topic Re: How to stay in the garden in Credit Cards

How to stay in the garden

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 02:10:25 GMT

Hello everyone,

So here's something new (I hope anyway). What tips and tricks do you do in order to stay in the garden? I'm finding it hard to not apply for new cards.

I'm considering applying for different checking and savings accounts in order to still get sign up bonuses.

Re: How to stay in the garden

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 02:12:08 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Hello everyone,

So here's something new (I hope anyway). What tips and tricks do you do in order to stay in the garden? I'm finding it hard to not apply for new cards.

I'm considering applying for different checking and savings accounts in order to still get sign up bonuses.

Freeze all reports.

Re: How to stay in the garden

Santi78342 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 02:17:44 GMT

Stay off of this site!

Re: How to stay in the garden

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 02:22:32 GMT

That's impossible! Lol I bet it would help some though.

Re: How to stay in the garden

pizza1 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 02:30:03 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Hello everyone,

So here's something new (I hope anyway). What tips and tricks do you do in order to stay in the garden? I'm finding it hard to not apply for new cards.

I'm considering applying for different checking and savings accounts in order to still get sign up bonuses.

tricks to stay in garden?? Dont visit the site for a year. LOL...Seriously, The "approvals" section has a magnetic pull thats too strong to break.

Re: How to stay in the garden

Firefly_1984 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 02:34:29 GMT

I would stay away, but personally, I enjoy learning as much as I can to use credit to my advantage. It was bad enough that the Approvals section+ some Bailey's lead to me apping for the Freedom sooner than planned.

Re: How to stay in the garden

onstar — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 02:40:35 GMT

1. It's impossible.

2. Those who claim to be in the garden for over 30 days are lying.

3. #2 above might not be true, but keep telling yourself that it is true.

4. App knowing that #1 is true.

NOTE: I've been gardening since December but I'm still a seedling. Because every few weeks, I keep leaving the garden for a few minutes. Supposedly unintentionally.

Re: How to stay in the garden

CraigHwk — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 02:47:02 GMT

Not sure yet. This is my first trip in the garden and I already feel an itch. I should just be happy with what I've recently received. With my "fair" credit, I can't see me getting any better cards at this time anyway, so here's to a year. My AAoA is only 2 years, so I think it's worth building that up.

Re: How to stay in the garden

Santi78342 — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 02:51:49 GMT

The hardest part for me, is the first week or two after getting some approvals. After that, it's a breeze as long as you set goals. Going forward I will limit myself to opening 2 accounts every 6 months. This will reduce the hit to my, already short, AAoA & let me meet minimum spend bonuses pretty easy without buying stuff just to meet spend :-P

It's also a lot easier since most of my spend is already covered with the cards I already have. I am pretty much just bonus chasing from here on out.

- CSP & Freedom are on my list for 09/2015

- PRG & ED are on my list for 03/2016

Stay away from the approvals if you have an itch & focus on SP CLI!

Re: How to stay in the garden

chalupaman — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 02:55:56 GMT

Run away from this website, especially the CC approvals subforum. The trends can really get you hooked, like what happens with me a lot of the time. :/

I agree with onstar.

Re: How to stay in the garden

IgnatiusReilly — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 03:24:27 GMT

Don't app for what you don't need?

I found this site a couple of years ago and it has been amazingly informative. At the same time, it does make a person a little antsy, doesn't it? I have only one card left I (and my wife) "need" and as soon at the Ritz bonus returns, I am apping and then done. I will admit at times wanting to app because, well, I can, and I am curious how much Capital One likes me? $10k worth? 20k? A poster got a $50k SL?? And then I get competitive... But I realize I will never use the card and don't app.

I am all for people going crazy with cards (looking at you, Ron1 and CA) but keeping track of that is too damned much work.

Re: How to stay in the garden

kjel — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 03:01:46 GMT

I spent Oct 2012 through Oct 2014 rebuilding my credit. Fortunately for me I was able to use my existing accounts to rebuild so I did not need to open new accounts. I also knew that I wanted to be a homeowner again after renting for 7 years. Actively seeking new credit in my particular case wasn't going to do me any favors. I was able to gain 200 points on EX & EQ in that two years and 150 points on TU. I am happy to say that I was approved for a good mortgage and closed on my house in January. I was very judicious about not having my credit checked unless absolutely necessary. Post closing I did apply for two prime cards because I knew I would be approved and was. Now I am back in the garden, no need to seek new credit/rewards, and will likely be there for the long term. Hopefully it will help my scores improve further with time and good payment histories on all accounts.

In short, set a financial goal for yourself that doesn't involve applying for new credit.

Re: How to stay in the garden

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 03:08:04 GMT

Stay away from this site! And take it from someone who had her scores knocked down 50-60 points for apping too much, adding too many new accounts at once after already having a low AAOA and carrying balances (though small) on several cards. Bad mistake and lesson learned! Gardening is really the way to go! After looking at my scores, I don't even have an itch to app for anything... for a very long time. 15 credit cards, 16 if you count the Slate I opened and then closed immediately, is way too many (for me anyway). I'm gardening indefinitely and will be closing several of my cards.

Re: How to stay in the garden

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 03:23:31 GMT

chop off your hands.

Re: How to stay in the garden

Aarvard — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 03:25:35 GMT

Stay away from Nixon

Re: How to stay in the garden

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 03:25:54 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
chop off your hands.

Doesn't stop OP from BT dialing into CC company and applying.

Might be kinda hard to swipe card though.

Re: How to stay in the garden

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 03:26:11 GMT

@Aarvard wrote:
Stay away from Nixon

And the winner is!

Re: How to stay in the garden

chalupaman — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 03:28:52 GMT

@Aarvard wrote:
Stay away from Nixon

His apping is contagious.

Re: How to stay in the garden

Aarvard — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 03:31:51 GMT

@chalupaman wrote:
@Aarvard wrote:
Stay away from Nixon
His apping is contagious.

Luckily I'm not in The Ring he started. Otherwise it would be a truly horror movie for my AAoA

Re: How to stay in the garden

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 03:34:49 GMT

It's not impossible. Just do what you do with your cc's. Control. And know that you can go for some more cc's when the time is right. I'm reading, grinding my teeth & still holding strong!