topic Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread in Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge!

January 2022 Check-In Thread

Kenny — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 05:32:09 GMT

A new year is often a time that people reflect on past events and is also a great time to renew something in your life. Maybe that renewal or renovation is on your financial body or physical, now is a great of a time as any to shed those extra things holding you down from being the best you possible.

Most people sit down and write out New Year's resolutions. Credit wise, what is on your list?

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

If you're a continuing myFICO fitness challenger: 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! Now that 2021 is behind us, may 2022 be ever more fruitful going forward.

Remember now is the time annual to update your signatures!

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

sznthescore — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 07:07:14 GMT

My goal is to build from my suppressed scores and pay off some ignored debt aka charge-offs and collections.

I'd like to get all my student loans (I have four of them) utilizations down to or below 30% with no hard inquiries in 2022.

Discipline, discipline, discipline.

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

VanderSnoot — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 14:37:01 GMT

Happy 2022! I wish you all a happy, healthy, and safe year.

My goals for 2022 are to 1) garden and 2) streamline my lineup. Although I don't have any junk cards, there are two sock drawer accounts I will close this weekend, and by the end of January I'll have decided whether to forego AmEx for Chase or wait another year.

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

GApeachy — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 14:57:34 GMT

Happy New Year!!! @Kenny

Happy New Year to every Challenger....hope y'all don't have the knotty head this fine morning

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

Kenny — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 15:27:53 GMT

Happy New Year to you, as well!

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

Junejer — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 23:53:03 GMT

Happy New Year all!

My plan, as it currently stands, is to garden until about April. Then, I will cold app for CSP (although been looking at CSR lately), as I never get any preapproved offers from Chase. After I get the CSP, I'll go back into the garden until October or November and then app for the SW Business Card. I hope they have a nice SUB (currently getting offers for 80K bonus points).

I didn't hit any potholes or speedbumps, but I did hit a milestone. I got my first business cards in December (Chase Ink and Amex BBC).

Scorewise, I lost my last baddie in December from TU and my score went up 47 points. Still not in the 800 club, but close. EX and EQ are 813 and 809 respectively.

I just took advantage of an Amex offer to reduce my APR to 1.99% on new purchases until October. Might consider carrying a balance for a month or two, as I need to pay property taxes, quarterly estimated taxes and maintenance fees of about $15K. I haven't paid revolving interest in a long time, so not sure I'm going to do this or not.

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

GApeachy — Sun, 02 Jan 2022 00:07:59 GMT

@Junejer ...mighty fine deal.

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

Jannelo — Sun, 02 Jan 2022 02:21:52 GMT

I haven't been so concerned about leaving balances on my accounts. I was doing the AZEO method. But as of right now I have five balances on credit cards, but still under 8.9. I've paid off three, though, but the statements won't cut for a while. My QuicksilverOne had a $1,800 CL. Past requests were minimal or no due to low usage. I asked for a CLI right before Christmas, and I received a $1,500 CLI. So I now have a CL of $3,300. My Experian now has zero inquiries on it. I'm still on target to pay off my car loan taken out in 4/2019 two years early, instead of the six-year loan.

I have two paid charge-offs still on my credit report. And one is now officially six years old. And the other is six years three months old. So I can see the finish line for those dropping off. Whew!

I also have two CCs that are closed accounts (no balance), but had late pays on them. One just had all of the lates fall off and now shows exceptional payment history. The other one should have them fall off in a month or two, which will be nice, as it even has a 120-day late on it.

No plans to apply for new credit. I'm just focusing on my savings goals right now.

So that's my January 2022 update.

Happy New Year to all!!!!!

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

CramEiko — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 01:29:21 GMT

Still here. But I think my garden died and I have to start all over again.....

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

Junejer — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 02:38:54 GMT

What did you get to cause your garden to die?

