topic Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012! in Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge!

Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

Barry — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 18:43:44 GMT

Happy New Year to the myFICO Forums Community!

Can you believe we’re entering our third year of the myFICO Fitness Challenge? Well, believe...as more than 1,600 posts later we launch another year of working together toward achieving our personal financial goals!

What’s the myFICO Fitness Challenge?

By taking the challenge, we publicly proclaim our FICO score goals for the myFICO Forums community to bear witness, encourage and often challenge. Why do we care so much about reaching our FICO score goals? Maybe it’s to qualify for a home? A new car? That coveted rewards card? How about telling us what reaching your goal will mean for you?

New to the Challenge?

If you’re new to the myFICO Fitness Challenge, then welcome! To begin, set up your official myFICO Fitness Challenge logo signature on your Profile page (My Settings=>Personal Profile=>Personal Information). Then just reply to this topic, telling us a little about your financial situation, your goals, and how you plan to achieve them during the coming year. Then get to work!

Returning Challenger?

If you already have your official signature from last year, all you need to do now is post your updated FICO score(s) and reply to this topic, telling us about your 2011 results and the steps you plan to take toward achieving your goals in 2012.

Here’s to ALL of us achieving our financial goals in 2012!!!

-Barry

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:59:08 GMT

Hi Everyone.

Happy 2012!

I am new to this forum but have been reading a lot for the past 2 weeks. I decided to become a member today so that I can take the FICO Fitness Challenge. I am currently flying under the credit card radar because I am scheduled to close on my first home on January 31st. Once that is complete, I want to work hard to increase my FICO scores and join the 700 club.

I'm looking forward to sharing and learning with everyone here. My goals for 2012 are to close on my home and to raise my FICO score to at least a 700. I'm not sure exactly how to do it, but I'm learning as I go by reading your posts and advice. Wish me luck!!!

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:00:04 GMT

Does anyone know why my cute little FICO logo won't appear in my signature?

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

zan987 — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:59:03 GMT

This is my first time doing the Fitness Challenge and I am ready to get started!

My current situation:

Discharged Bankruptcy November 2010 so I am currently in rebuilding mode.

I currently have 3 CCs and I am an authorized user on one of them.

I have student loans....I want even say how much I owe.

Personal loan with my Credit Union (Borrowed $500 to help rebuild my credit, in good standing)

My goals:

To save for an 8 month emergency fund and a down payment for a car

To get a decent auto loan interest rate

To live within my budget

I plan to achieve these goals by continuing to pay my bills ontime and by paying down my current debt.

Good Luck Everyone and Happy New Year!

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:06:47 GMT

I had a dismal 2007, 2008 and 2009, and am just now starting to get any traction on credit repair.

In 2012 I will be working toward raising my FICO above 700 by: (1) keeping utilization on credit cards below 10%, (2) paying student loans down $10,000 over the year, (3) keeping to a budget, and (4) getting at least one collection off my report via goodwill.

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

TNTransplant — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:38:38 GMT

Hi All,

I found this forum in November, and so far the information has been great - really good stuff here that will help me clean up my credit.

I sowed my wild credit oats in the '90s (slow pays, charge-offs, etc.), and then realized I couldn't keep doing that - it was embarrassing to apply for a car loan, CC, and get denied. So, I paid everything that was derogatory and waited for it to clear; also, my last slow pay was in 2001. I've had 10 years of paying everything on time/clean credit, but still have very low scores (low 600s).

Since browsing these forums, I've realized my problem has been paying off a CC and then closing it, which resulted in not having a very long AAoA. I was caught in the subprime borrower category in 2007/2008 and had several CCs that were cancelled on me by creditors, which has resulted in an extremely high utilization %. And, I've indiscriminately applied for credit at every turn, not aware of how inquiries affected my scores.

My goals for 2012: 1). Apply for no credit/no inquiries in 2012. 2). Work on paying off my revolving credit lines with high interest rates (I have 14 total, and I hope to pay off half of these this year). 3). Keep making all payments on time.

