topic Gardening, this is awful in General Credit Topics

Gardening, this is awful

Caught750 — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 19:35:36 GMT

I've been gardening for about 3 weeks now and wow it horrible.

I know I need to as my oldest card is 6 months old and my newest is like 3 weeks old. I also know that in 6 months or so I'll have much better scores, older accounts, new credit won't be as bad, inquiries will fall off, and approvals will come with higher starting limits.

Like I said I know it's very important given that I'm new to this and my score is still rebounding from more than just the new credit. Something about apps and approvals was super exciting though. In the garden till July at least and hoping to get my excitement through others on here.

I'll be holding on to the end goal of getting in with Chase on something (CSP or CSR) and/or adding another Amex or two. If charge accounts count towards 5/24 then Chase will hafta wait I suppose.

Re: Gardening, this is awful

AverageJoesCredit — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 19:33:50 GMT

You're in the wrong garden

Re: Gardening, this is awful

Caught750 — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 19:36:23 GMT

Hows that average Joe? Thread doesn't belong here?

Re: Gardening, this is awful

Caught750 — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 19:47:06 GMT

Agreed, fiscal habits have been pretty sound for some time, a very isolated incident that I've made sure can't happen again was the cause of my few issues.

The gym is a constant for me. My most recent venture is furthering knowledge has been through here. A language might be good...

Re: Gardening, this is awful

DaveInAZ — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 23:34:04 GMT

@Caught750wrote:
Hows that average Joe? Thread doesn't belong here?

I think it's fine here. I think average Joe meant that if you don't enjoy being in the garden, you are in the wrong garden.

Yeah, I feel your pain, it's much more app'ing & getting new cards then waiting patiently for those stupid little seedlings to grow.

But with your short rebuilder credit history & new accounts, you should take a breather for awhile. Rebuilding credit is a marathon, not a sprint.

Re: Gardening, this is awful

Caught750 — Sun, 18 Feb 2018 23:43:38 GMT

Absolutely and I've made some pretty big strides with 2 Amex accounts and a Discover account. It's early in the CC game for me and having a few accounts with age as positive trade lines will certainly open more doors. Especially with Amex and Disco letting me in.

I'm not in a hurry but it's definitely a little rush when ya hit the button. That's what I miss a little. I'm enjoying the new cards and I'll hit the PRG SUB soon. I'm happy to watch things grow.

I'm sure my scores will grow past where they started as well. All in all I'm content, missing looking and seeing new pre approvals, apps and approvals. It was fun.

Re: Gardening, this is awful

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 14:41:54 GMT

Scores are pretty good, so just focus on payments and in time they will grow.

while in the garden, set some goals (such as 700 score) and possibly start making a list of cards for the future,

but the list should include dates or milestones i.e. 12 mo from last inq.

disc is great for button CLI but might need some time until that is available

good luck

Re: Gardening, this is awful

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 16:13:08 GMT

After one or even two months of being in the garden for me has been amazing and it will be for you too... My score has been going up and I'm less focused on short term app spree's and more focused on long term credit history.

Re: Gardening, this is awful

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 20:12:06 GMT

I feel your pain. I gardened for six months and it was hard. After four months I started to go for CLI's. They became my fix. You might try doing the same in a few weeks. It worked for me. Now I'm back in the garden and I've set CLI dates for the future while I garden again for the next six or seven months.

Re: Gardening, this is awful

Caught750 — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 20:31:03 GMT

Absolutely, it was pitiful but I squeezed $100 outta Cap1 pre steps increase. Steps is coming soon on another card. I have Disco to hit up in about a month and a half and I'm still debating how to play it out with Amex.

Re: Gardening, this is awful

AverageJoesCredit — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 03:12:58 GMT

@Caught750wrote:
Hows that average Joe? Thread doesn't belong here?
Hey Chasing750, nah that wasnt it. Sorry, just commenting , in my manner lol, as you were frustrated with the garden, i was like, you should come join us in our Garden ( club ) where alot of the frustration can be vented and relieved with some healthy talk and gibberish. Hopefully , no offense taken
@Caught750wrote:
Hows that average Joe? Thread doesn't belong here?

