.  I apply and they give me my highest limit to date.  After that I tried for a few more cards but were mostly denied, so took that as a good sign to quit for about 6-months to a year. Next app is about the time Chase Freedom is a year old (October) and that's only if my scores are up and utilization is down.  That will also be about the same time as my one and only "spree" to establish more credit, possibly Barclay Rewards, Discover and Amazon Store card (thanks to 5% uncapped for Prime members).  

[Anonymous]

When necessary, you can scratch the itch by collecting SCT popups. It's sort of like getting new cards. 

[Anonymous]

For EX call the 800 number

[ddemari]

OP- congrats on making the choice to freeze your reports. I need to freeze mine but I am afraid to do it, like it will be a rollercoaster of issues to unfreeze it. Although, I can read enough posts and google the anwser to that issue, but I still am skeptical about doing it.

It probably is the only thing I can do that will help me from my LOVE of the app. Its like I love to play a slot machine occasionally. But once in playing I am lured into that machine, just hoping for that win or bonus round. Same feeling when I get the itchy app finger. 

The difference for me is I do not need to put myself on the casino watch list, I can keep myself away from the slots LOL. 

Anyways, I said I was not going to app for the NBA card last week cause I Have zero interest in basketball. But a few threads later, I was thinking maybe a TU pull and approval. Well they pulled EX and I got the 7 to 10 day message. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid, but I rolled the dice anyways. 

I need to really consider locking my reports. EQ and TU make it look really easy on their membership sites. 

[medo]

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@ddemari wrote:

OP- congrats on making the choice to freeze your reports. I need to freeze mine but I am afraid to do it, like it will be a rollercoaster of issues to unfreeze it. Although, I can read enough posts and google the anwser to that issue, but I still am skeptical about doing it.

It probably is the only thing I can do that will help me from my LOVE of the app. Its like I love to play a slot machine occasionally. But once in playing I am lured into that machine, just hoping for that win or bonus round. Same feeling when I get the itchy app finger. 

The difference for me is I do not need to put myself on the casino watch list, I can keep myself away from the slots LOL. 

Anyways, I said I was not going to app for the NBA card last week cause I Have zero interest in basketball. But a few threads later, I was thinking maybe a TU pull and approval. Well they pulled EX and I got the 7 to 10 day message. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid, but I rolled the dice anyways. 

I need to really consider locking my reports. EQ and TU make it look really easy on their membership sites. 

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Thanks.  And it was easy with all of them.  TU was especially easy however since I had an account with them in the past, so all I had to do is verify my CC info is still correct as well as address.  No need to enter in SSN since they already had it.  

I had frozen my credit report once before, just to play with it many many years ago.  It was not a big deal to unlock it from what I remember.  

And I definitely understand the adrinaline aspect.  There is definitely a rush behind it.