@Revelate wrote:
@2FixMyCredit wrote:Also, she isn't willing to take anymore HP's right now, I do think if she decides she can afford a secured I'll pay for half as a gift and go with Opensky. I know they charge interest as soon as you purchase something, which is a down fall but their other fee's arent too outrageous. But we'll see. I'll try to keep this post updated and continue taking advice for her!
HP's are irrelevant when trying to establish credit. If there's a good path that you find that requires an HP, have her take it and don't regret it in this case.
Your mother is simply artificially limiting her options by that stance; that's probably the forum's fault honestly, but I'd encourage you to educate her over that hurdle.
That said, if you're able to fund a $200 dollar option with Opensky, stretch it to $250 and take SFDCU secured instead and upgrade your CU for no membership nor secured card HP and a rewards card with $0 AF; also, honestly, at $300she could just take the HP and get the BOFA 1-2-3 secured card and she probably never needs to get another credit card again except for style points or FICO games.
ICAM. I'm one of the biggest proponents on this forum of "gardening," but I also believe that it needs to be looked at in an overall context. While HPs shouldn't be taken willy-nilly, that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be taken at all. If it makes sense to take a HP, then by all means do so. The whole point is to have a building/rebuilding strategy that makes sense for the particular individual.
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@tinuviel wrote:
@Revelate wrote:
@2FixMyCredit wrote:Also, she isn't willing to take anymore HP's right now, I do think if she decides she can afford a secured I'll pay for half as a gift and go with Opensky. I know they charge interest as soon as you purchase something, which is a down fall but their other fee's arent too outrageous. But we'll see. I'll try to keep this post updated and continue taking advice for her!
HP's are irrelevant when trying to establish credit. If there's a good path that you find that requires an HP, have her take it and don't regret it in this case.
Your mother is simply artificially limiting her options by that stance; that's probably the forum's fault honestly, but I'd encourage you to educate her over that hurdle.
That said, if you're able to fund a $200 dollar option with Opensky, stretch it to $250 and take SFDCU secured instead and upgrade your CU for no membership nor secured card HP and a rewards card with $0 AF; also, honestly, at $300she could just take the HP and get the BOFA 1-2-3 secured card and she probably never needs to get another credit card again except for style points or FICO games.
ICAM. I'm one of the biggest proponents on this forum of "gardening," but I also believe that it needs to be looked at in an overall context. While HPs shouldn't be taken willy-nilly, that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be taken at all. If it makes sense to take a HP, then by all means do so. The whole point is to have a building/rebuilding strategy that makes sense for the particular individual.
I agree. 1-2 is not going to kill you, get her the card that fits what her spending pattern is then hop in the Garden!
@phillyguy12 wrote:
anyone think she could get a low limit credit one? i don't recall fees other then 75 annual i got 1150 with a tu98 of 600-625 when i started rebuilding. no grace on purchases and pmt holds are the negs
Those are some BIG negs!! I would exhaust any other opportunities and make this one the last ditch.
@jamie123 wrote:If I were you I would try and apply for a Walmart credit card. They are one of if not the easiest unsecured credit cards to be approved for. This will give you great insight as to where your Mom really stands. If she's approved that would be great. If not, you know you have your work cut out for you.
It would definitely be worth a HP at this point to find out just where she stands.
Not only that but free TU08 FICO monthly 
UPDATE: Her score has went up 15 points from two HPs falling off that were from 2011 - did not think those would affect it that much!
Capital one is completely out of the question for her she says, I have to respect her request.
I've also explained that she does need to apply for some stuff and we have decided to limit it to no more than ten HPS so she has 5 left to apply for something, hopefully she can get approved for a couple of things!
I am opting her in to hopefully get some commenity approvals with SP's and we'll go from there.