Looking forward to being with everyone here this year.

TNTransplant

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

hafsa — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:11:56 GMT

my starting score in 2011 was 590 equifax and transunion 666 try to pay off my debt now 1/10/2012 equifax 653 myfico.com and transunion 698 lender pull my goal for 2012 to be 750+ fico scores

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

hafsa — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:15:28 GMT

trying to post i dont know whats going on

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

MarineVietVet — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:31:51 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Does anyone know why my cute little FICO logo won't appear in my signature?

It's fixed. Welcome to myFICO.

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:46:40 GMT

@MarineVietVet wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Does anyone know why my cute little FICO logo won't appear in my signature?
It's fixed. Welcome to myFICO.

THANK YOU!!

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

-Cain- — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:07:06 GMT

Hi all,

In 2011 I...
-opened a BofA secured card in April (1st card in about 10 years)
-applied for and was denied for a BofA AAA Visa Sig and an AmEx Zync in May
-had an AU CO removed from EQ and TU, loss of TL made me lose TU score for a few months
-was approved for a Household Bank Platinum 2%Rewards MC in July
-had a successful PFD with RJM
-was approved for a Discover More card in August
-once again had a TU score for October
-applied for and was denied for an AmEx Zync in Oct ~didn't get my birthday gift : (
-was approved for an AmEx Green and denied for Costco TE in December ~did get my Xmas gift : )

2012 will be about...
-continuing to raise my scores (I'm at 741 on EQ, would like EX and TU to catch up!)
-letting AAoA increase
-having BofA unsecure in April (hopefully before that even)
-getting CLI on Discover More, deciding what to do with HSBC
-adding my AmEx revolver (either BCE, BCP, or Costco TE) & getting some backdate luv

Let's see how it goes.

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:29:48 GMT

Hey Guys!

I was excited for this 2012 forum to open up! Reading through the 2011 challenge, I really was inspired. I, as with a lot of us, want to be financially stable in life, and no more than now do I truly believe that.

Okay, here we go...

I have had "credit" for a while, although did not really pay much attention to it (chalk it up to ignorance). About 2005, I was in a dirt biking accident that landed me in the hospital. Unfortunately, this happened while I was in between medical insurances, so needless to say, I was screwed. Thousands of dollars later, I was unable to pay and fell behind in payments...all the while by score was being affected. Long story short, the medical bills, my ignorance in paying things on time, and my whole immature approach to financing, has left me in a world of hurt. High interest rate auto loan, students loans, and credit card balances has left me down in the dumps.

But enough is enough, I'm tired of seeing "On Approved Credit" or "Excellent Credit" on T.V. and in ads without my heart sinking into my stomach. I have to get out of this hole, I want to get of this hole, and most of all...I NEED to get out of this hole. I have already begun taking steps in cutting back and saving money for the new year. Changing my medical insurance, auto insurance and other living arrangements...I was able to calculate $1k in savings over a year. Super excited!!

Now, my goal will be to lower debt, no more late payments, and overall repair anyway possible to reach my overall goal. I’m confident with hard work, determination, and this forum, I can reach my goal and reach that pinnacle state of “financially stable”.

Thank you for opening this forum, and I look forward to 2012 as my most productive year to date!

Good Luck everyone!!!

Jason

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

-Cain- — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:32:00 GMT

fitmonkey1219,

Welcome to the forums and Good Luck!

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

mfoxxx — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:53:08 GMT

Hello, I'm new to the forum. I just found you great informative folks, a week ago. My goal, buy a home by years end and to continue pay down student loan.

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

-Cain- — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:29:03 GMT

mfoxx,

Welcome to the forums and Good Luck!

It's good to see new members jump right in and set goals for the next year. You'll find these forums very helpful, I sure have!

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

izzesparks — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:34:42 GMT

Hello everyone!! I am happy to join to challenge again this year. Last year I was doing well for awhile but ran into a little financial trouble and a couple of my scores declined. I have worked really hard the past 2 weeks to get back on track an the results have been outstanding, thanks to all the advice and help here!

