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Garden Club Meeting - January 2013

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Imua
Frequent Contributor

Re: Garden Club Meeting - January 2013


@NICKI183 wrote:

Well, 2012 was a truly challenging year.  I originally joined this site, as stated in previous post, in 2008 attempting to correct credit issues.  I hit the credit app bug quick and eventually found myself in the same predicament years later.  Last year, I had an epiphany to truly "get it together".  I have reviewed various post that state that you can do this on your own; however, I found great difficulty in doing so.  Therefore, in the last quarter of 2012 I acquired a credit repair service to assist.  Since that time they have been able to remove (7) Equifax, (0) Experian, and (11) Transition.  I decided that I need to also do my part and assist, so I logged back onto the myFICO to also aide in my credit advocacy.  It is important that if I work in tangent with the credit repair company I will begin to see swifter results.

In also reviewing my credit I have to now settle the debts for the "charge-offs".  I know that my days of burying are over and I have to face the music.  My UTI is extremely high (almost 85%) and I must tackle that immediately.   I first would like to obtain a secured USAA Amex for $1k.   Once I get this card I will only use that and put away the (4) cards I still have as active.

 

I started this race four years ago and did not finish; however, I am going to finish this time.  Once I get the USAA card I am staying in the garden until December 2013. I will see where I am and if I succeeded in decreasing my UTI to 0% and removing most of the baddies I will apply for 1 card as my Christmas present.

 

I am so ready to be able to answer my phone on a regular basis.   

 
(UPDATE)I have re-evaluated my post from 1/2/12 and made the decision to stay in the garden.  I have a lot of work ahead of my and I believe that the money I would put for a secured USAA card would assist my charge-off/collections if I paid them off or settle.  I think the excitement of seeing all these success stories has me at sorts. I know that this task is not easy and I must decrease my UTI and also reduce the baddies in order prime creditors to take me seriously.  
I know that by September 2013 there will be a change for me to apply for a REAL credit card and see seedlings sprout.   Until then I will continue to read on!!

imo, good decision to stay in the garden (re your UPDATE) Smiley Happy

 

Message 101 of 362
McArthur
Regular Contributor

Re: Garden Club Meeting - January 2013


@jsucool76 wrote:

@McArthur wrote:

Hi folks!

 

I'd love to start gardening, but can you lock me in?  I tend to escape.  Maybe we need inpatient lock-down for cardaholics.  



@McArthur wrote:

Hi folks!

 

I'd love to start gardening, but can you lock me in?  I tend to escape.  Maybe we need inpatient lock-down for cardaholics.  


My first gardening session lasted all of 4 days I think. It is really hard to do. 


I hear you!

 

I need a minimum of 6 months in the garden, but 2 years would be ideal.  By then I would be set for the last ten cards in my list and then retire. Retire?  Ha!  By that time I would have expanded my list to twenty.

 

I will try to last a week.  Or maybe a month until I go on leave.

 

By the way, does adding an AU tradeline take you out of the garden?  Please say no!!!!!!!!!!!

Message 102 of 362
thankfulheart
Established Contributor

Re: Garden Club Meeting - January 2013

Happy dancing in my corner of the garden with NFCU hearing my plea for the 0%BT!  So far, I've transferred 2 balances, but will tweak it more over the next few months to maximize my usage/rewards.  My score is slowly climbing as the smaller cards I had balances on have been paid off, so it will be interesting to see what happens when the BTs hit.  I'm also anxious for my mortgage to start reporting to see if that gives me a boost.

 

Still looking to refi my car soon, but wanting to see if I can get back to 700-land first.  I'd also like to see about a CLI on Lowe's (3rd statement will cut this month) as I need fencing materials and would like the 5% discount, then BT to NFCU. Smiley Happy

Starting Score: 10/1/2011 EQ 568 TU 593
Current Score: EQ 664 TU 700 EX 701 (FAKO)

Message 103 of 362
DailyDriver
Valued Member

Re: Garden Club Meeting - January 2013

Back to the Garden for me.  

 

I had been in the garden since applying for the Chase Freedom and Amex Hilton in October.  I had soft pull CLI's on Amex and Discover.

 

Today I apped for the Chase Ink Plus (the lower minimum spending for the Ultimate Rewards amount was too tempting.  I figured I could put my final payment of my expected taxes on the card to help meet the minimum spending since I have the money in the bank anyway, might as well earn points for it).  I am an independent contractor and would have liked to put legitimate business expenses on the card, but they said my trade lines are too new and to give it some time for stability (I have been at this job for almost a year).

 

 

My goal is now to be in the garden for three months.  I would like to apply to some offers, but they might not be around by then ( United Explorer 50k points and US Airways 40k Chairman Preferred link).  I have some aspirational travel I would like to do, but nothing immediate.

 

I would also like to join NFCU and it is tempting since I just took the hard pull for the business card, but am not sure I would be approved since I am self employed and do not have pay stubs/ do not have a tax return for the current year.  Before this I had worked at and office job and then was on unemployment.

