Since joining this forum back on 2008 I have grown exponentially in my knowledge of the FICO credit system. That being said, I have gone from the depths of credit Hades to comfortably sitting in the 700 club. What a journey it has been.
However, it appears I have the an addition now to amassing credit cards and gianormous credit limits. I have no intentions of ever using the full potential or capacity of my cards, I just love the look and feel of fresh plastic. I've aimed to get the all the flagship products I could get from my favorite creditors (well, at least the ones that are reasonabliy atainable and suit my spending habits and needs). That being said, while this forum has been vastly educational and entertaining, I think it serves me, personally, as a vice that keeps me wanting more. I love hearing about people's approvals and luv increases, but sitting in the garden is not as much fun as seeing that APPROVED message come across the screen, or opening that thick envelope packed with credit card aggreements and membership benefits.
I've gone from wanting to just get approved for a credit limit above $2k to wanting to amass $100k in available credit and have utilization be at 5%. From wanting to get at least a 620 credit score to be at 750+. From using no credit to using credit and PIF. From being scared of my credit to religiously checking my scores daily. I have an addiction.
I'm somnipotent, and I'm a credit-aholic.
I do enjoy a good app spree but for some reason I think I'm not at that full blown addiction stage yet. I know I am addicted to this forum so maybe Im feeding my jones through others successes. Yes, I check, pull and monitor my reports daily and I am constantly on the look out for cards to add to my sprees but I am satisfied in between those sprees.
Well your not the only one on this forum 
I guess i've lost that itch for wanting better scores and no INQs. I definitely have enough accounts!
I guess i've lost that itch for wanting better scores and no INQs. I definitely have enough accounts!
@flapjack wrote:Congratulations on your recovery. I was somewhat like you at first, but I learned to switch focus to my budget instead, keeping a solid bottom line and trying to save money where I could, using that as the point of pride rather than focus on the cards. Along those lines, I don't even carry a monthly balance at all despite the knowledge it would technically improve my score. I like going to sleep knowing I owe only the bare minimum - loan payments only. Doing that has allowed me to take advantage of other opportunities that have come with better credit, like purchasing additional assets that make money for me. II would not have the confidence to do that had I not known I could make it work financially.
I do have an addiction to new credtit too, however what flapjack says is also my goal. and I do need to focus to reduce my debt and find an assest to invest on that will make me money.
My goal and addiction now is to lower my utility by increasing my available credit, to have better interest rate that will help me pay down my balances in a shorter time.
@ElCamino wrote:You've got some pretty awesome cards, but I gotta ask you, do you actually earn enough rewards on each of them to justify the AFs?
Or are you planning on closing certain ones after reaping bonuses and waived first year AFs?
I put everything on my cards so yes, the cards pay for themselves. I engineered my apps with a purpose in mind.
- MileagePlus Explorer - I live in near a United hub so most of my flights are through United. Free first check bag paids for this. I'm thinking of upgrading to Club after a year as the club access is primo.
- Delta SkyMiles - I fly west a lot, specifically to Utah, which is a Delta hub and I use Delta for nonstop flights out of DCA. Flights south to ATL or ORL same way. Same as above.
- Costco TrueEarnings - I drop over 10k at Costco yearly and and gas. No brainer.
- PRG - I use like cash whereever possible.
- Freedom - no AF, revolving rewards, easy UR redemptions
- Sapphire Preferred - already paid for itself with the the 40k points. Plus we eat out a lot so this definately pays in the long term