topic Re: Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Card - When should I apply? in Credit Card Applications

Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Card - When should I apply?

Tinkiegrrl — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 04:29:52 GMT

I already joined the credit union itself. Just got the debit card in the mail today in fact. I'm going for the $150 bonus they're offering on their cash back checking account. I'm also parking $2499 in the 2% APY savings. Further, I'm liking their money management tool. Works in a similar way to Mint. This may actually become my main bank. I'm in Staten Island so getting to an actual branch in NJ will be pretty easy for me should the need arise. Anyway, really, I joined for the credit card of course. Thing is I only have 9 months of credit history and I've opened 4 cards in that time frame because I'm ADHD and discovered that I really like shiny new cards. Don't worry, I slowed down. Last card I opened was just over 3 months ago and despite my ADHD I've been keeping up with the accounts just fine. FICO scores are all approaching mid 700's. Considering this, when would it be best for me to try and apply for this card? Amazon is a big spend category to me, and the rotating categories will serve me well too. Last card I opened was 9/1/21. March will mark 1 yr of building credit for me and 6 months since I opened my last card. Will it be okay then, or should I wait longer?

EDIT: Thanks everyone. I'm gonna abandon this idea for now. It'll be a number of years before I get an average credit limit over $5k with a couple low limit cards I have right now not likely to get much higher being factored in. I can get there faster applying to other cards, but that will lower average age of credit so either way, it'll be a number of years. By then my interest may be elsewhere. For Amazon spend maybe I'll just go for the Chase Amazon card when I hit a year of building. I wound up with a good, local to me credit union anyway. I actually like Affinity, and wanted to replace one of my bank accounts so it's fine that I joined.

Re: Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Card - When should I apply?

ZackAttack — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 05:57:41 GMT

Hi,

Can you list what credit cards you have and their credit limits?

Re: Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Card - When should I apply?

Tinkiegrrl — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 12:03:29 GMT

@ZackAttack wrote:
Hi,

Can you list what credit cards you have and their credit limits?

Capital One Quicksilver - Opened 3/21 - $400 CL

Discover It Cash Back - Opened 4/21 - $1500 CL

Cred.ai - Opened 5/21 - $1500 CL

Apple Card Opened 9/21 - $7400 CL

Fico scores are 742 Experian, 738 Equifax and 726 Transunion. I have 4 inquiries on Transunion, hence the lower score there. None on Experian

Re: Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Card - When should I apply?

ZackAttack — Sat, 18 Dec 2021 23:30:18 GMT

@Tinkiegrrl wrote:
@ZackAttack wrote:
Hi,

Can you list what credit cards you have and their credit limits?
Capital One Quicksilver - Opened 3/21 - $400 CL
Discover It Cash Back - Opened 4/21 - $1500 CL
Cred.ai - Opened 5/21 - $1500 CL
Apple Card Opened 9/21 - $7400 CL

Fico scores are 742 Experian, 738 Equifax and 726 Transunion. I have 4 inquiries on Transunion, hence the lower score there. None on Experian

Having only 9 months of credit history and 4 cards is impressive, but I think you may not stand a chance at getting this Affinity cash rewards cad at this time. Seeing how Affinity has multiple card offerings and this card is marked with "Visa Signature" which usually means a min credit limit of $5,000.

If I added yours up, (400+1500+1500+7400)/4 = $2,700 avg CL. Unfortunately, the best bet in achieving this card is to grow the cards you have while aging out the accounts you have already opened. There is no way to bet time but take it slow. Good luck with your journey.

While aging out your cards, I strongly suggest seeing if any SP CLI offerings are open after your statement cuts. I know that discover cli can be off and on.

Re: Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Card - When should I apply?

Tinkiegrrl — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 00:31:05 GMT

@ZackAttack wrote:
@Tinkiegrrl wrote:
@ZackAttack wrote:
Hi,

Can you list what credit cards you have and their credit limits?
Capital One Quicksilver - Opened 3/21 - $400 CL
Discover It Cash Back - Opened 4/21 - $1500 CL
Cred.ai - Opened 5/21 - $1500 CL
Apple Card Opened 9/21 - $7400 CL

Fico scores are 742 Experian, 738 Equifax and 726 Transunion. I have 4 inquiries on Transunion, hence the lower score there. None on Experian
Having only 9 months of credit history and 4 cards is impressive, but I think you may not stand a chance at getting this Affinity cash rewards cad at this time. Seeing how Affinity has multiple card offerings and this card is marked with "Visa Signature" which usually means a min credit limit of $5,000.