The results of 2011: my EQ and EX scores dropped dramatically my EQ FICO score actually dropped to 470

So far in 2012: On December 27th, I pulled my Fico scores and reports and saw the new very low scores and set out to change it fast. I am happy to report that as of January 8th my EQ score jumped to 524!!! That's 54 points in less than 2 weeks Woo Hoo!! Im on a roll!

My goals are to try my best to reach 680 on all three bureaus by Summer and hopefully get approved for a home by Fall and move in before Winter!

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:52:51 GMT

Hey Fitness Family,

Just updating. Like so many others, I've found the advice given here to be so useful, and I'm grateful for myFICO. So my score actually increased last year. When I first signed up for myFICO and checked my score, I was at 636. Now, after doing some gardening and excercising self-control with my spending, I'm at 719.

My goals for 2012:

1) Increase score to at least 770 or above.

2) Apply for NO NEW CREDIT

3) Use the current cards I have and let them grow and increase in Credit Lines

4) Pay all bills in FULL every month

5) SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!

All the best to everyone!

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

Revelate — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:28:07 GMT

Hey folks,

Found this forum when I finally decided to pull my head out of my tookus regarding my credit and dump my cash-based existance: this community is a fantastic resource, thank you all!

End goal is to be able to get a mortgage, so raising my score to 640 is pretty much where it's at for the first bar and I hope to reach that by the end of 2012 as a target, Would be fantastic to hit it earlier, but we'll see how things go.

Starting report: one IRS enormous albatross from 2004, a paid CA tax lien, one paid collection (2010), an old secured card that had a sixty day late back on 8/10. Empty file beyond that.

Dec 2011 "Madness"

- opened up two credit cards, one BOA secured, one Orchard bank unsecured

- bought a car mostly for the car loan at an entirely awkard (though expected w/Auto EX of 551) APR

- took a ridiculous unsecured personal loan for short-term cash and another tradeline. Expensive way for an installment tradeline

2012 plan:

- Jan: open up another secured card at old credit union

- Jan: take out a secured CD loan 3 year term USAA, cheaper way for installment tradeline

- Jul / Aug (depends on when they report sixth payment): finish off the unsecured personal loan

- Aug/Sep/Oct: depending on current FICO score, pull trigger on refinancing auto loan

- Dec: *maybe* try for an Amex Zync if scores look better, report gets a little cleaner, and mortgage is delayed as I expect

- Ongoing: depending on finances, figure out when to use the long stick to wake the tiger (IRS), might be paid but my documentation has been lackluster this decade

- Ongoing: seeing if I can get that collection removed

Thank you everyone for all your contributions, looking forward to this year!

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:58:54 GMT

Hello all!

I am looking to clean up my credit report and get all my bad information off my credit report. I have established good payment history on the credit cards that I have. Now, I am going to work on my bad items that I still owe on my credit report. I owe about $1,500 in collection debt, I have one attachment/garnishment for $6,000-$7,000. (Not sure on how much exactly) Also, I have $3,000 in credit card debt. So I am going to try to work on the collection accounts first while making payments on my credit cards. Hopefully, I will raise my credit score.

Re: Take the FICO Fitness Challenge for 2012!

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:52:05 GMT

HELLO FICO FAMILY

IM READY FOR THE 2012 FICO FITNESS CHALLENGE!!

CURRENT SITUATION:

14 CREDIT CARDS...12 W/ BALANCES

$2082 DELINQUENCY ON TU FROM OLD CAR LOAN

3 COLLECTIONS 2 UNPAID

GOALS FOR 2012

RAISE CREDIT SCORE TO AT LEAST 675

PAY DOWN BALANCES ON CARDS

PFD OR JUS PAY COLLECTIONS & DELINQUENCY

GARDEN MODE & NO APPS UNTIL 2013

REFINANCE CAR LOAN

&&& RAISE SCORE ENOUGH TO GET MORTGAGE PREAPPROVAL EARLY 2013 ((FINGERS CROSSED))

WISH ME LUCK && GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!