Apply credit card for non-working housewife

[shokeen]

Hello,
I am looking for suggestion on getting credit card. My current focus is to get credit card with some signing bonus.
Now my limitation - I am non-working housewife, but me and my husband files tax jointly. I never applied for any credit card individually. Though I have Citi Costco card as co-signer, but I hardly used it. Whenever we shop, always my husband use his card.
10 days back I applied for one Chase card and it was rejected, I am yet to recieve reason. I selected as self-employer and mentioned my husband salary, as we both filed together.
My credit score is 737.  Have saving account with Bank of America since 10 years. To start with, should I start using my Citi Costco card for a month or so, and then apply? Or I can apply for one travel bonus card again and hope to get approved?

Please send me few suggestions. Thanks

[FalconSteve]

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@shokeen wrote:

Hello,
I am looking for suggestion on getting credit card. My current focus is to get credit card with some signing bonus.
Now my limitation - I am non-working housewife, but me and my husband files tax jointly. I never applied for any credit card individually. Though I have Citi Costco card as co-signer, but I hardly used it. Whenever we shop, always my husband use his card.
10 days back I applied for one Chase card and it was rejected, I am yet to recieve reason. I selected as self-employer and mentioned my husband salary, as we both filed together.
My credit score is 737.  Have saving account with Bank of America since 10 years. To start with, should I start using my Citi Costco card for a month or so, and then apply? Or I can apply for one travel bonus card again and hope to get approved?

Please send me few suggestions. Thanks

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Savings accounts don't affect your score, but any credit card that you are joint or an authorized user on will help you. Have your husband add you to any good accounts (less than 30% utilization, no late payments over 30 days) ans wait for them to generate a statement before applying for a card.

Also, they want HOUSEHOLD income when they ask.

Ideal use is under 10%, but something should be reporting on at least one card.

[shokeen]

In that case, I can start using my Citi Costco card and do all shopping with same for at least one billing cycle.

When you say "HOUSEHOLD income", should I mentioned my husband income in that field, where it is asked to mention my income ?

Are rewards cards (which has signing bonus miles) more harder to get approve, or it all depend on credit history/score? I can easily reach to spending requirement of spend $4000 in 3 months, if that matters.

[FalconSteve]

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@shokeen wrote:

In that case, I can start using my Citi Costco card and do all shopping with same for at least one billing cycle.

When you say "HOUSEHOLD income", should I mentioned my husband income in that field, where it is asked to mention my income ?

Are rewards cards (which has signing bonus miles) more harder to get approve, or it all depend on credit history/score? I can easily reach to spending requirement of spend $4000 in 3 months, if that matters.

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Some banks are more conservative than others with approvals. I usually recommend that people start out with Discover (they have a pre-qualification tool that I recomen checking). I wouldn't apply anywhere that doesn't conform to the norm of using household income. With no income, you aren't going to get approved.

[shokeen]

I checked few of them with pre-qualification tool and almost most of them are with signing up bonus.
If it is difficult to get such cards on no income, I guess it will be wise to stay with husband's plan instead of keep applying and getting hit on credit score.

[SouthJamaica]

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@shokeen wrote:

Hello,
I am looking for suggestion on getting credit card. My current focus is to get credit card with some signing bonus.
Now my limitation - I am non-working housewife, but me and my husband files tax jointly. I never applied for any credit card individually. Though I have Citi Costco card as co-signer, but I hardly used it. Whenever we shop, always my husband use his card.
10 days back I applied for one Chase card and it was rejected, I am yet to recieve reason. I selected as self-employer and mentioned my husband salary, as we both filed together.
My credit score is 737.  Have saving account with Bank of America since 10 years. To start with, should I start using my Citi Costco card for a month or so, and then apply? Or I can apply for one travel bonus card again and hope to get approved?

Please send me few suggestions. Thanks

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1. Forget Chase for now. That's the hardest one to get.

2. Apply for Amex Blue Cash Everyday or Comenity AAA Daily Advantage.

3. Use combined income of you and husband.

[shokeen]

Amex Blue Cash Everyday or Comenity AAA Daily Advantage, both looks good suggestion. But is there any card, which I can try applying and eligible to give some points/miles?

[SouthJamaica]

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@shokeen wrote:

Amex Blue Cash Everyday or Comenity AAA Daily Advantage, both looks good suggestion. But is there any card, which I can try applying and eligible to give some points/miles?

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I wouldn't recommend them, but some cards that aren't too hard to get that have travel points are the Amex Everyday and Amex Gold charge card. Perhaps other forum members would have better ideas.

[ptatohed]

My wife is a stay at home Mom and has a handful of credit cards that she applied for.  As others have said, in the application, simply list your household income.  

[Andy-Griffin]

My unemployed spouse recently applied for a Capital One CC. She used our household income on the application. They requested income verification. There were several options for her to choose, and she chose sending 3 most recent bank statements.

Now they are requesting 2 most recent paystubs.

Can she just send them my 2 most recent paystubs?