topic Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread in Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge!

February 2018 - Check-In Thread

Kenny — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 03:23:09 GMT

I know you are all hard at work with your credit goals. Have you progressed as far as you hoped? Were there any unforseen expenses that cropped up and may have thrown you off schedule?

As a reminder, participation in these monthly checkins is optional, but encouraged. The goal is to help keep you on track, so feel free to post your progress updates here. This is a no-judge zone; feel free to say what's keeping you up at night or give yourself a kudo for having it all together.

Did you hit any potholes or speedbumps? Achieve some milestones, either small or mighty? Change your goals or add new ones?

Let us know how you're doing!

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

Gratitude — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 04:51:51 GMT

Checking in folks
I accomplished my January goals.. off to conquer February!

Good luck all!

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

Newbie2018 — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 05:32:46 GMT

Checking in. Today is my first day of the challenge.

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 05:41:35 GMT

Checking in for February! Some re-evaluation going on.

Goals:

1a). Continue saving 12% of income, and look to increase that if I'm able to lower my tax withholding. Check!

1b). Look at depositing part of what I've already saved into a higher yield CD, maybe NFCU's Special 15-month at 2.25% Wondering if I should wait until I have a little more in my savings. If I put $3000 into a CD now, I would have $1800 left in savings. Of course I would still have the $500/month direct deposit going in to continue building it up. Advice welcome on this.

2a). Continue paying that extra $100 per month on my highest student loan balance Check, but wondering if I should put that extra $100 toward some CC balances.

2b). Pay off my lowest student loan balance, which is less than $350 now. It's just annoying seeing it there, lol! I was actually going to do this, but it doesn't appear that I can make a payment on it independently of the unsubsidized loan that was consolidated with it. I might call to see if it's possible to just pay it off.

3). No credit apps. Looking to get a ruby spade in December 2018 Check, check!!!!!

4). Pay down utilization. Working on it!

That's about it!

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

Newbie2018 — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 14:14:57 GMT

Update my score has jumped 94 points for ex since January 29th up til today. I have accomplished 2 goals of my FICO since last posting and upped my goal score since I've reached it.

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 14:32:13 GMT

Bella -- that savings goal is freaking AWESOME.

The new tax law changes have affected my savings plan so much because I can now invest in REITs outside of my tax deferred retirement accounts. So I am bashing my head against the wall trying to figure out what to do. I had my 2018 savings/investments planned and scheduled but nope, had to start over.

My February 2018 check-in is nada. No changes to FICO score as I had hopped crossing into 24 months AAoA. No structural changes to my profile. Got some CLIs last month which are nice.

Here's my Feb 2018 updated chart during my rebuilding process starting in March 2017:

So I've gone up in everything but now I will be flatlining until probably July, unless Discover gives me more CLI love.

Biggest goals for 2018:

Get total credit limits up to $50,000 (doubtful, but here's hoping)
Get preapproved for CSP (way over 4/24)
Get Amex Platinum for airfare and AUs
Save 400% more than I did in 2017!

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

SouthJamaica — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 18:20:56 GMT

OK I made it through my first month. No applications. No hard pulls. No new accounts.

1 down, 11 to go.

It may not seem like much to you, but for me it's an accomplishment

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

Oorah — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 18:33:02 GMT

So far February is off to a positive start.

Experian re-investigated my dispute regarding the bogus mortgage, and decided to delete it this time.

Now I am just waiting for Equifax, and hope that they follow along with Transunion and Experian.

No time for this to show a jump in my scores, although I don't expect a huge jump due to the lowering of my credit lines

which makes my utilization higher.

I have had no inquiries and still have zero lates or collections on my three reports, so hoping by the end of the month to

see some positive changes.

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

javonnj — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 15:07:59 GMT

My February is off to a great start. I managed to save $500 last month, which is a big deal for me. I also managed to bring down my utilization to below 200%. I am becoming more cognisent of my spending choices and deciding to put more needs ahead of wants. It honestly feels good to pay bills off and see the 0 next to amount due. Not having any of the added late fees, returned check fees, etc. has provided such a mental boost. I am looking forward to smashing some more of my goals this year.

My goal for this month is to simply bring down my utilization to below 100% and to get to the $1000 saved mark for the year.

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 15:41:56 GMT

Hello all! Doing great here. Hitting my goals and looking forward to continuing to do so! I will be closing on my new house this month!! SO EXCITED!

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

ohjoy — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 19:24:58 GMT

Checking in for February on a positive note. I think my scores are just beginning to rebound from my November app spree. I've been getting a point or two here and there but, I'm encouraged to see +9 with EX yesterday. I've opened no new accounts and received no new inqs.

