topic Re: can this be considered a hobby? in Credit Cards

can this be considered a hobby?

mgs2010 — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:29:43 GMT

I've come to realize that I'm on here every single day...and that I'm very concerned with my credit and constantly checking my credit card accounts online, my loans, etc...I'm always keeping tabs on everything, I'm very organized when it comes to managing payments and have never been late with anything...Now, I also notice that aside from this I don't really do much of anything else aside from play video games once in awhile. I didn't really know where to post this but I guess my question is- do any of you out there consider manaing your credit and monitoring your scores a "hobby"? Is that a bad thing? Or is everyone on this site like I am? Obviously everyone on here is concerned with their credit but I just need to know if I'm being over-the-top when it comes to this..Thanks everyone.

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

Creditaddict — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:39:08 GMT

It is a hobby for me, especially applying for new credit! which I am done applying until my bk is discharged in a couple months

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

Anonymous — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:56:29 GMT

Funny, I never quite thought of it as a hobby but I suppose I too share your hobby! I check & review all my accounts daily to include cc, loans and banking. Am very organized & pre-plan all pmts (before statements post of course) and check myFICO daily. I simply enjoy it.

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

Anonymous — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:03:20 GMT

Definately a hobby although I am in the rebuilding stage but I am the same I am on here every day and I also check my cards daily.

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

LIGHTNIN — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:24:59 GMT

I'm also here almost daily. This site is alot of things to me. Hobby, learning experience and also making friends.

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

Anonymous — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:37:27 GMT

I'm pretty far along with my rebuilding (borderline High Achiever), but the monitoring and trolling for new products remains a hobby with a purpose. Posting on this site is more of a vocation.

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

Anonymous — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 08:28:20 GMT

Addiction.

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

MsKiwi — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 10:58:33 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Addiction.

addiction and a hobby.

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

Itsmeagain — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 13:27:36 GMT

It began as a hobby during rebuilding . . . Now it's an addiction.

I don't NEED more credit but I monitor this board several times per day (along with my online accounts and other forums). When a new card appears that has great rates and/or rewards, I'm like a cat in a room full of rockers . . . . I feel that I just HAVE to get this new card. It's a constant battle within myself to maintain credit gardening and not apply (a battle which I frequently lose). I now maintain 10 major cards, 3 store cards (counting Care Credit as a store card), a LOC and a motorcycle loan.

My scores are EQ - 740, TU - 737 (both FICO). I would probably be in the 800's but can't get my AAoA up there because of the frequent (every three months or so), new account.

So yes, it is an addiction and a fun one as long as I can PIF.

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

Anonymous — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 13:46:14 GMT

You need to figure out how to calculate your AAoA and start tracking it on your own. If you shift your focus to that it will go up! I have mine in a spreadsheet and will not app again until it is higher. (AAoA being at least 5 does make a difference!) The good news is the more reporting TL's you have on your CBR's the less a new account will lower your AAoA. If you have more than 12 TL's a new account will lower AAoA by less that one month!

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

DI — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:20:08 GMT

Yes, this is my second hobby besides staying fit and making the gym my second home. This site, along with the gym I attend, keeps me physically and financially fit.

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 15:28:15 GMT

addiction and a hobby.

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

haulingthescoreup — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 15:55:59 GMT

Hobby, addiction, obsession, and means of ducking washing dishes!

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:33:34 GMT

haulingthescoreup wrote:
means of ducking washing dishes!

+1. Invaluable

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

bakalao2k — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:20:03 GMT

It can be considered OCD if you check your accounts in a certain order.

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:00:49 GMT

@bakalao2k wrote:
It can be considered OCD if you check your accounts in a certain order.

I do and I am...

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:40:26 GMT

Definitly all 3 of these 'Hobby, addiction, obsession,' but in a good way.

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

marty56 — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:12:17 GMT

I cant speak for others, but if there was a FICO score and forum when I first started my CC debt reign of terror, I suspect I wouldn't have gotten as far with it as I did. Just rmember not to be FICO score poor where you blow a good credit deal because you don't want to see a score drop.

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:33:28 GMT

Funny I do the same thing. I have all of our bills laid out in an excel spreadsheet. I check the sheet almost daily. I check bank account and credit card daily, even though I KNOW there aren't any new purchases on my CC. I just log in to look at the account daily, I don't know why. I pre-plan payments and figure in when we get paid. I get paid bi-weekly, husband weekly. So I know what days the checks will be in the bank and around how much they will be. So I plan it all out, almost a month in advance. I sometimes think of OCD LOL.

Re: can this be considered a hobby?

Creditaddict — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:35:01 GMT

I think Myfico should start offering a credit card and the rewards would be unlimited fico reports!