@UncleB wrote:
LOL... I've been known to get bored and head off for an out-of-state casino on short notice. Also, I don't have to worry about having spare bills in my pocket for tips for the pizza guy.
OK, that pizza guy makes perfect sense. Except for how the pizza gets paid for? (!) Last time I lived in an area where they delivered pizza, if you could pay for the pizza on a CC, you could tip on the CC as well. Must be for "after"?
When I was actively card counting I did keep a stash of 100's and 20's in my stash. (Why does everyone keep money in the KITCHEN??) I do not think I'd have the guts to put down a $10 at a BJ table. Out of state or not. Boy I could tell you stories about dressing up like a woman to avoid a counting ban and so forth.... Wow those were the days. Enjoy, sir. Whilst you can.
@core wrote:
@UncleB wrote:
LOL... I've been known to get bored and head off for an out-of-state casino on short notice. Also, I don't have to worry about having spare bills in my pocket for tips for the pizza guy.OK, that pizza guy makes perfect sense. Except for how the pizza gets paid for? (!) Last time I lived in an area where they delivered pizza, if you could pay for the pizza on a CC, you could tip on the CC as well. Must be for "after"?
When I was actively card counting I did keep a stash of 100's and 20's in my stash. (Why does everyone keep money in the KITCHEN??) I do not think I'd have the guts to put down a $10 at a BJ table. Out of state or not. Boy I could tell you stories about dressing up like a woman to avoid a counting ban and so forth.... Wow those were the days. Enjoy, sir. Whilst you can.
I would love to hear your stories sometimes. 
As for the tips, I got into the habit a while back of paying tips in cash when practical. I know there's pros/cons to that, but personally I've always felt that anything I can do to make my food handlers like me better is a good thing. 
The $1s I keep on hand are mostly for gifts for the younger kiddies. The younger ones are much more impressed with 20 $1 bills than a single $20. (Of course, the older ones couldn't care less... LOL)
@Anonymous wrote:
I mean no warning as in any way of them saying "hey....we're going to decrease your credit because of...." opposed to me making large payments and them lowering my credit.
I will continue to make my large payments get them paid off. I know the old BK doesn't help. That will be off in a few years. I'm sure this was triggered due to being app happy and asking for CLI since I'm getting lots paid off.
It will all balance out in time. Ive read there is nothing I can do to stop balance chasing, if it's going to happen it's going to happen. As you've stated something has triggered it and I'm sure it was due to what I mentioned in the last paragraph.
This is true. The upside is, when your balances decline, your banks will each reach a point where they are more comfortable with the credit limits you have, and then the CLD will stop. You won't realize it for a few months, but when you look back, there's the end of the CLD.
And at that point, each bank feels a whole lot better about you as a customer, and the CLI and new accounts start to happen again, because you have shown you can handle and pay down significant balances. Banks love that.
I went through CLD / balance chasing and account closures, changes in terms with Citi, BofA, and Chase. Years of it after the credit crisis. All is absolutely fine with them now, and I'm getting new cards from them right and left, even an auto CLI of $3k from BofA this past spring 2015 after their last CLD in early 2013.
@UncleB wrote:
@twiddledee wrote:What is balance chasing?
Excellent question... it's when each month after you make your credit card payment, the bank/lender lowers your credit line to just a few dollars over your new balance.
Basically they don't close your account, but you never have available credit, even after making a payment (at least until the 'chasing' stops).
Not necessarily every month. For example, when I was on low permanent APR offers, there's no way I'm paying that sucker down any faster than the terms require, I'll put the money toward some higher APR card. In that case, they aren't going to do a CLD for the $50 or so of principal that I've paid this month, they'll wait 3 or 6 months before they do another CLD.
This is an important thing to realize about CLD: As long as you are paying according to terms, there's really not a lot they can do to speed up your payments. So if you don't feel the need to speed up the payments, don't. They can pound sand while they wait for their money, as you pay it back according to terms.
@UncleB wrote:
The $1s I keep on hand are mostly for gifts for the younger kiddies.
Just don't know when to stop, do ya Uncle? 
@UncleB wrote:
@NRB525 wrote:
@UncleB wrote:
@twiddledee wrote:What is balance chasing?
Excellent question... it's when each month after you make your credit card payment, the bank/lender lowers your credit line to just a few dollars over your new balance.
Basically they don't close your account, but you never have available credit, even after making a payment (at least until the 'chasing' stops).
Not necessarily every month. For example, when I was on low permanent APR offers, there's no way I'm paying that sucker down any faster than the terms require, I'll put the money toward some higher APR card. In that case, they aren't going to do a CLD for the $50 or so of principal that I've paid this month, they'll wait 3 or 6 months before they do another CLD.
This is an important thing to realize about CLD: As long as you are paying according to terms, there's really not a lot they can do to speed up your payments. So if you don't feel the need to speed up the payments, don't. They can pound sand while they wait for their money, as you pay it back according to terms.
Not trying to argue, but my own experience (specifically with Synchrony) was different. Once the balance chasing started, it was each month - even if I only paid the minimum payment.
I do agree, though, that if I was on a low APR promo/offer, there's no way I would speed up paying the card down. At that point, AA is already a reality, so my primary concern becomes the math - if it makes sense to drag it out, I would.
Happy New Year, UncleB! You always have helpful advice on the boards and it is appreciated.
@core wrote:
@UncleB wrote:
The $1s I keep on hand are mostly for gifts for the younger kiddies.Just don't know when to stop, do ya Uncle?
That's my story and I'm sticking to it...
(Seriously, it's a cause for celebration when the nieces and nephews get old enough to give cash... it's so much easier to stuff a card than to shop for toys I'm not familiar with, and hope I get the "right" one. I still have a few more years of buying toys for a few of them, though.)