But, although I'm staying on track with keeping my cards paid, I'm feeling a little all over the place with using them. It's like I have no plan and I'm a planner so...

My goals for this month:

CLI NFAmex and Disco2
Review my current MR programs and figure a best use plan
Review current cards and figure best use plan and which to carry for daily use (I feel like I'm eeny meeny miney mo'g my cards and defaulting to PRG because I like using it)
Remaining in the garden (no app'g, no inq)
730+ across the board

Wishing us all a great month!

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 23:32:22 GMT

Hello All,

It's been about a month since my first ever post in these forums, and I'm doing ok. I've been educating myself a great deal on the subject of credit scores, and what influences them, but I still have a great deal more to learn, I'm sure.

My credit union provides me with my EX score, so I've been using that as my measure, as well as the FAKO scores from Credit Karma, et al. I started with an EX score of 701 in January. My credit utilization has gone from about 18% to 4%, (as of early Feb.), and I assume that primarily because of this my EX score has inched up to 707 since Jan.

Because I've been one of those oddballs who hasn't used a great deal of credit in the past, relying instead on a debit card, my credit history is short. I picked up a Visa card from my credit union last Sept., and three store cards in Nov. and Dec., so my brief credit history is certainly hurting my score. Only time can fix that.

In July, '17, I bought a new car, and financed little less than half of it. For that I took out a $15,000. auto loan, of which I've paid off about $2,000. I think I'll start paying more on it each month to get it paid off faster. My store cards are from J. Crew ($1,250. limit), Barney's ($2,000. limit), and Macy's ($600. limit (I don't know why this limit is so low)). I assume these were all soft pull cards, as I show no hard pulls on my EX report, or the Credit Karma reports. J. Crew and Barney's were pop-up card offers when I purchased items online, but I applied for the Macy's card in store to save another $100. on a purchase. My Visa has a limit of $3,000. I'd like to ask for credit increases, but I need to make sure that'd be a soft pull before I do, and I don't trust sales associates to know the answer to that.

My goal is to be above 800. I don't know if that's possible to obtain in a year's time, but that's what I'm shooting for. Advice on improving my score is welcome, and in the mean time I guess I'll just keep 'gardening'.

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 02:43:22 GMT

wrote:
My February is off to a great start. I managed to save $500 last month, which is a big deal for me. I also managed to bring down my utilization to below 200%. I am becoming more cognisent of my spending choices and deciding to put more needs ahead of wants. It honestly feels good to pay bills off and see the 0 next to amount due. Not having any of the added late fees, returned check fees, etc. has provided such a mental boost. I am looking forward to smashing some more of my goals this year.

My goal for this month is to simply bring down my utilization to below 100% and to get to the $1000 saved mark for the year.

Congratulations, Javonnj, for the savings and the headway on bringing down utilization!

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 02:44:40 GMT

wrote:
Hello all! Doing great here. Hitting my goals and looking forward to continuing to do so! I will be closing on my new house this month!! SO EXCITED!

Wow, samait! That is awesome! Congrats on the new house.

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 02:51:21 GMT

wrote:
Hello All,

It's been about a month since my first ever post in these forums, and I'm doing ok. I've been educating myself a great deal on the subject of credit scores, and what influences them, but I still have a great deal more to learn, I'm sure.

My credit union provides me with my EX score, so I've been using that as my measure, as well as the FAKO scores from Credit Karma, et al. I started with an EX score of 701 in January. My credit utilization has gone from about 18% to 4%, (as of early Feb.), and I assume that primarily because of this my EX score has inched up to 707 since Jan.

Because I've been one of those oddballs who hasn't used a great deal of credit in the past, relying instead on a debit card, my credit history is short. I picked up a Visa card from my credit union last Sept., and three store cards in Nov. and Dec., so my brief credit history is certainly hurting my score. Only time can fix that.

In July, '17, I bought a new car, and financed little less than half of it. For that I took out a $15,000. auto loan, of which I've paid off about $2,000. I think I'll start paying more on it each month to get it paid off faster. My store cards are from J. Crew ($1,250. limit), Barney's ($2,000. limit), and Macy's ($600. limit (I don't know why this limit is so low)). I assume these were all soft pull cards, as I show no hard pulls on my EX report, or the Credit Karma reports. J. Crew and Barney's were pop-up card offers when I purchased items online, but I applied for the Macy's card in store to save another $100. on a purchase. My Visa has a limit of $3,000. I'd like to ask for credit increases, but I need to make sure that'd be a soft pull before I do, and I don't trust sales associates to know the answer to that.

