Advice on my new credit cards- I'm looking for CLI within 6 months

[MingleJill]

Hi and TIA! 

Newbie here and planning my next years strategy to get me out of the 500's & into the 700s in a year.... 

I just went on my first (and last) app spree and now have the next year to increase my CL on these cards. What is the best plan? Should I charge them to the max every month but pif? Should I just charge under 10% ult? 

From experience, what is the best way to "guarantee" an automatic CLI, or at least in 6 months if I have to request one, is there any sort of spending pattern they look for? (Im obviously going to be working on rebuilding credit, keeping up with payments and trying to remove baddies from report in the meantime)

Store Cards 

Walmart 0/500

Khols 0/300

Macys 0/300

Amazon  0/600

Credit Cards (non secured)

Capital One Premier (from Orchard Bank) $24/300

Capital One Quicksilverone  0/1000

Barclays  0/500

My plan is to

Spend on Walmart (hoping to get the discover upgrade) about $50 a month and pif. 

Spend on Barclays about $50 per month and pif

Spend about $30 month on cap1 premier and pif

Spend $900 a month on quicksilverone and pif (1.5% rewards)

Rotate the other store cards with about $30 purchase every month and pif

Should I carry a small balance on the cards to get a CLI? Should I spend more? Should I spend less? 

I know YMMV.... but am hoping for advice if there is any!

I don't plan on carrying a balance on any. 

[ezdriver]

Common question to which the answer is pretty much to maintain a small balamce [less than 9% of the CL] on one and pay all others to zero balance. I pay my CC bills when I receive my statements rather than when the payments are due.

[MingleJill]

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@ezdriver wrote:

Common question to which the answer is pretty much to maintain a small balamce [less than 9% of the CL] on one and pay all others to zero balance. I pay my CC bills when I receive my statements rather than when the payments are due.

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Thanks EZ... but does it matter what one I carry a >9% balance on? For example, if I carry the balance on barclays, is barclay less likely to increase my cl with them BUT everyone else is more likely to incresase

[newmomnewme]

I too want to see the answer to this question. I am going to rotate the <9%  balance to a different card each month. I have 7 cards....The 3 store cards will be used during the holidays and then in the sock drawer for a while after that.

[guiness56]

No, it doesn't matter which one you carry the balance on.  It is suggested to change every few months to show usage on the other cards.  That way they won't be closed for non-use.

[myjourney]

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@MingleJill wrote:

Hi and TIA! 

Newbie here and planning my next years strategy to get me out of the 500's & into the 700s in a year.... 

I just went on my first (and last) app spree and now have the next year to increase my CL on these cards. What is the best plan? Should I charge them to the max every month but pif? Should I just charge under 10% ult? 

From experience, what is the best way to "guarantee" an automatic CLI, or at least in 6 months if I have to request one, is there any sort of spending pattern they look for? (Im obviously going to be working on rebuilding credit, keeping up with payments and trying to remove baddies from report in the meantime)

Store Cards 

Walmart 0/500 Call GE credit solutions every 3 months and ask for a CLI...SP

Khols 0/300

Macys 0/300

Amazon  0/600 If GE same as above if Chase will require a HP if no auto luv

Credit Cards (non secured) 

Contact EO ask to add rewards, waive AF for life, CLI every 6 months

Capital One Premier (from Orchard Bank) $24/300

Capital One Quicksilverone  0/1000

Barclays  0/500 If no auto luv this will require a HP for CLI's every 6 months 

My plan is to

Spend on Walmart (hoping to get the discover upgrade) about $50 a month and pif. 

Spend on Barclays about $50 per month and pif

Spend about $30 month on cap1 premier and pif

Spend $900 a month on quicksilverone and pif (1.5% rewards)

Rotate the other store cards with about $30 purchase every month and pif

Should I carry a small balance on the cards to get a CLI? Should I spend more? Should I spend less? 

I know YMMV.... but am hoping for advice if there is any!

I don't plan on carrying a balance on any. 

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Do your best to never carry balances unless it's an emergency, 0% promo term

Raising scores 1-9% reporting then pay off

[ethan17debttackler]

Hey it's been a few months since your post. Have you received word on any of them? 

I'm in the same Barclay boat with you...just a couple of months behind. Thanks.

[AndySoCal]

I would continue working on your credit first and forget CLI's for now. As your credit picture improves so will the chances of gettting better credit limits.

[ethan17debttackler]

I hear you. Thanks for advice. Other than paying on time, how else would you recommend one work on their credit?

[AndySoCal]

Not apping will help no new inquires to hurt the score and allow the new cards to age  and increase your average of accounts. If you have any score reasons that are hurting your score see if there is something you can do to address it. Below is a link you might find helpful.

http://www.scoreinfo.org/FICO-Scores/Pages/Score-Factors.aspx