@mizvalentine wrote:
So, I desperately need two things at the moment: a car and a computer, both related to work and can't really be put off.
@Anonymous car was slightly more urgent, so I apped for a car loan at my CU and got preapproved for $11k @ 6.24%, no money down, which is great! I'm getting the car this weekend.
However, I also need a new Mac...and I'm not sure how to go about it. I've heard Apple credit/financing is hard to come by. What's my best move without killing my FICOs? Currently I'm TU 676, EQ 679...that's after the inquiry from the CU but the loan hasn't been signed yet so it hasn't posted to my credit report.
I'm not sure of a couple things:
1) will the loan help or hurt my scores when it posts to my report? --if you don't have any other installment accounts, it will help, although there might initially be a drop in score, but it should quickly recover
2) is it better to app for computer credit now or in a few months from now (not sure I can wait, but...) --I'd go with a general Visa/MC rather than specifically a computer credit/ Apple account. See below.
3) is it better to app for Apple credit or just try going thru my CU for a new credit card? My utilization is high (60%ish) on my one credit card right now, because I use it for my freelance business and it gets a lot of travel charges in the summer. It'll be paid off in the next couple months but right now I think my utilization looks bad...do I stand a chance of even getting another cc? --I've read lots of posts that whoever underwrites Apple credit doesn't extend enough to get the job done. The high balance being paid down is a good example of why you might want to approach your CU on this. CU loan officers generally have the authority to look at indvidual situations and track records and decide if you're a good bet, unlike the process at most big-boy banks.
Thanks!!
Just my thoughts, and I'm sure that others will chime in as well.
I hear ya on the Mac. After suffering with a Windows laptop for a couple of years, I returned to Apple, and now (literally) I'm on a 15" MacBook Pro. Yes, the price was steep, but it was so worth it.
I went online to the Apple store and ordered from the refurb'd models, and that saved money. As it turns out, the guy, sorry, Genius at the Apple Store said that it was a brand-new model and was probably returned out of buyer remorse. No guarantee that that would happen for you, of course, but you might want to think about it as an option.
* Credit is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. * Who's the boss --you or your credit?
FICO's: EQ 781 - TU 793 - EX 779 (from PSECU) - Done credit hunting; having fun with credit gardening. - EQ 590 on 5/14/2007