If I added yours up, (400+1500+1500+7400)/4 = $2,700 avg CL. Unfortunately, the best bet in achieving this card is to grow the cards you have while aging out the accounts you have already opened. There is no way to bet time but take it slow. Good luck with your journey.

While aging out your cards, I strongly suggest seeing if any SP CLI offerings are open after your statement cuts. I know that discover cli can be off and on.

Apple already recently gave me one increase from $4400 to $7400. They usually consider them every 91 days so I can around Feb 5th for another. Discover just graduated me an unsecured card in November. Doubt they'll give me an increase anytime soon. If average credit card limit matters, would I be beneficial to cancel the Quicksilver? I suspect it's bucketed and it'll continue to drag my average credit limit down. I knew average age of accounts mattered. I didn't know average credit limit mattered. I was going to hang on to it as my oldest card but I won't if it's harming me

Re: Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Card - When should I apply?

Tinkiegrrl — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 01:22:11 GMT

@ZackAttack wrote:
@Tinkiegrrl wrote:
@ZackAttack wrote:
Hi,

Can you list what credit cards you have and their credit limits?
Capital One Quicksilver - Opened 3/21 - $400 CL
Discover It Cash Back - Opened 4/21 - $1500 CL
Cred.ai - Opened 5/21 - $1500 CL
Apple Card Opened 9/21 - $7400 CL

Fico scores are 742 Experian, 738 Equifax and 726 Transunion. I have 4 inquiries on Transunion, hence the lower score there. None on Experian
Having only 9 months of credit history and 4 cards is impressive, but I think you may not stand a chance at getting this Affinity cash rewards cad at this time. Seeing how Affinity has multiple card offerings and this card is marked with "Visa Signature" which usually means a min credit limit of $5,000.

If I added yours up, (400+1500+1500+7400)/4 = $2,700 avg CL. Unfortunately, the best bet in achieving this card is to grow the cards you have while aging out the accounts you have already opened. There is no way to bet time but take it slow. Good luck with your journey.

While aging out your cards, I strongly suggest seeing if any SP CLI offerings are open after your statement cuts. I know that discover cli can be off and on.

Would opening a card with a 10k limit help? FNBO pre approved me for that. It's not a bad card either. Flat 2% cash back with a $200 sign up bonus. I've been holding off because I've already opened so many.

Re: Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Card - When should I apply?

sugarcreek67 — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 02:04:25 GMT

I would not close the cap one card if it is your oldest card. I have the same quicksilver card @ 500SL and they will not give even a 10 cli. but it is my oldest and so I sock drawer it. I use it for a 20ish dollar subscription to show use and to do all zero except one. I also agree with previous post about letting your accounts age. If you really want that affinity card going to take time and patience to obtain. its a great card 2% flat + the rotating hi 5 categories every quarter. You could call affinity and talk to a LO about it. they are very friendly and helpful when I have called in. Good Luck!

Re: Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Card - When should I apply?

Tinkiegrrl — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 02:38:01 GMT

@sugarcreek67 wrote:
I would not close the cap one card if it is your oldest card. I have the same quicksilver card @ 500SL and they will not give even a 10 cli. but it is my oldest and so I sock drawer it. I use it for a 20ish dollar subscription to show use and to do all zero except one. I also agree with previous post about letting your accounts age. If you really want that affinity card going to take time and patience to obtain. its a great card 2% flat + the rotating hi 5 categories every quarter. You could call affinity and talk to a LO about it. they are very friendly and helpful when I have called in. Good Luck!

