topic How do the best gardeners do it? in Credit Cards

How do the best gardeners do it?

stlsme — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 18:28:12 GMT

I let the last offer exprire from USAA 6 days ago. For two months every time I logged in (you have to go to the my offers tab if your a member of this site cmon) I didn't hit the apply button for the World Mastercard. I will admit it was pretty hard not to do it. I have an auto loan pre-approval in there that expires next month that I am going to take. I logged into the site today to look at cars through the car buying service and low and behold...... The Mastercard offer is back...... I don't want anymore cards just to have cards but they gave me a 7k amex in Nov. I want to wait until Oct to get two more cards which will be the Arrival and Costco Amex. Finally I have my credit back on a solid surface and want to move forward but this is hard...........

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

Shogun — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 18:33:28 GMT

Credit is addicting,, I know it is. But you have to think to yourself. Do I need this? Will I use this????

I hang out in the garden and let MJ and Wade64 threaten to beat me if I apply. lol.....

Sometimes just knowing can be enough. When asked at a store if I want to apply for their card, I just tell them NO, I have too many to keep up with now.

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

RnJ — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 19:03:28 GMT

Simple solution: stop logging in, stop watching "offers". Take a break from it and do something else that you love (as long as it's not addictive, lol)

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

-Wade- — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 19:04:04 GMT

@Shogun wrote:
Credit is addicting,, I know it is. But you have to think to yourself. Do I need this? Will I use this????

I hang out in the garden and let MJ and Wade64 threaten to beat me if I apply. lol.....

Sometimes just knowing can be enough. When asked at a store if I want to apply for their card, I just tell them NO, I have too many to keep up with now.

@ shogun, buddy only you could come up with something like that The way I stay in the garden is, my goal was to reach the 800 club in which I have! Now I want my AAoA to grow so when I do app I will still have my AAoA around 6 years !!! You have to set goals that you want to reach and stick to them. For me gardening is easy. Also I go into the garden club to just talk and have fun ( got to pick on cold ) and I don't even think of aping. Good luck to you

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

-Wade- — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 19:11:18 GMT

@RnJ wrote:
Simple solution: stop logging in, stop watching "offers". Take a break from it and do something else that you love (as long as it's not addictive, lol)

Yeah don't go looking for offers! You also need to opt- out that way you won't get and offers in the mail. It takes a lot will power .

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

blondy250 — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 19:13:19 GMT

Basically I have all the credit I need. I'm on the opt out list so I dont get many offers. It's sort of addicting to see how long you can go without any inquires for me as well.

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

-Wade- — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 19:17:52 GMT

@blondy250 wrote:
Basically I have all the credit I need. I'm on the opt out list so I dont get many offers. It's sort of addicting to see how long you can go without any inquires for me as well.

Great point blondy my other goal is to get the Diamond Spade! Congrats on your Diamond spade I am on my way there too!!! OP set you some goals , it will help you

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

wHiTeSoL — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 19:31:33 GMT

I go to my SD, pull out my most usleless card (GM WEMC), face palm, and tell myself "never again!"

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

wonderandawe — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 19:42:26 GMT

I think it helps that I don't see credit cards as status symbols but a means to an end. I need the ability to get car loans and buy a house. Credit cards allow me to show future creditors that I am a good steward of my credit.

I also have a bit of fear of credit cards. My parents have declared bankrupcy twice and still have issues with debt. I made some mistakes while I was in college that took me a long time to recover from. I have a lot more rejections than approvals in my past. Each approval is still a surprise to me and comes with the fear that I will make the same mistakes my parents made.

I've seen to fall into the habit of doing a yearly "planting" and gardening for the rest of the year. Keeps my inquries in line and allows me to plan better for big purchases. After this year's planting, I will probably be in the garden for a good long while, at least a year or two. My next step will be a house!

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

Themanwhocan — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 19:48:12 GMT

@stlsme wrote:
I let the last offer exprire from USAA 6 days ago. For two months every time I logged in (you have to go to the my offers tab if your a member of this site cmon) I didn't hit the apply button for the World Mastercard. I will admit it was pretty hard not to do it. I have an auto loan pre-approval in there that expires next month that I am going to take. I logged into the site today to look at cars through the car buying service and low and behold...... The Mastercard offer is back...... I don't want anymore cards just to have cards but they gave me a 7k amex in Nov. I want to wait until Oct to get two more cards which will be the Arrival and Costco Amex. Finally I have my credit back on a solid surface and want to move forward but this is hard...........

I figure anytime you are gardening, you just need to avoid any manure that others have spread in your path.

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

Joebunaga — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 19:50:20 GMT

I don't fall into the category of one of the best gardeners, but I think I'm pretty good at it. I've got a few things that drive me.

I love my girlfriend, we want to buy a house, no apping until we figure that out.

Reading and researching what I can do next fills the void of "what can I get next?" plus it helps me prep for the whatever is next. It also allows me time to maximize and understand any benefits that I might've missed on my existing accounts.

Alot of times, when you miss an offer... it'll come back at some point. If you wait and research, you might even find a better offer(had that with happen with Chase, earned an extra $100).

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 19:52:45 GMT

I think it's important to set goals, and to separate wants from needs. I'm anticipating getting a car loan towards the end of summer, so I don't want any unnecessary inqs on my reports. I'm focused on allowing my existing accounts to age and to let inqs fall off. So if I'm offered another card, I have to think about whether it would really benefit me, and it that benefit would outweigh my current goals. Since I'm already happy with the cards I have, and they're serving me well, it doesn't make sense to pick up another card "just because." So, I continue along with gardening.

