tinuviel wrote:Well, another day in the garden, sipping on a tall, cold raspberry iced tea.
I mentioned on another thread that my DH tip-toed out of the garden to take a strategic HP for a CLI on his CareCredit card. I may tend to his garden for him, but technically his is separate from mine. My little patch of ground is still app and HP free.
I haven't been dealing with any itching lately. If anything, I'm nice and contented right now. This is probably because of two reasons:
First, I'm reasonably happy with my current collection of cards. It might not be my dream collection just yet, but at this point in time the cards that I have are serving my needs well and I'm grateful to be where I am given my rebuilding history.
Secondly, I have a plan in place for the length of time that I intend to remain in gardening mode. I mentioned my plans in this thread a few days ago, after I received the letter from Dillard's explaining why I am not currently eligible for a CLI, so I won't explain it all again. But, having a fixed plan in place removes the "should I / shouldn't I" question. I think that a lot of app itch stems from thinking that you MIGHT be able to be approved for a particular card -- but maybe not! -- and the uncertainty can be quite suspenseful. Knowing what condition my reports need to be in, and knowing when I can expect to reach that condition, settles the question as to whether or not any apps should even be attempted at this time -- and the answer is no. So, I wait, but with hope looming on the not too distant horizon.
Good job! Your commitment inspires all of us
Starting Score: 570
beachbum33 wrote:Still here after 3 weeks
according to CK an inquiry fell off, fairly sure 2 more are coming off in May so I'll be down to 15
Need to get my average age up and inquires down, I keep telling myself that, it helps!!!
Have been app free for 30 days... I like the ideas that others have posted about making a plan to app, so that you're not just sort of waiting around telling yourself not to app. I like the idea of making a plan that you want to app for such and such on such and such date. Seems like that would be better than having a sort of nebulous goal of not apping.
Starting Score: 08/29/2011 TU 671 EQ 674Current Score (myFico + Amex): April 2013 TU 754 EQ 694 EX 694
Wallet: NFCU Visa Sig 25k, Amex Lowes 22k, NavCheck 15k, Amex PRG, Amex Zync, Discover It 13.5k, Amazon Visa 5k
Silver Spade Garden Club Member: App Free since 1/1/13. No more apps til 2014
MyFICO Fitness Goal: 800s Club!
Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge
I had related the story about my DGF and how we're walking into the garden together.
The idea was to nix the Chase United MileagePlus... and of course, we went out last Saturday to a sports bar, and I guess Chase was sponsoring EVERYTHING on TV, because all we kept seeing were commercials for this particular card.
The universe conspires against us for that card, but we're standing strong together
The universe is going to have to try a LOT harder to be able to run rampant into the garden.
jmoney23 wrote:I caved! Oh no! I applied for a Nationwide Visa. It's in review, and I know I am going to be denied, but curiosity killed the cat. I feel so guilty.
I was only three days into gardening. How am I going to last two years?!!
By using this as a learning experience. You need to really evaluate your current credit standing, and if you don't believe that you have a reasonably good chance of getting approved, then do not submit an app. I understand how strong curiosity can be. As I described above, the feeling that "I might get approved" can be very tempting. You need to be cognizant of this and realize that apping prematurely simply is not in your best interest.
In the meantime, it helps to focus on short term goals. Are any of your current cards going to be eligble for auto or soft CLIs? Are there any goodwills that you can work on? Any baddies that are going to drop off on their own? If reports are clean because you're new to credit, then it's simply a matter of time; there's no substitute for that. But whatever the individual's case, finding short term goals and/or milestones to focus on can be a big help with the gardening process.
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
FrugalRican wrote:I had related the story about my DGF and how we're walking into the garden together.
The idea was to nix the Chase United MileagePlus... and of course, we went out last Saturday to a sports bar, and I guess Chase was sponsoring EVERYTHING on TV, because all we kept seeing were commercials for this particular card.
The universe conspires against us for that card, but we're standing strong together
The universe is going to have to try a LOT harder to be able to run rampant into the garden.
Good for the both of you! Life always throws temptations at us, but it's our choice as to how we respond to them.
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
webhopper wrote:
beachbum33 wrote:Still here after 3 weeks
Have been app free for 30 days... I like the ideas that others have posted about making a plan to app, so that you're not just sort of waiting around telling yourself not to app. I like the idea of making a plan that you want to app for such and such on such and such date. Seems like that would be better than having a sort of nebulous goal of not apping.
It helps. I have a plan for the rest of the year between auto refinance and a ridiculous Amex application, but even then it's still hard when I see the recent rash of Amex and auto-loan approval threads... even though I know I'd get denied currently. The other thing that helps me is just looking at my budget: I have junk cards but I still have $4300 in total revolving credit limit; however, I don't spend anywhere close to that on a monthly basis. It'd be nice to have the fancy rewards that others have, but it would make near zero material difference to my life, so I can simply chalk it up to the sins of my youth, and that'll work out in time.
Starting Score: EQ 561, TU 567, EX 599* (12/30/11, EX lender pull 12/29/11)Current Score: EQ 660, Wally TU 697, EX unknown (05/13/13)
Goal Score: 680 in all three (01/01/14)
Take the FICO Fitness Challenge
Starting Score: 08/29/2011 TU 671 EQ 674Current Score (myFico + Amex): April 2013 TU 754 EQ 694 EX 694
Wallet: NFCU Visa Sig 25k, Amex Lowes 22k, NavCheck 15k, Amex PRG, Amex Zync, Discover It 13.5k, Amazon Visa 5k
Silver Spade Garden Club Member: App Free since 1/1/13. No more apps til 2014
MyFICO Fitness Goal: 800s Club!
Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge
webhopper wrote:
So I got some courage today thanks to inspiration from the rebuilding thread... I actually looked up my 2007 judgement in the Oklahoma court records online. It reads as "DISMISSED" So according to that statement; the judgement shouldn't even be there at all. I mailed a dispute letter CMRRR today along with a printout of the court doc. Cross your fingers for me you guys. If that gets deleted I'm totally going to ask for CLIs but it might be hard to not app for an Amex revolver at that point. I need to let inquiries go away first!
Good luck!!!
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
myFICO is the consumer division of FICO. Since its introduction 20 years ago, the FICO® Score has become a global standard for measuring credit risk in the banking, mortgage, credit card, auto and retail industries. 90 of the top 100 largest U.S. financial institutions use the FICO Score to make consumer credit decisions.
>> About myFICO