Oh I know I need to let my cards age. What's new to me is the average credit limit thing. I didn't know that was a factor unless your utilization was high. I know how to manipulate that before applying for a card so the credit limits never concerned me before now. In order to ever qualify for this card, not only do I need to let my cards age, I'll likely need to apply for another one before then to get my average credit limit up. Apple is pretty reliable for credit limit increases but others aren't so much.

edited to add: Perhaps I should consider some of the Amex offers being sent to me for high credit limits. I hear they're good for that, but I'd basically only be using the card for the limit. I don't travel so their rewards aren't appealing to me

Re: Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Card - When should I apply?

ZackAttack — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 03:13:35 GMT

@Tinkiegrrl wrote:
@sugarcreek67 wrote:
I would not close the cap one card if it is your oldest card. I have the same quicksilver card @ 500SL and they will not give even a 10 cli. but it is my oldest and so I sock drawer it. I use it for a 20ish dollar subscription to show use and to do all zero except one. I also agree with previous post about letting your accounts age. If you really want that affinity card going to take time and patience to obtain. its a great card 2% flat + the rotating hi 5 categories every quarter. You could call affinity and talk to a LO about it. they are very friendly and helpful when I have called in. Good Luck!
Oh I know I need to let my cards age. What's new to me is the average credit limit thing. I didn't know that was a factor unless your utilization was high. I know how to manipulate that before applying for a card so the credit limits never concerned me before now. In order to ever qualify for this card, not only do I need to let my cards age, I'll likely need to apply for another one before then to get my average credit limit up. Apple is pretty reliable for credit limit increases but others aren't so much.

edited to add: Perhaps I should consider some of the Amex offers being sent to me for high credit limits. I hear they're good for that, but I'd basically only be using the card for the limit. I don't travel so their rewards aren't appealing to me

All lenders can do anything they want to evaluate you. I doubt opening a $10,000 CL would be that much benefit because I just don't see why a lender would approve you.

For example, if you tried to apply at Chase for a min $10k card, they would deny you because they see no revolving account with $10k or higher. If the min was $5k, they may see 1 account ... but that all depends on how the lender wants to evaluate you.

As for opening random accounts, I would encourage you to keep your mind open, applying cards that sever no benefit usually ends up as a waste of time.

-------------------

You are more welcome to try @sugarcreek67 idea about calling, but I suspect that would occur a Hard Pull assuming there is no pre-approved offer in the online banking. Even if they approve you right now, I bet they would give you just $5,000 CL because of history/age.

Re: Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Card - When should I apply?

Tinkiegrrl — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 04:04:19 GMT

@ZackAttack wrote:
@Tinkiegrrl wrote:
@sugarcreek67 wrote:
I would not close the cap one card if it is your oldest card. I have the same quicksilver card @ 500SL and they will not give even a 10 cli. but it is my oldest and so I sock drawer it. I use it for a 20ish dollar subscription to show use and to do all zero except one. I also agree with previous post about letting your accounts age. If you really want that affinity card going to take time and patience to obtain. its a great card 2% flat + the rotating hi 5 categories every quarter. You could call affinity and talk to a LO about it. they are very friendly and helpful when I have called in. Good Luck!
Oh I know I need to let my cards age. What's new to me is the average credit limit thing. I didn't know that was a factor unless your utilization was high. I know how to manipulate that before applying for a card so the credit limits never concerned me before now. In order to ever qualify for this card, not only do I need to let my cards age, I'll likely need to apply for another one before then to get my average credit limit up. Apple is pretty reliable for credit limit increases but others aren't so much.

edited to add: Perhaps I should consider some of the Amex offers being sent to me for high credit limits. I hear they're good for that, but I'd basically only be using the card for the limit. I don't travel so their rewards aren't appealing to me
All lenders can do anything they want to evaluate you. I doubt opening a $10,000 CL would be that much benefit because I just don't see why a lender would approve you.

For example, if you tried to apply at Chase for a min $10k card, they would deny you because they see no revolving account with $10k or higher. If the min was $5k, they may see 1 account ... but that all depends on how the lender wants to evaluate you.

As for opening random accounts, I would encourage you to keep your mind open, applying cards that sever no benefit usually ends up as a waste of time.

