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Garden Club Meeting - March 2013

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tinuviel
Moderator Emeritus

Garden Club Meeting - March 2013

Greetings, fellow credit gardeners! The new month begins tomorrow, but I usually like to start the night before the first of the month, as I'm not much of a morning person and as we recently learned on another thread, it's best not to do anything before coffeeSmiley Wink. And so, I hereby convene the March meeting of the myFICO Garden Club. :smileyhappy:

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 complimentary 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'll continue with the hot buffalo wings and sweet sesame wings. I'll be adding to that some cheese quesadillas, seven layer dip and chips, jalapeno poppers, hot meatballs and deviled eggs. And as always, we have mini-quiches (enjoy, Relevate!). There's also a nice selection of cold beers. Once again, please feel free to bring and add anything that you'd like to add to the festivities. And, in the corner diagonally across from the front door, there is a fully stocked bar, along with a wide selection of soft drinks. If needed, there are some anti-itch medications stocked in our supply cabinet near the door -- Lanacaine, Benedryl, etc. If you need to place your reports in the deep freeze, we also have a freezer, located next to the bar, so go ahead and throw your reports in! 

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.

 

GARDEN CLUB CHALLENGE AND RECOGNITIONS:

 

Garden Club Challenge: Pick a firm date for staying in the garden and post it in your siggy!

 

Garden Club recognition levels: To qualify, your reports must contain:

  • No new tradelines of any type on one's accounts (this includes backdated Amex accounts, as they are STILL new "seedlings").
  • No HPs for anything that would allow for the possibility of a new tradeline being issued or increasing the CL of an existing tradeline.

You will be able to add the following to your siggy if you have abided by the above for the following time periods...

 

Less than 1 month - seedling

1 month - bronze spade

3 months - silver spade

6 months - gold spade

12 months  - platinum spade

24 months or more - diamond spade

 

Please note: recognition levels reset once you add an account or incur a HP. We recognize that there may be very good reasons for "leaving the garden," and we respect whatever thoughtful decisions members make. As stated previously, members are always welcome to come back, grab their gloves and start gardening once more.

 

Seedling:

<img src="http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/2760iB9166C1A493A3CBC/" border="0" width="50"  height="67" align="right">

 

Bronze:

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/LEYWe.png" border="0" width="40"  height="40" align="right">

 

 SIlver: 

line to put at top of sig: 

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/Gfc4B.png" border="0" width="40"  height="40" align="right">

 

Gold: 

line to put at top of sig: 

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/24xvV.png" border="0" width="40"  height="40" align="right">

 

Platinum: 

line to put at top of sig:

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/vVRv5.png" border="0" alt="" title="" width="120" height="80" align="right" />

Diamond:

line to put at top of sig:

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/40nIa.png" border="0" alt="" title="" width="40" height="40" align="right" />

 

 

So, please feel free to come on in and share your gardening progress. If you're new or returning, what are your goals? If you've been here for a while, how are things going? Let's all mingle, and support each other in our respective gardening efforts!


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 1 of 1,535
1,534 REPLIES 1,534
armbenderc
Valued Contributor

Re: Garden Club Meeting - March 2013

Still in it.. Smiley Very Happy

2013 Approvals: Discover IT - 3/1, Amex BCE - 3/4, CSP - 5/4, Barclay Ring - 6/12, BoA Privileges Cash - 6/27, Citi TY Preferred - 8/6, OCCU Duck - 11/4, USBank (Cash+) - 11/22, Wells Fargo - 12/21, Nordstrom - 12/29

12/19/2013, $100k+ Available Credit. Total Util: 0-1%
Message 2 of 1,535
bluesnowman
Frequent Contributor

Re: Garden Club Meeting - March 2013

Hi Guys,

 

So I'm back in the garden again for this month. Got upgraded last sunday to a silver spade and planning to stay in gardening mode until the first week of June. Then buy my scores and if everything looks good, I am going to go for the BCE and Freedom like I have been posting for the last few months. If the BCE is not approved, then I'll go for the Gold Delta and ask them to PC it for me. I am also considering a Chevron card from GE, but I'm on the fence about that one right now. Other then that, you guys are amazing on this forum and keeping me from apping for cards I don't need. I am also planning to open an IRA one of these months and start funding it with small amounts. Other then a few more months in the garden and apping, I dont need anymore credit for now or until my income gets better. I gotta keep applying that anti-itch cream. And thank you for the snacks! I love dip...lol.