Citi Forward $6K l Citi Double Cash $7K l Chase Sapphire Preferred $10.3K l Discover IT $12K l Chase Freedom $5K l Chase United 10k l Chase Slate 7.2k l Amex Hilton HHonors $12.1K l NFCU GoRewards Visa 16.6K l Barclay US Airways World Mastercard $8K
Message 104 of 362
VWTUNER
Contributor

Re: Garden Club Meeting - January 2013

I just had a small victory, yesterday an invitation to apply for the green AMEX card! I will continue to stay in the garden at least for 6 months and reduce my UTIL to 10%. 

current cards
WM store
Cap1 platinum
WF secured
Amazon Chase Smiley Happy
Gardening since 12/20/2012
Message 105 of 362
sdoonan
Contributor

Re: Garden Club Meeting - January 2013

*sigh* I had no business applying for it, but I had an invite for the Citi AA Gold/Visa Sig card sitting on my bedside table and I used it. Not sure why I thought I'd get approved on a student's income...oh well. Resetting my time in the garden and starting again.

 

Still haven't heard from Capital One about my Cash Rewards app yet. I'm just hoping I get the greenlight since it's better than my Journey card when it comes to rewards.

 

1 out of 3 ain't bad, right?



Cards: CitiForward for Students (2K, opened 8/2009), Discover it (2K, opened 7/2010), AMEX BCE (1k, opened 12/2010), Capital One Quicksilver (4.5k, opened 11/2011), Chase Freedom (1.5k, opened 8/2014)

AMEX Platinum (NPSL, AC arrangement, added 12/2011), Citi AAdvantage AMEX (9k, AU, backdated to 9/2008)

Scores: TU 667, EQ 651

In the Garden since 8/8.
Message 106 of 362
alessandrom
Regular Contributor

Re: Garden Club Meeting - January 2013

Im In! time to let my current cards age off and these inquiries fall off  count me in Till 01/03/2014




Current Score: Walmart TU 694 - Credit karma 679 - Credit Sesame 671- VantageScore 695 MyFico ?
Goal Score: 750
Message 107 of 362
alessandrom
Regular Contributor

Re: Garden Club Meeting - January 2013

Smiley Tongue




Current Score: Walmart TU 694 - Credit karma 679 - Credit Sesame 671- VantageScore 695 MyFico ?
Goal Score: 750
Message 108 of 362
tinuviel
Moderator Emeritus

Re: Garden Club Meeting - January 2013


@McArthur wrote:

@jsucool76 wrote:

@McArthur wrote:

Hi folks!

 

I'd love to start gardening, but can you lock me in?  I tend to escape.  Maybe we need inpatient lock-down for cardaholics.  



@McArthur wrote:

Hi folks!

 

I'd love to start gardening, but can you lock me in?  I tend to escape.  Maybe we need inpatient lock-down for cardaholics.  


My first gardening session lasted all of 4 days I think. It is really hard to do. 


I hear you!

 

I need a minimum of 6 months in the garden, but 2 years would be ideal.  By then I would be set for the last ten cards in my list and then retire. Retire?  Ha!  By that time I would have expanded my list to twenty.

 

I will try to last a week.  Or maybe a month until I go on leave.

 

By the way, does adding an AU tradeline take you out of the garden?  Please say no!!!!!!!!!!!


 

The way the recognition level rules stand currently, yes it would, as it's a new tradeline that appears on your reports.

 

Admittedly, I feel ambivalent about this. An old, established AU account might actually help to further gardening goals, as the account is seasoned and could serve to boost AAoA -- and it doesn't require adding an inq to the reports. OTOH, if the AU account is recent, then it might bring down one's AAoA; case in point would be if I were to add myself as an AU on my DH's Lowe's account, which has been opened less than 3 years, while my AAoA is between 7-8 years.

 

I'm open to thoughts on this. If GC members have opinions pro or con on allowing AU accounts to be exempt from factoring into recognition levels, please feel free to share.


Current Scores: EQ 775 (03/04/2014), EX 756 (03/01/2014), TU 760 (03/01/2014)
Ruby Spade Garden Club Member - Last App: 03/04/2013 - No apps until 2014
Cards: Cap1 Venture 6.4k, Cap1 Quicksilver MC 1.75k, BankAmericard 1-2-3 Visa Signature - UCF Alumni Association 5k, Discover 7k, Citi Diamond Preferred MC 10.35k, Wells Fargo Rewards Visa 7k, Chase Freedom 5k, Chase Ink 7.5k, Amex Green NPSL, Dillard's Amex 7.5k, JC Penney 7.5k, Kay Jeweler's 5.1k
Message 109 of 362
tinuviel
Moderator Emeritus

Re: Garden Club Meeting - January 2013


@alessandrom wrote:

Im In! time to let my current cards age off and these inquiries fall off  count me in Till 01/03/2014


 

I saw your other post about entering the garden. I just wanted to take a moment to welcome you both to the forums and the club! Smiley Happy


Current Scores: EQ 775 (03/04/2014), EX 756 (03/01/2014), TU 760 (03/01/2014)
Ruby Spade Garden Club Member - Last App: 03/04/2013 - No apps until 2014
Cards: Cap1 Venture 6.4k, Cap1 Quicksilver MC 1.75k, BankAmericard 1-2-3 Visa Signature - UCF Alumni Association 5k, Discover 7k, Citi Diamond Preferred MC 10.35k, Wells Fargo Rewards Visa 7k, Chase Freedom 5k, Chase Ink 7.5k, Amex Green NPSL, Dillard's Amex 7.5k, JC Penney 7.5k, Kay Jeweler's 5.1k
Message 110 of 362
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