@Caught750wrote:
Hows that average Joe? Thread doesn't belong here?

Re: Gardening, this is awful

Caught750 — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 03:20:50 GMT

No offense at all buddy, I'm not very sensitive. I appreciate the guidance and suggestions with several things a great deal.

I've been visiting but talk about email blowing up lol.

It's more or less missing the fun of Apping and the few seconds excitement before they say either "we trust you, this much" or the computer laughs at you. Theres still plenty I'm interested in with such a young and thin CC profile. Im about as patient as I am sensitive so I wanna app EVERYTHING now lol. Despite that being a terrible idea.

Re: Gardening, this is awful

marty56 — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 10:51:03 GMT

Wow, a whole 3 weeks. Could be a forum record.

Seriously I would wait a a least year before applying again unless you really need the credit. Building good credit takes time and only a moment to trash. Also don't burn a INQ asking for a CLI. Just use responsibly and you will be fine.

Re: Gardening, this is awful

Caught750 — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 11:30:03 GMT

Yea I'm sure it is...

While my cards are young I have a long history. Also, 4 revolvers to start doesn't seem like that much. It currently totals $3,300 in credit with less than 1% percent utilization and AZEO reporting.

I'm rebuilding due to a situation that was truly out of my control. The dings on my credit are not serious accounts (while that's of little importance). I maintained all major accounts despite everything being stacked against me.

I was very young when this all happened, early 20s. All of my baddies should be gone in a year and half, I'm working to minimize that.

I definitely plan to garden and take care of my current accounts, CCs anyway a vehicle is likely to happen this spring/summer, for at least 6 months. I'll track progress multiple ways, not just scores, and see where I am then. If it seems necessary I'll hang tight for another 6 months. If not maybe I'll add one or two and then hit the garden again. If I make it past 6 months it'll likely be closer to 2 years before I App again as a mortgage is likely in about 2 years. The cards now, short of the initial rebuilders, all have a long term purpose and will likely remain the daily cards for many years. 2 cards I'm interested in could very likely be SPs. 2 wouldn't. The other will take alot of gardening. To think that after everything I'm about half way to where I want to be in so little time is impressive to me in and of itself.

Fortunately none of my cards require a HP for CLIs. Disco is soft, Cap1 is soft, and Amex can have huge soft CLI. Also, I PTZ always. The amount is of little importance as well as I pay off every one weekly except the one reporting a small balance. The only need for higher lines is in case of emergency. If for some reason I would need to carry a balance for 2 to 3 months I don't want it to destroy my utilization. Otherwise there's no need. The cards serve me, I'm not serving them. So when they come they come. I'm racking up cash back and MR points as it is.

Re: Gardening, this is awful

Chickenpotpie — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 19:11:52 GMT

Well, you could always use the garden time to strategize, it certainly works and helps to pass the time. I personally don't like to app so do it as a necessary evil. I'm also very careful considering my history to NEVER go back to that again. When I got here, my scores were so in the toilet (but that happened to many of us).

What made the difference was T.I.M.E. It does work.

Re: Gardening, this is awful

Caught750 — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 19:21:59 GMT

Absolutely pot pie, as recently as September/October my scores were in the high 5s. At their lowest the were likely around 510. Thankfully I found this place and lurked for a long time. I took care of the big stuff and now disputing inaccuracies, like someone who claims I was late 5 months ago but COed the account in 2012 and was paid... Soooo how am I late in 2017?! My scores have climbed and I've been building history with CCs. I think I've been doing fairly well there (young limits but like I said they work for me). In reality I like to squeeze out the rewards. They still make money with tons of swipes and it's win win. It gives me things for buying what I would have anyway.

Re: Gardening, this is awful

SomewhereIn505 — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 19:51:01 GMT

If it helps, I plot my own data points on excel so I can see what is going on and changes. It’s not the same feeling as getting approved or a CLI, but it does calm the mental madness.

Re: Gardening, this is awful

Caught750 — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 01:11:41 GMT

So I decided to work my current accounts a bit. I found that my IT didn't have the 0% offer on it. I went on CHAT to ask about a reduction and an awesome CSR threw a 0% promo on for me. Almost as fun as an approval!