Greetings, fellow credit gardeners! We’re starting a new month, so it’s time to start a new thread. I hereby convene the May 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 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, in honor of Cinco de Mayo, we have a variety of quesadillas, along with a pitcher of margaritas. In addition, we have a selection of mini-quiches, as Relevate really likes them. And with the Kentucky Derby coming up, we also have mint juleps available. 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. 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! And finally, our newest addition is… a full featured gas grill on the back patio for burgers, kebobs or any other such spring/summer fare; it we ask very nicely, perhaps FR will prepare something for us. 
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?
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
This month marks the 1 year anniversary of the last card that I added to my wallet, the Amex Green. It feels great to have a wallet full of cards that are all past the one year mark!
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
It has also been 3 months to the date that I have apped, well, except for one. But that's pretty good, in my opinion. So I'm gonna help myself to some metaphorical drinks 
Starting Score: 675
Starting Score: EQ FICO 777
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