Can't stop applying for credit cards!!

[JayTee1]

I've been through it too.

I'm finally in the garden and I can actually say my last application was one month ago.  I have about 17-20 inquiries on two bureas, and 30 on Experian.  Far too many, especially for someone attemping to rebuild.

For me, after a lifetime of denials, the approvals were addictive, and even the slightest chance of an approval might send me off to an application screen and pulling the trigger.

It was finally facing the hard, difficult truth that my credit score is being negatively affected by new accounts and inquiries, and I was still getting lots of denials.  That, combined with my absolute determination to own my own home, finally got me into the garden.

I am still reading a lot on the forums, and some days I do go to the prequal sites, but I've started to realize that all the cards I want are going to be there a year from now, and there will be no shortage of future approvals, and eventually I'll be able to be picky about which card I want, and when.  Marathon, not sprint.

After making a strict, realistic budget for myself in order to position myself for buying a home, I realized I really have all the credit I need right now.  This also made it a lot easier to stop thinking about getting yet another credit card.

[fullstackdev]

Your story sounds just like mine! I wish you much luck. I have a very high number of inquiries and all of my accounts have been opened in the last 6 months. But I'm proud to say my last application was on 4/15/16. I haven't officially joined the garden club, but I'm not applying for any new cards for a long while. Hoping to get my AAOA back up.

[mattayy]

Yeah about 20-25 of those inq's were when I bought my car and for a refinance, but still  

[RonM21]

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@mattayy wrote:

Ugh I have been so obsessed with approvals and getting top tier cards that scores have dropped from low 700's to mid 600's due to all the inquires and my AAoA dropping to a year and a couple months. I know it's reading these forums and seeing all these approvals and cards I want but it's starting to affect me negatively I am going to have to stay off the forums for at least 6-12 months and let everything grow and the inq's to fall off. I have 51 inq's on my equifax and 34 on my TU and who knows how many on experian. I have most of the cards I have wanted for a long time so I should be good, just gotta learn some self control. It's so easy to get caught up with wanting every card out there and the addiction to the approval screen is crazy!! 

I appreciate all I've learned from the forums and all the advice I've gotten from everyone! I will be back next year, best of luck to you all!

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Applying is deffintely addictive!! For me it loses its luster once I start thinking about possible score drops and denials as a result lol.

[mattayy]

Yeah that's very true, I feel like that's what opened my eyes lol

[Anonymous]

I initially had the bug but after rethinking, went for the cards I needed. Still need to wait until end of the year to apply for the Southwest cards for the companion pass.

[kdm31091]

Applying can be addictive. I think most people go through a cycle of being addicted and then realizing they don't want to manage a dozen card (or that the gain is insigificant, etc). Some people fall deeper into the pattern and close/open/close/open cards repeatedly.

You have to be disciplined. Run the numbers before you apply for a card and see what the reward gain is. See what you can and can't redeem for. The information is all out there on the Internet, so there's no excuse to apply and then ask questions about the rewards later. If you are not disciplined with yourself, you will quickly end up with useless cards (or at least, far less useful than you'd hoped).

[grillandwinemaster]

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@Kirmie2010 wrote:

Staying off the forum helps but youll find yourself wondering, I wonder what scores needed for that card, or I wonder which bureau that company pulls!

i cut down but not out, if you cut it out, your outa the loop!

I did what your doing, 730s down to 630s.  Just got another card the other day and broke my year gardening

(Thatll teach my wife to laugh and say I could not get approved for the 1 card she has, that I didnt have!  *WEMC Buypower*)

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Nice! Congrats on getting wife to stop laughing! Lol

Did you also at least match her CL? Otherwise, she shall continue to jest! Lol ☺

[MyLoFICO]

I don't have a problem...I can stop anytime I want. 

[Anonymous]

Freeze your reports ! Believe me it works.. And make sure to freeze all three.... and do not under any circumstances lose your passwords...