Bank of America: Cash Rewards.- 4.2k. 4/25/12 (CLI Increase 6/15/13, CLI May of 2015, sept 2015), Citi: Forward- 4.5k. 10/27/12 (CLI on 2/8/14, SP, CLI on 9/26/15 sp). Discover: More- 7k, 10/27/12 (Increase 6/1/14, CLI in May of 2015, SP 9/2015) Amex: PRG- NPSL (closed 12/13/13). 11/24/12. Chase: Freedom. 5/1/13- 5k (EX CLI HP 9/2015) Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus.-3.6k. 6/15/13. Amex BCE-2k. 12/7/13. Amex SPG-5k 12/8/13 (CLI on 9/2015) Capital one VentureOne Visa Signature-10k (9/6/15). Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World MasterCard-4K. Last App: 9/6/15. Total cl: 45,300
Message 3 of 1,535
tcbofade
Super Contributor

Re: Garden Club Meeting - March 2013

Me too, me too!

 

Hoping for a score increase tomorrow!

02/01/24 Fico 8: EX 757, EQ 803, TU 783.
Fico 9: EX 760 12/16/23, EQ 790 02/04/24, TU No idea.

Zero percent financing is where the devil lives...
Message 4 of 1,535
Swapmeet
Valued Contributor

Re: Garden Club Meeting - March 2013


@bluesnowman wrote:

Hi Guys,

 

So I'm back in the garden again for this month. Got upgraded last sunday to a silver spade and planning to stay in gardening mode until the first week of June. Then buy my scores and if everything looks good, I am going to go for the BCE and Freedom like I have been posting for the last few months. If the BCE is not approved, then I'll go for the Gold Delta and ask them to PC it for me. I am also considering a Chevron card from GE, but I'm on the fence about that one right now. Other then that, you guys are amazing on this forum and keeping me from apping for cards I don't need. I am also planning to open an IRA one of these months and start funding it with small amounts. Other then a few more months in the garden and apping, I dont need anymore credit for now or until my income gets better. I gotta keep applying that anti-itch cream. And thank you for the snacks! I love dip...lol.


Unfortunately, they will not PC the Gold to a BCE, I already tried.

 

On another note, in just a few short days it's the bronze spade for me..... 



My Wallet:
WalMart: ||15k|| USAA Platinum MC: ||26k|| BCE: ||9k|| Chase Freedom Siggy: ||10k|| Discover it: ||6.5k|| SG Visa: ||11k||
USAA World MC: ||23k|| US Bank Cash+ Siggy: ||7.5k|| Citi TYP World MC: ||12k|| Barclays Arrival World MC: ||13k||Citi Double Cash World MC ||25k||Sallie Mae World MC ||18.8k||Fico Scores (3 Fico Monitoring): EQ 751,TU 749, EX 743. Last app: 9-12-14 Sallie
Message 5 of 1,535
bluesnowman
Frequent Contributor

Re: Garden Club Meeting - March 2013

Aww man, I thought they allowed it, or at least I heard they allowed it. Can you apply for any card and then PC it to the BCE other then the Delta? for charge cards, I know if you wanted to  downgrade or upgrade between charge cards they let you. But good to know, thank you!

Bank of America: Cash Rewards.- 4.2k. 4/25/12 (CLI Increase 6/15/13, CLI May of 2015, sept 2015), Citi: Forward- 4.5k. 10/27/12 (CLI on 2/8/14, SP, CLI on 9/26/15 sp). Discover: More- 7k, 10/27/12 (Increase 6/1/14, CLI in May of 2015, SP 9/2015) Amex: PRG- NPSL (closed 12/13/13). 11/24/12. Chase: Freedom. 5/1/13- 5k (EX CLI HP 9/2015) Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus.-3.6k. 6/15/13. Amex BCE-2k. 12/7/13. Amex SPG-5k 12/8/13 (CLI on 9/2015) Capital one VentureOne Visa Signature-10k (9/6/15). Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World MasterCard-4K. Last App: 9/6/15. Total cl: 45,300
Message 6 of 1,535
tinuviel
Moderator Emeritus