-------------------
You are more welcome to try @sugarcreek67 idea about calling, but I suspect that would occur a Hard Pull assuming there is no pre-approved offer in the online banking. Even if they approve you right now, I bet they would give you just $5,000 CL because of history/age.

How does anyone get to those high limits if you need the high limits to get the high limits? I could eventually see getting Apple to go that high with time. But it's the only card in my line up right now that might go that high with time. If I didn't have it then maybe in like, 5 yrs or so Discover might be, maybe. I suppose that it though huh? Garden for years...

Re: Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Card - When should I apply?

Tinkiegrrl — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 04:39:17 GMT

@ZackAttack wrote:
@Tinkiegrrl wrote:
@sugarcreek67 wrote:
I would not close the cap one card if it is your oldest card. I have the same quicksilver card @ 500SL and they will not give even a 10 cli. but it is my oldest and so I sock drawer it. I use it for a 20ish dollar subscription to show use and to do all zero except one. I also agree with previous post about letting your accounts age. If you really want that affinity card going to take time and patience to obtain. its a great card 2% flat + the rotating hi 5 categories every quarter. You could call affinity and talk to a LO about it. they are very friendly and helpful when I have called in. Good Luck!
Oh I know I need to let my cards age. What's new to me is the average credit limit thing. I didn't know that was a factor unless your utilization was high. I know how to manipulate that before applying for a card so the credit limits never concerned me before now. In order to ever qualify for this card, not only do I need to let my cards age, I'll likely need to apply for another one before then to get my average credit limit up. Apple is pretty reliable for credit limit increases but others aren't so much.

edited to add: Perhaps I should consider some of the Amex offers being sent to me for high credit limits. I hear they're good for that, but I'd basically only be using the card for the limit. I don't travel so their rewards aren't appealing to me
All lenders can do anything they want to evaluate you. I doubt opening a $10,000 CL would be that much benefit because I just don't see why a lender would approve you.

For example, if you tried to apply at Chase for a min $10k card, they would deny you because they see no revolving account with $10k or higher. If the min was $5k, they may see 1 account ... but that all depends on how the lender wants to evaluate you.

As for opening random accounts, I would encourage you to keep your mind open, applying cards that sever no benefit usually ends up as a waste of time.

-------------------
You are more welcome to try @sugarcreek67 idea about calling, but I suspect that would occur a Hard Pull assuming there is no pre-approved offer in the online banking. Even if they approve you right now, I bet they would give you just $5,000 CL because of history/age.

I'm just going to abandon the idea of this card. I got a good, local to me, credit union account out of the deal so I still made out. The Chase Amazon card will be within my reach sooner then this one I think. They just seem to look for a years worth of credit building. I don't have any late pays or collections, so that one might be possible when I hit a year. If I still want this one a couple years down the road maybe I'll revisit it, but who knows what I'll want then.

Re: Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Card - When should I apply?

ZackAttack — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 04:53:12 GMT

@Tinkiegrrl wrote:
@ZackAttack wrote:
@Tinkiegrrl wrote:
@sugarcreek67 wrote:
I would not close the cap one card if it is your oldest card. I have the same quicksilver card @ 500SL and they will not give even a 10 cli. but it is my oldest and so I sock drawer it. I use it for a 20ish dollar subscription to show use and to do all zero except one. I also agree with previous post about letting your accounts age. If you really want that affinity card going to take time and patience to obtain. its a great card 2% flat + the rotating hi 5 categories every quarter. You could call affinity and talk to a LO about it. they are very friendly and helpful when I have called in. Good Luck!
Oh I know I need to let my cards age. What's new to me is the average credit limit thing. I didn't know that was a factor unless your utilization was high. I know how to manipulate that before applying for a card so the credit limits never concerned me before now. In order to ever qualify for this card, not only do I need to let my cards age, I'll likely need to apply for another one before then to get my average credit limit up. Apple is pretty reliable for credit limit increases but others aren't so much.

edited to add: Perhaps I should consider some of the Amex offers being sent to me for high credit limits. I hear they're good for that, but I'd basically only be using the card for the limit. I don't travel so their rewards aren't appealing to me
All lenders can do anything they want to evaluate you. I doubt opening a $10,000 CL would be that much benefit because I just don't see why a lender would approve you.

