YAY! After deciding to NOT settle for a secured or subprime card, despite horrible credit, I went on a highly strategic app spree. Here's my less-than-a-month FICO 8 timeline and application/approval journey:
I realize that it's wise to wait until one's report has aged a bit before doing all these applications, but I figured I'd go ahead and get in with these folks at low limits, show them I can handle their money well, and then watch my credit limits increase as my payment history gets better and better. I don't need any credit right now, so I'm not applying out of desperation.
Edit: Additional data points
@n_la wrote:
Congratulations on your approvals 👏🏾 Interesting strategy. I hope that it keeps working to your advantage!!
I think it was my AAoA and debt-to-income that really helped. My on-time payments were at like 95%, despite the one-year disaster of unemployment. But I guess I just figured the cards I got would grow (NFCU and PenFed), and the others I just don't care that much about (Disco and CO), since the interest rates are usurious.
@AverageJoesCredit wrote:
Very nicekeep up the outstanding work
That means a lot coming from the experts of myFICO! I don't think this strategy would work well for someone without the length of credit history I have, though. 95% on-time payments on my report despite suuuuper awful payment activity during my annus horribilis in Unemploymentland. Plus, I waited 26 months since the last missed payment to begin applying.