Of course, that's why the Garden Club was founded. It gives people a place to hang out on this forum, support each other and have some fun in the process. We have achievement badges called "spades" to help give us something tangible to strive for until we reach our goals. Feel free to come and join us and see if the GC is a good place for you.

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

indiolatino61 — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 20:08:22 GMT

@stlsme wrote:
I let the last offer exprire from USAA 6 days ago. For two months every time I logged in (you have to go to the my offers tab if your a member of this site cmon) I didn't hit the apply button for the World Mastercard. I will admit it was pretty hard not to do it. I have an auto loan pre-approval in there that expires next month that I am going to take. I logged into the site today to look at cars through the car buying service and low and behold...... The Mastercard offer is back...... I don't want anymore cards just to have cards but they gave me a 7k amex in Nov. I want to wait until Oct to get two more cards which will be the Arrival and Costco Amex. Finally I have my credit back on a solid surface and want to move forward but this is hard...........

I'm usually frightened into it by MyJourney...lol!

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

myjourney — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 21:05:16 GMT

@Shogun wrote:
Credit is addicting,, I know it is. But you have to think to yourself. Do I need this? Will I use this????

I hang out in the garden and let MJ and Wade64 threaten to beat me if I apply. lol.....

Sometimes just knowing can be enough. When asked at a store if I want to apply for their card, I just tell them NO, I have too many to keep up with now.

ROFLOL

OP it can be hard to say no and stop applying for credit .

The garden was founded with that in mind.

It offers a great support system and you name your own goals.

Now as Shogun mentioned we may help assist you in time of weakness....Lol

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

myjourney — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 21:06:26 GMT

@indiolatino61 wrote:
@stlsme wrote:
I let the last offer exprire from USAA 6 days ago. For two months every time I logged in (you have to go to the my offers tab if your a member of this site cmon) I didn't hit the apply button for the World Mastercard. I will admit it was pretty hard not to do it. I have an auto loan pre-approval in there that expires next month that I am going to take. I logged into the site today to look at cars through the car buying service and low and behold...... The Mastercard offer is back...... I don't want anymore cards just to have cards but they gave me a 7k amex in Nov. I want to wait until Oct to get two more cards which will be the Arrival and Costco Amex. Finally I have my credit back on a solid surface and want to move forward but this is hard...........
I'm usually frightened into it by MyJourney...lol!

You too huh Lol

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

studiogeek — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 21:47:11 GMT

Get out more. Stay off credit forums ;-)

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

-Wade- — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 23:25:58 GMT

@studiogeek wrote:
Get out more. Stay off credit forums ;-)

That's how we learn about credit the do's and don't

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

-Wade- — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 23:27:16 GMT

@myjourney wrote:
@indiolatino61 wrote:
@stlsme wrote:
I let the last offer exprire from USAA 6 days ago. For two months every time I logged in (you have to go to the my offers tab if your a member of this site cmon) I didn't hit the apply button for the World Mastercard. I will admit it was pretty hard not to do it. I have an auto loan pre-approval in there that expires next month that I am going to take. I logged into the site today to look at cars through the car buying service and low and behold...... The Mastercard offer is back...... I don't want anymore cards just to have cards but they gave me a 7k amex in Nov. I want to wait until Oct to get two more cards which will be the Arrival and Costco Amex. Finally I have my credit back on a solid surface and want to move forward but this is hard...........
I'm usually frightened into it by MyJourney...lol!
You too huh Lol

@Anonymous Lord @ MJ ..... TOOO FUNNYYY

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

VirtualCuriosity — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 23:07:08 GMT

@stlsme wrote:
I let the last offer exprire from USAA 6 days ago. For two months every time I logged in (you have to go to the my offers tab if your a member of this site cmon) I didn't hit the apply button for the World Mastercard. I will admit it was pretty hard not to do it. I have an auto loan pre-approval in there that expires next month that I am going to take. I logged into the site today to look at cars through the car buying service and low and behold...... The Mastercard offer is back...... I don't want anymore cards just to have cards but they gave me a 7k amex in Nov. I want to wait until Oct to get two more cards which will be the Arrival and Costco Amex. Finally I have my credit back on a solid surface and want to move forward but this is hard...........

Yeah, I understand how it can be difficult to stick to specific goals when there is so much temptation. Especially when debt is the most aggressively marketed product in our culture today, bar none. There is an obvious reason for that.

Re: How do the best gardeners do it?

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 01:48:51 GMT

@Wade64 wrote:
@studiogeek wrote:
Get out more. Stay off credit forums ;-)
That's how we learn about credit the do's and don't

True, but it's also very difficult when you find out from here about more and more cards you might not have even thought of. The perks, the limits, the aprs, the credit limit increases, the FICOs... It is all very seductive at times. Especially when you see people posting about approvals and they have lower scores or their situation seems some how sub par to yours. It makes you think you can get an approval because the other person did. It's also nice to simply GET an approval for a variety of reasons.

Avoiding the forums DOES help a lot of people and it is especially helpful to not visit the approval forum for some of us. Chatting or joking in the garden club, reading the rebuilding forum, or scoring forum can help a lot, but sometimes it might not be enough for some people. (and that is okay too!)

OP- what ever you need to do, to make "gardening" or not apping, fixing your "baddies" or any thing else.. do that. Keep your eye on what ever your goals may be, and always try to do some sort of risk / benefit analysis. Ask yourself "what is really in it for me?" "If I apply now, are my chances of being approved high or am I risking another inquiry for nothing?" "Will I get the terms, rates, and limits that make this application worth it if I manage to get approved, and will they be acceptable to me?"