My goal is to be above 800. I don't know if that's possible to obtain in a year's time, but that's what I'm shooting for. Advice on improving my score is welcome, and in the mean time I guess I'll just keep 'gardening'.

Welcome, sfgeoff1! You're definitely in the right place to educate yourself, and in the right place to put yourself in a position to get over 800's.

It sounds like you got the Shopping Cart Trick for those two store cards, but not sure if Macy's ever approves with just a softpull. Sounds like you've got everything you need to grow your scores since you have the auto loan too. And kudos for only financing less than half. Wish I could've done it that way.

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

ohjoy — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 19:04:24 GMT

wrote:
Checking in for February on a positive note. I think my scores are just beginning to rebound from my November app spree. I've been getting a point or two here and there but, I'm encouraged to see +9 with EX yesterday. I've opened no new accounts and received no new inqs.

But, although I'm staying on track with keeping my cards paid, I'm feeling a little all over the place with using them. It's like I have no plan and I'm a planner so...

My goals for this month:
CLI NFAmex and Disco2
Review my current Rewards programs and figure a best use plan
Review current cards and figure best use plan and which to carry for daily use (I feel like I'm eeny meeny miney mo'g my cards and defaulting to PRG because I like using it)
Remaining in the garden (no app'g, no inq)
730+ across the board
Wishing us all a great month!

1. Well, my cli have been done and were both successful.

Navy MR $15K --> $25K

Disco2 $1K --> $2K

I have 2 Discover cards. Disco1 is a formerly secured card that has given 2 auto cli but has denied my 2 cli attempts so, I app'd and received Disco2 with a SL of $1K. It seems this one will be the only one that I'll be able to grow via cli. So I'll leave Disco1 and focus on growing Disco2.

2. Pooling points to take my kids on a trip to Arizona to visit family this month. I found that Navy hadn't credited me with the 25K SUB points yet. I have them checking into that. Otherwise, I will finally be able to use some of the perks that comes with Amex Platinum. I have TSA precheck for myself and my daughter paid by AMEX and we'll be taking advantage of Centurion Lounges (or at least Priority Pass club, if Centurion not available. Gotta check that). This will help me to decide whether Plat is worth the AF. So far, so good, year 1 (and AF-less).

3. Still reviewing but have started defaulting to AMEX Plat...just because I like the card. Otherwise, Amex MR has been my daily driver.

4. Still on track. Almost app'd 3rd NFCU card accidentally. Hanging out in the NFCU thread, after reporting my cli, almost made me forget that I'm in the garden.

5. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

Oorah — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 05:53:41 GMT

I received the results of my 2nd dispute with Equifax regarding the bogus late payments, and they VALIDATED the debt, even with a copy of the dismissed with prejudice court order. I am amazed. I guess I have to file a complaint with the feds now to get it removed. In addition, they dropped my score another 17 points. I have added no new debt, have zero lates, zero collections, and one inquiry on my report and they have my score in the mid 500s. It makes no sense. The other two have me in the mid to high 600s, but I havent pulled a score since they deleted the account. I am baffled and not even sure what else I can do.

Seriously frustrated.

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 14:28:21 GMT

I am new to the forum. Looking forward to setting goals and improving my credit!

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

IowaGuy — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 14:48:50 GMT

Guys, I started my myfico journey at 580.

I'm now at 840 after 10 years. I now live in a world where I state "I'm buying the car, and using the promotional credit offer. Tell your F&I guy that I am aware of my credit level" and before I would have trouble even getting a loan.

I remember the debt calls, the disputes, the drama. I played the game. I won.

It's weird though. Once you get past 780 or so you don't even use new credit much. By then new financial habits have kicked in.

Anyways, there is hope. I've been there. I now have like 50-500 dollars at any given time on my card and pay it monthly. I don't even know my total credit limit any more, I've stopped caring long ago.

Yes this is a self kudos post, a long time in the making. And I owe a lot of my success to this forum.

So build that credit and good financial habits up and join me. I look forward to seeing you.

Re: February 2018 - Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 07:52:15 GMT

Update: I was persuaded that Macy's would pull a soft inquiry when considering a credit limit increase, so I asked for one. I used the credit limit increase request button on Macy's website, but didn't ask for a specific amount. I had initially been given a $600. limit, but Macy's increased my limit to $5,600. Now I wonder what might have happened had I asked for more. I love seeing my credit utilization drop to a miniscule 1.2%.