Re: Garden Club Meeting - March 2013

I gained and then lost my gold spade this week, but it was the right decision for me. I picked up a Chase Freedom this week, and that finishes out my credit card portfolio. I would have apped for it last August, but I truly believed that there was a good chance that I was blacklisted due to an old Providian account that went bad. I finally got up the courage to try for it (courage, or was it the pain meds from my dental surgery?) and found out that I was mistaken! So, a new little seedling to tend! One of the things that I'm really happy about is that they gave me a 12.99% APR, after a 0% intro rate for 15 months. These are the best terms available on this card, and I've never been offered best terms before! A new milestone!!! Smiley Happy

 

At one point I had been considering an Amex BCE, but it really doesn't have a place in my garden, aside from backdating. But my AAoA is respectable even without it, so there really is no need. Most of my grocery shopping is done at a Walmart Supercenter because of proximity and price, but Amex doesn't consider it to be a supermarket, so the 3% cashback wouldn't apply. I'm happy with my BoA for gas/groceries, so no need for a BCE. Thus with the addition of the Freedom, which is a good compliment to Discover for the rotating categories, my garden is complete.

 

Since I've pushed my new car shopping back until Fall, I'm planning on another 6 month stint in the garden. Time to sit back, partake of some refreshments and enjoy the view!


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 7 of 1,535
starry1
Valued Contributor

Re: Garden Club Meeting - March 2013

So this will be my first official stint in the garden. My discharge came through on 2/15 and I have obtained two starter cards (FP and Fingerhut). I plan to hang out about 3 months or so and then app with NFCU and/or Cap1. Looking forward to watching my scores grow. They will grow, right?


Starting Score: 11/29/12 TU 527; EQ 565; EX 564 fako - bk7 dc'd 2/15/13
Current Score: 1/22/15 TU 645; EQ 605; EX 633 New goal 675
Cap1 sec $1k (SD) / Fingerhut $2k / Flagship $12k / cashRewards $12k / NavChek $15k / Amazon $2k / Von Maur $1k / Firestone $2.2k / BCU $3k / NFL $1k / QS1 $750 / Target $400 / PPSC $800 / Conoco $700 (last app 09/29/14)
Message 8 of 1,535
LS2982
Mega Contributor

Re: Garden Club Meeting - March 2013

I am here and enjoying my planned year long stay as I have a goal of paying down my christmas/splurging debt.

Felt good to PIF my PSECU PSL loan ($1400) that was making 10% interest. Now its time to tackle my PSECU Visa card of about 6K in debt. All the while im doing this my accounts are aging and my GE accounts got some awesome luv!!

Looking forward to posting updates and staying in here for my platinum spade!!



EQ FICO 548 3/3/16
Message 9 of 1,535
YahComb
Established Contributor

Re: Garden Club Meeting - March 2013

in 2 days ill be 3 months inquiry free. I racked up so many inqs from feb=april last year, so right now i am reaching the lowest number of 1yr inqs i've had since summer 2012.

 

This month ill be crossing the 1 year mark with 2 INQ on Experian, leaving me with 3 in the last 12 months. For equifax i'll lose 3, leaving with me with 4 in the last 12 months. And with Transunion ill be losing 2, leaving me with 5 in the last 12 months.

 

Also  I guess  since fico counts the first of the month for aging, my Discover turns 1 year tomorrow, so for the first time i will have more accounts over 1 year than under 1 year lol. My equifax calls my 10.55555 AAOA 11 months, so tomorrow i can kinda say i have a 1 year AAoA(11.55555) too. I'm still another 3 months away9(june) from any real changes though since that is when my youngest, US BANK, goes over 6 months.

EQ-736(08/14) TU-752(09/14)
Newest to Oldest
Barc Sallie Mae 6K | Citi TY Pref 4.5K | US Bank Cash+ 10K | Chase Freedom 11.7K | Disc It 10.5K | Amazon Store 2.5K | BOA Cash Rewards 10.5K |

Closed Cards: 4 Oldest: 3yrs AAOA: 2yrs
Message 10 of 1,535
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