For example, if you tried to apply at Chase for a min $10k card, they would deny you because they see no revolving account with $10k or higher. If the min was $5k, they may see 1 account ... but that all depends on how the lender wants to evaluate you.

As for opening random accounts, I would encourage you to keep your mind open, applying cards that sever no benefit usually ends up as a waste of time.

-------------------
You are more welcome to try @sugarcreek67 idea about calling, but I suspect that would occur a Hard Pull assuming there is no pre-approved offer in the online banking. Even if they approve you right now, I bet they would give you just $5,000 CL because of history/age.
I'm just going to abandon the idea of this card. I got a good, local to me, credit union account out of the deal so I still made out. The Chase Amazon card will be within my reach sooner then this one I think. They just seem to look for a years worth of credit building. I don't have any late pays or collections, so that one might be possible when I hit a year. If I still want this one a couple years down the road maybe I'll revisit it, but who knows what I'll want then.

That is up to you, but I hear Chase wants to see at least one year of history.

@Tinkiegrrl wrote:
How does anyone get to those high limits if you need the high limits to get the high limits? I could eventually see getting Apple to go that high with time. But it's the only card in my line up right now that might go that high with time. If I didn't have it then maybe in like, 5 yrs or so Discover might be, maybe. I suppose that it though huh? Garden for years...

Usually, the best way to gain those limits is usually by CLI and accounts aging to show history. If a lender likes your history, they may compete for ur business by offering a high CL. Others may want to start where your established accounts are at.

Re: Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Card - When should I apply?

Tinkiegrrl — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 05:06:06 GMT

@ZackAttack wrote:
@Tinkiegrrl wrote:
@ZackAttack wrote:
@Tinkiegrrl wrote:
@sugarcreek67 wrote:
I would not close the cap one card if it is your oldest card. I have the same quicksilver card @ 500SL and they will not give even a 10 cli. but it is my oldest and so I sock drawer it. I use it for a 20ish dollar subscription to show use and to do all zero except one. I also agree with previous post about letting your accounts age. If you really want that affinity card going to take time and patience to obtain. its a great card 2% flat + the rotating hi 5 categories every quarter. You could call affinity and talk to a LO about it. they are very friendly and helpful when I have called in. Good Luck!
Oh I know I need to let my cards age. What's new to me is the average credit limit thing. I didn't know that was a factor unless your utilization was high. I know how to manipulate that before applying for a card so the credit limits never concerned me before now. In order to ever qualify for this card, not only do I need to let my cards age, I'll likely need to apply for another one before then to get my average credit limit up. Apple is pretty reliable for credit limit increases but others aren't so much.

edited to add: Perhaps I should consider some of the Amex offers being sent to me for high credit limits. I hear they're good for that, but I'd basically only be using the card for the limit. I don't travel so their rewards aren't appealing to me
All lenders can do anything they want to evaluate you. I doubt opening a $10,000 CL would be that much benefit because I just don't see why a lender would approve you.

For example, if you tried to apply at Chase for a min $10k card, they would deny you because they see no revolving account with $10k or higher. If the min was $5k, they may see 1 account ... but that all depends on how the lender wants to evaluate you.

As for opening random accounts, I would encourage you to keep your mind open, applying cards that sever no benefit usually ends up as a waste of time.

-------------------
You are more welcome to try @sugarcreek67 idea about calling, but I suspect that would occur a Hard Pull assuming there is no pre-approved offer in the online banking. Even if they approve you right now, I bet they would give you just $5,000 CL because of history/age.
I'm just going to abandon the idea of this card. I got a good, local to me, credit union account out of the deal so I still made out. The Chase Amazon card will be within my reach sooner then this one I think. They just seem to look for a years worth of credit building. I don't have any late pays or collections, so that one might be possible when I hit a year. If I still want this one a couple years down the road maybe I'll revisit it, but who knows what I'll want then.
That is up to you, but I hear Chase wants to see at least one year of history.

