So much for gardening! 
So it's been a little over a year since my credit crash and burn and here I am with an AMERICAN EXPRESS card! Which I really wanted.
Cash Magnet, $1000 starting limit (which I am happy with, taking into account my low income, credit report, utilization, etc).
And I'm also getting a sign-up bonus of $150!!! A few months ago I applied for a Delta Gold and got turned down! Things can change quickly, that's all I can tell you.
I don't know the interest rate yet but I assume it's high.
Data Points:
EX FICO 8: 676
Oldest account: 20+ years
Youngest account (before this): 5 months
Inquiries in the last year: 3 (I think).
AAoA: 6-something years
Income: 25K
DTI: about 19%
Utilization: 58%. (High because of closed credit cards—which are in good standing—on a low-interest payment plan.) Utilization on open accounts is low, under 10%.
Baddies: 90-day-late over a year old. Settled for less than a full amount on one account, over a year old. No charge-offs or judgments or anything else. Only those baddies.
I also applied for a Capital One Quicksilver, since their preapproval is showing a SIGN-UP BONUS this time, but when I finished the app they said they had "technical difficulties" and to call no less than 24 hours from now to see the status of the account.
I probably shouldn't have applied for the Quicksilver, but I want to spread my credit over many banks, and a bird in the hand (meaning a solid prequalify offer) is better than hoping I'll qualify for something else...
Now my scores, which I have been so faithfully cultivating, are going to take a hit. Oh well. I want to get a Citibank Double Cash but it's not showing up in preapprovals now. Assuming I get the Quicksilver, I'll be happy with that for quite a while. With Navy, Discover, and now AMEX, I am REALLY, REALLY happy!
UPDATE: I called Cap1 about my Quicksilver application with the error message and they can find nothing. They said it didn't go through. I have not gotten any alerts about triple whipple hard pulls either. WHEW! I told the Cap1 rep that I was going to wait until later before applying again, because maybe I jumped the gun. (You think? )
Thats awesome
a big win for our Team #LIErClub2020💰💳😎
a big win for our Team #LIErClub2020💰💳😎
Congratulations on your approval!
Congratulations on your approval!!!
Thanks, M_Smart and thanks Average Joe!
I know how I am—in the back of my mind I will always want to get more, more, more cards, but somehow this acceptance has helped me calm down. I think that gardening will be easier now. AMEX was "the one" that I really wanted the most. There are a few other cards on my shortlist, like Apple, Chase, Ducks Unlimited, etc, but they can wait. (With Chase, it will HAVE to wait! 
)
It's very encouraging as a LIE-r (low-income-earner! 
) to get this card. What I really want to do now is cultivate this new relationship with AMEX, as well as Navy and my other cards.
Thanks so much for everyone on this forum for all your amazing advice and help!
Congrats @Anonymous! I remember when the only card in your sig was that Green Dot. You've come a long way!
@Anonymous wrote:Congrats @Anonymous! I remember when the only card in your sig was that Green Dot. You've come a long way!
Thanks, @Anonymous! You have always been so encouraging. I remember those days too. They weren't that long ago (a little more than a year!). I am still pinching myself over the AMEX card. I really didn't want a Delta or Hilton card right now (which was all I was preapproved for before) and so when I was preapproved for a cash back card with a Sign-up bonus, I fell out of the garden fast! LOL!
I'm sorta kinda regretting the Cap1 app. I want it but don't want it right now. (I want it eventually—but maybe it would have been better to wait.) If the app got lost in the abyss and I never got any hard pulls, I don't think I'd pursue it at the moment. But if they're going to do those triple whipple hard pulls on me, I want a card out of it!
Thanks so much everyone for your congratulations and well wishes.