Greetings, fellow credit gardeners! We’re starting a new month, so it’s time to start a new thread. I hereby convene the April meeting of the myFICO Garden Club.
For those who are new to the concept of gardening, it involves refraining from applying for new credit or seeking CLIs that require hard pulls. Soft pulls CLIs, however, are not only acceptable, but are encouraged. The idea is to allow one's current TLs to grow and mature, waiting for inqs to age or fall off, and possibly waiting for "baddies" to be removed or age off. During this time, one tends to one's current accounts and watches their AAoA grow and the new credit ding fade.
So, if you're at the stage of your credit journey where you're ready to enter the garden, please come and join us. You may pick up your complientary watering can and garden gloves by the front door -- you can even choose your favorite color! We're proud to offer a well appointed clubhouse. There is a snack table set up. This month, we have boneless honey BBQ wings, courtesy of LS (thank you!), and a selection mini-quiches to make Revelate happy. Please feel free to bring and add any items that you'd like. There's also a selection of cold beers and soft drinks. And, in the corner diagonally across from the front door, there is a fully stocked bar. If needed, there are some anti-itch medications stocked in our supply cabinet near the door -- Lanacaine, Benedryl, etc. And... we've just added a freezer, located next to the bar, so that you can place your reports in there, if needed. 
Come on in and make yourself comfortable. Make a gardening plan and commit to sticking with it. Are you planning to wait six months before applying for additional credit? A year? Until the last of your baddies drop off? Whatever your goal, we're here to support you. If you feel the "app-itch" coming on, let us know and we'll try to help you through it.
Now, if you happen to leave the garden prematurely, that’s your decision and we respect that. You are always welcome to come back, pick up your gardening tools and start over again. But please, celebrate any approvals on another thread. While we are happy with members’ success stories, we really do want to keep this thread’s focus and tone to be consistent with gardening efforts. You are certainly welcome to celebrate soft CLIs on this thread, though, as they do not involve inqs or apps for new credit.
So, how's everyone's garden looking this month?
I’m happy to report that I received a $500 soft CLI on my JCP card last month, bringing my total CL up to $2300. So, this is the current view of my garden:
Cap1 Visa Platinum - 6400 CL
Cap1 NHCR MC - 750 CL
Dillard's Amex - 4200 CL
JC Penney - 2300 CL
Kay Jewelers - 5100 CL
Amex Green - NPSL
And, my two newest cards (not counting the backdated Amex that I got last May) will reach their one year anniversary on April 1, and I’m very excited at seeing that all of my accounts now have a minimum age of a year! I do have closed accounts on my reports that go back to the late 90s and early 2000s, I’ve had my Cap1 Visa active since 1999, and my Amex Green is backdated to 1987. So, my AAoA is pretty decent. But it feels so good to see the newer accounts gain age and history! It feels good for the new account “ding” to go away!
So, how's everyone else doing? Please feel free to share and mingle!
Starting Scores for 2013: EQ 723, TU 735, EX Credit Sesame 751
Current Scores: EQ 733, TU 724 (05/01/2013), EX Credit Sesame 725 (05/08/2013)
Goal Score: 740+ FICO scores
Take the FICO Fitness Challenge Bronze Spade Garden Club Member - Last App: 03/04/2013 - No apps until Fall 2013
Cards: Cap1 Venture 6.4k, Cap1 NHCR MC 750, BankAmericard 1-2-3 Visa Signature - UCF Alumni Association 5k, Discover 4k, Citi Diamond Preferred MC 7.55k, Wells Fargo Rewards Visa 7k, Chase Freedom 5k, Chase Ink 7.5k, Amex Green NPSL, Dillard's Amex 7.5k, JC Penney 4.2k, Kay Jeweler's 5.1k
Sassy_Taurus wrote:Hello, I'm new to the forums. On the long road of rebuilding my credit. I was just approved last week for 2 rebuilding cards, so I'll be tending to my garden for the next 9 months.
Welcome to both the forums and the club!
I've been rebuilding my credit, too, so I can relate. My Cap1 MC is a rebuilder, and I was just able to say goodbye to Orchard and First Premier last year. Rebuilder cards are very helpful, because they give you an opportunity for a fresh start. When used properly, you'll have accounts free of baddies reporting to the CRAs. Time heals all credit wounds, so with time past problems factor into your scores less and your new, clean history starts to become more significant. Take good care of your new seedlings, and they will pay off for you in the end. Good luck and best wishes on your journey!
Starting Scores for 2013: EQ 723, TU 735, EX Credit Sesame 751
Current Scores: EQ 733, TU 724 (05/01/2013), EX Credit Sesame 725 (05/08/2013)
Goal Score: 740+ FICO scores
Take the FICO Fitness Challenge Bronze Spade Garden Club Member - Last App: 03/04/2013 - No apps until Fall 2013
Cards: Cap1 Venture 6.4k, Cap1 NHCR MC 750, BankAmericard 1-2-3 Visa Signature - UCF Alumni Association 5k, Discover 4k, Citi Diamond Preferred MC 7.55k, Wells Fargo Rewards Visa 7k, Chase Freedom 5k, Chase Ink 7.5k, Amex Green NPSL, Dillard's Amex 7.5k, JC Penney 4.2k, Kay Jeweler's 5.1k
Smug wrote:Starting my 4th month......
Woo, hoo!!! WTG!!! 
Starting Scores for 2013: EQ 723, TU 735, EX Credit Sesame 751
Current Scores: EQ 733, TU 724 (05/01/2013), EX Credit Sesame 725 (05/08/2013)
Goal Score: 740+ FICO scores
Take the FICO Fitness Challenge Bronze Spade Garden Club Member - Last App: 03/04/2013 - No apps until Fall 2013
Cards: Cap1 Venture 6.4k, Cap1 NHCR MC 750, BankAmericard 1-2-3 Visa Signature - UCF Alumni Association 5k, Discover 4k, Citi Diamond Preferred MC 7.55k, Wells Fargo Rewards Visa 7k, Chase Freedom 5k, Chase Ink 7.5k, Amex Green NPSL, Dillard's Amex 7.5k, JC Penney 4.2k, Kay Jeweler's 5.1k
Starting Score: Jan 2012: EQ - 659, TU08 - 670, EX - ???
I now have a USAA World MC, AmEx BCP, BofA 123, Discover More, Target, and as of last month, Chase Freedom & Sapphire Preferred. That's pretty much everything I could ever use, with the possible exception of a 5% gas card. But I'm in no hurry for that, I'm waiting at least 6 months for the new account smell to wear off of my FICO so it can get back above 800. Heck, I might just wait another 2 years for all the inq's to fall off. The other reason I'm not in a hurry for anything anymore is because I'm military and I have been at my base for almost 4 years, which is when they start to think about moving people, so I might have a mortgage in the works before I know it.
That's an awesome set of cards! Great score hopefully I can make it into the 800 club. Thanks for fighting for our country! Good luck on getting the mortgage.. I believe with those scores you'd have absolutely no problem
LTomBerry wrote:I now have a USAA World MC, AmEx BCP, BofA 123, Discover More, Target, and as of last month, Chase Freedom & Sapphire Preferred. That's pretty much everything I could ever use, with the possible exception of a 5% gas card. But I'm in no hurry for that, I'm waiting at least 6 months for the new account smell to wear off of my FICO so it can get back above 800. Heck, I might just wait another 2 years for all the inq's to fall off. The other reason I'm not in a hurry for anything anymore is because I'm military and I have been at my base for almost 4 years, which is when they start to think about moving people, so I might have a mortgage in the works before I know it.
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