@Tinkiegrrl wrote:
How does anyone get to those high limits if you need the high limits to get the high limits? I could eventually see getting Apple to go that high with time. But it's the only card in my line up right now that might go that high with time. If I didn't have it then maybe in like, 5 yrs or so Discover might be, maybe. I suppose that it though huh? Garden for years...
Usually, the best way to gain those limits is usually by CLI and accounts aging to show history. If a lender likes your history, they may compete for ur business by offering a high CL. Others may want to start where your established accounts are at.

I was planning to try for Affinity when I hit a year. That why I opened the credit union account. Never intended to apply today or anything like that. So, waiting until I hit a year for the Chase Amazon card will be fine, especially as it sounds like it'll take a NUMBER of years for me to get the affinity card. Apple is really the only reliable bet I have for regular credit limit increases and it'll still take a good amount of time to get that card high enough where the others won't bring my average credit limit under $5k. Opening new cards to get higher limits that way will hurt average age of credit. Either way, this card is out of my reach for long enough where frankly, I'll probably want something else by then. Who knows, I might stop spending so much at Amazon by then.

Good news is that I really like my Affinity checking and savings account so far so this still wasn't a waste.

Re: Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Card - When should I apply?

ZackAttack — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 06:05:15 GMT

@Tinkiegrrl wrote:
@ZackAttack wrote:
@Tinkiegrrl wrote:
@ZackAttack wrote:
@Tinkiegrrl wrote:
@sugarcreek67 wrote:
I would not close the cap one card if it is your oldest card. I have the same quicksilver card @ 500SL and they will not give even a 10 cli. but it is my oldest and so I sock drawer it. I use it for a 20ish dollar subscription to show use and to do all zero except one. I also agree with previous post about letting your accounts age. If you really want that affinity card going to take time and patience to obtain. its a great card 2% flat + the rotating hi 5 categories every quarter. You could call affinity and talk to a LO about it. they are very friendly and helpful when I have called in. Good Luck!
Oh I know I need to let my cards age. What's new to me is the average credit limit thing. I didn't know that was a factor unless your utilization was high. I know how to manipulate that before applying for a card so the credit limits never concerned me before now. In order to ever qualify for this card, not only do I need to let my cards age, I'll likely need to apply for another one before then to get my average credit limit up. Apple is pretty reliable for credit limit increases but others aren't so much.

edited to add: Perhaps I should consider some of the Amex offers being sent to me for high credit limits. I hear they're good for that, but I'd basically only be using the card for the limit. I don't travel so their rewards aren't appealing to me
All lenders can do anything they want to evaluate you. I doubt opening a $10,000 CL would be that much benefit because I just don't see why a lender would approve you.

For example, if you tried to apply at Chase for a min $10k card, they would deny you because they see no revolving account with $10k or higher. If the min was $5k, they may see 1 account ... but that all depends on how the lender wants to evaluate you.

As for opening random accounts, I would encourage you to keep your mind open, applying cards that sever no benefit usually ends up as a waste of time.

-------------------
You are more welcome to try @sugarcreek67 idea about calling, but I suspect that would occur a Hard Pull assuming there is no pre-approved offer in the online banking. Even if they approve you right now, I bet they would give you just $5,000 CL because of history/age.
I'm just going to abandon the idea of this card. I got a good, local to me, credit union account out of the deal so I still made out. The Chase Amazon card will be within my reach sooner then this one I think. They just seem to look for a years worth of credit building. I don't have any late pays or collections, so that one might be possible when I hit a year. If I still want this one a couple years down the road maybe I'll revisit it, but who knows what I'll want then.
That is up to you, but I hear Chase wants to see at least one year of history.

@Tinkiegrrl wrote:
How does anyone get to those high limits if you need the high limits to get the high limits? I could eventually see getting Apple to go that high with time. But it's the only card in my line up right now that might go that high with time. If I didn't have it then maybe in like, 5 yrs or so Discover might be, maybe. I suppose that it though huh? Garden for years...
Usually, the best way to gain those limits is usually by CLI and accounts aging to show history. If a lender likes your history, they may compete for ur business by offering a high CL. Others may want to start where your established accounts are at.
I was planning to try for Affinity when I hit a year. That why I opened the credit union account. Never intended to apply today or anything like that. So, waiting until I hit a year for the Chase Amazon card will be fine, especially as it sounds like it'll take a NUMBER of years for me to get the affinity card. Apple is really the only reliable bet I have for regular credit limit increases and it'll still take a good amount of time to get that card high enough where the others won't bring my average credit limit under $5k. Opening new cards to get higher limits that way will hurt average age of credit. Either way, this card is out of my reach for long enough where frankly, I'll probably want something else by then. Who knows, I might stop spending so much at Amazon by then.

