Credit Score isn't everything.

[Anonymous]

As for the OP's statement, "Credit Score isn't everything."  I would disagree.  I am in the camp that believes that you should have at all times possible a highly optimized score when need be.  I don't want to have to prep my credit profile 2-4 months leading up to a major purchase.  There are others who believe otherwise: six of one, half dozen of another?  Yet, keep a 2% utilization as a hard rule on a $1,500 is useless in my eyes.  I think the OP's friend misunderstands the utilization game?  He needs to spend a bit of time on this site learning how to best utilize that $1,500.  

However, this thread should be more about credit card usage.  Figuring out what the best way to use your credit to increase your limits and allow yourself more opportunity.  

[afinch1992]

I think micro-managing credit is all too common in this community. Use you card(s), pay them in full before or after statment, and if you want a new card apply for it. Sure there are exceptions like if you already have 20 inq on each, but even then sometimes it doesn't matter much. Obviously you need to know what bracket your in (i.e. youre not going to apply for prime cards in the 500s), but I don't see the point in wasting time making sure you hit 1% utilization every month until the month you are applying for a mortgage.