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

MySunrise271 — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 19:20:13 GMT

My goal is to continue my credit card debt pay down and increase my FICO score to at least 760. I plan to be in the garden until at least June '23. I'm only going to report using my score per my Discover account. I do have CK and find it extremely useful for monitoring what changes occurred that affected a score change and tips to improve my overall profile. As of 12/31 my fico score is 737, overall utilization is 37%. I'll check in again on Feb 4 🙂

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

Timbo9205 — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 19:41:31 GMT

My goal for 2022 is to take up a new hobby...gardening. I opened some great cards last year and it is time to let things settle down and grow. I have been reading the posts on this page for a while and the information has been very helpful on my credit card journey. Thank you to everyone that takes the time to share your knowledge on this forum, it is greatly appreciated!

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

Phnx_26 — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 11:39:54 GMT

Happy New Year! I'm working to reduce utilization below 10%, increase some limits, save $ for a DP and become a 1st time house buyer this year. A tall order, but I am determined. Wish me luck!

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

800scoreplease — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 18:23:27 GMT

I met one of my 2021 goals and that was to reach a 800 score and I did on Equifax just found out this morning. New goal for 2022 is to reach a score of 825. Continued 2021 goal is to pay of my credit card by December then I am debt free other than my mortgage. I plan to by myself a new car for Xmas 2022.

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

jlegleiter — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 10:31:29 GMT

Hey there folks,
I hope everyone is well on their way to meeting there goals this year.
2021 was a rather momentous year in my credit journey.
My total debt was down significantly after paying more than $32,000 in past student loan balances. Credit scores were up across the board.
Since about October of last year I have been able to maintain 800+ scores across all three bureaus.

For 2022, I don't have a lot planned. I'll probably make one or two significant lump payments to the little remaining $13,000 student loan debt. For the most part though, I'll be nibbling at that over the next couple of years.

It's hard to believe how far I've come since I began this journey in earnest just three years ago. For those of you that may be reading this and just beginning your journey, hang in there.
This is not a quick process. If I could make just one recommendation, it would be to focus on making sound and healthy financial decisions for you and your family and the credit scores will follow.
The 'hacks' are helpful when preparing for a large purchase, but long-term credit and financial health is a lifestyle adjustment. I wish you all luck and keep focused. You've got this!!!

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

pennix5 — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 15:52:13 GMT

My goal is to get to the 700 credit score this year.

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

CramEiko — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 23:30:22 GMT

A Barclay Aviator Red with a 60k mile sub and a $20k CL did my garden in..... Now, Just waiting for the moment when international travel wont look so crazy with some long quarantine times. My friend flew back to China from Dallas in October. Mandatory Quarantine 21 days in a government supervised hotel plus an additional 7 days once arriving at home. No Thanks!

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

Junejer — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 23:35:16 GMT

@CramEiko wrote:
A Barclay Aviator Red with a 60k mile sub and a $20k CL did my garden in..... Now, Just waiting for the moment when international travel wont look so crazy with some long quarantine times. My friend flew back to China from Dallas in October. Mandatory Quarantine 21 days in a government supervised hotel plus an additional 7 days once arriving at home. No Thanks!

Well, it sounds like a card you wanted, so was worth killing off a few plants. You can get back in and start gardening again.

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

shalimarcat — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 22:32:34 GMT

So far, things are going well. My scores went up around the first of the year. I had forgotten how satisfying this is. Now all my scores are in the 600's. Although this is low, it is far better than before. I am currently at home with Covid, and so I have not had to spend any money for five days. This has been really good for my finances- it's like my money is in quarantine, as well! I also purxhased a different budget planner, and I really like the format, plus the fact that it is undated, and it came with stickers!

Re: January 2022 Check-In Thread

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 22:43:03 GMT

I can't decide if it's time to garden, dump what appears to be a bucketed card, or maybe open one more. Scores are fairly solid but I'd definitely like to have them all 750+ and open up more flexibilty. Sadly I get knocked for not having a single loan *shrug*