Good news is that I really like my Affinity checking and savings account so far so this still wasn't a waste.

SP CLI is a good idea too. Also, CU may be forthcoming compared to a bank. You never know who is doing the analysis.

My MSGCU started as Classic 1k -> 3k -> 5k w/ PC to Plat -> PC to Rewards ... 4 HPs and was worth it while I was poking Discover like 3 days after every statement cut.

Discover $500 -> 1.7k -> 2.3k -> 3050 -> 3550 -> months later -> 6550 all SP CLIs.

I had 5 cards going into Oct 2020 (MSGCU 5K, Discover <5k, Best buy 3k, Amex 3900, Chase 1k ish) and did a credit spree. Highest HP was from DCU and got a 5.99% personal loan and 8k CL w/ 8.5% APR with membership started Summer 2020.

Re: Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Card - When should I apply?

Tinkiegrrl — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 11:11:23 GMT

SP CLI is a good idea too. Also, CU may be forthcoming compared to a bank. You never know who is doing the analysis.

My MSGCU started as Classic 1k -> 3k -> 5k w/ PC to Plat -> PC to Rewards ... 4 HPs and was worth it while I was poking Discover like 3 days after every statement cut.
Discover $500 -> 1.7k -> 2.3k -> 3050 -> 3550 -> months later -> 6550 all SP CLIs.

I had 5 cards going into Oct 2020 (MSGCU 5K, Discover <5k, Best buy 3k, Amex 3900, Chase 1k ish) and did a credit spree. Highest HP was from DCU and got a 5.99% personal loan and 8k CL w/ 8.5% APR with membership started Summer 2020.

How much spend were you putting in the Discover card for those increases? Also, did you pay anything down before statements were cut, or did you let the your real utilization report? Apple will get me a SP CLI around every 91 days and that was with pay some of it down before the statement cut. Apple is also currently my daily driver though, and the card my son uses as well. He's 16, and I'm teaching him about credit as I go. Discover gets used for tbe 5% quarterly bonuses, rather then for everything. Will that be a problem when I go for CLI's?

Re: Affinity FCU Cash Rewards Card - When should I apply?

ZackAttack — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 20:35:41 GMT

@Tinkiegrrl wrote:

SP CLI is a good idea too. Also, CU may be forthcoming compared to a bank. You never know who is doing the analysis.

My MSGCU started as Classic 1k -> 3k -> 5k w/ PC to Plat -> PC to Rewards ... 4 HPs and was worth it while I was poking Discover like 3 days after every statement cut.
Discover $500 -> 1.7k -> 2.3k -> 3050 -> 3550 -> months later -> 6550 all SP CLIs.

I had 5 cards going into Oct 2020 (MSGCU 5K, Discover <5k, Best buy 3k, Amex 3900, Chase 1k ish) and did a credit spree. Highest HP was from DCU and got a 5.99% personal loan and 8k CL w/ 8.5% APR with membership started Summer 2020.
How much spend were you putting in the Discover card for those increases? Also, did you pay anything down before statements were cut, or did you let the your real utilization report? Apple will get me a SP CLI around every 91 days and that was with pay some of it down before the statement cut. Apple is also currently my daily driver though, and the card my son uses as well. He's 16, and I'm teaching him about credit as I go. Discover gets used for tbe 5% quarterly bonuses, rather then for everything. Will that be a problem when I go for CLI's?

I usually ended up trying to do at least 10%+ on the card when I found the letter stating something else than "not enough experience with current line of credit". When it's something else, I tend to let it cut as that statement instead of paying it down early.

Discover CLIs can be hit or miss, but every time that I have seen something else besides the experience, I let it report vs paying it off early.