Credit Card addiction - how do you stop your self?

[pattycake]

I tell you, once I reached 700 I was so elated I could dance around the room.  Instead, I app'd for two CC's with CLs over $10K and got approved.  I'm done for now, since my EQ is now at 712. I don't know how much of a drop I'll get, if at all, but I sure hope it's minimal. 

Keeping my UTIL low is what I plan to do, and get rid of the cards that have high APRs.  I now have three cards under 8%:  BofA, UFCU and Juni.   

[armymom]

---

@haulingthescoreup wrote:
I don't apply for stuff, because I have long-term plans. My credit is hurt by short AAoA, and every individual application drops my age and keeps me further from my goals. Since my planned app spree in spring 2008, I have gotten an AmEx Blue to replace my Gold (inq but no new account hit), and I accepted a line of credit from PenFed, just to have as a reserve (new account hit, but no inq.) It appears that Chase is closing their Boarders Visa card program, and they're supposed to be changing my card to a Freedom, yay, which is something I was hoping for.

When I first got started here, I made a plan on Notepad on the laptop, listing all the CC's that I wanted one day, why I wanted them, what it would take to get them, and so forth. I kept modifying the list as I learned things and as my goals changed. Whenever I got an itch, I'd go back and re-read the list, and that kept me on track.

Make a plan, figure what it will take to reach your goal, break it down into steps and milestones, and follow it.

And if you get really tempted, stay off of the Credit Cards board for a while.

---

I could not agree more with having a long term plan.  I have a short list of card I want and specific reasons why I want them.  I know it will take time but that's OK.  And I don't want any unnecessary inquiries to stand in my way of getting them.  By years end all my baddies will be off so right now I'm concentrating on getting my util down to make it happen.

I've been doing a lot of reading on this board, and others, as to what criteria the cards I have in mind require so I don't app before I'm ready. I'm not wasting an inq if I don't think I'll get it.

Message Edited by armymom on 08-03-2009 08:58 AM

[Anonymous]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

p> 

Sorry you had a problem with them. I am sure if you took the time to sit down with your branch manager and ask for an explanation you would get one.

Credit is changing and the days of  large amounts of unsecured credit being extended is coming to an end and actually, that is a good thing.

I think as time passes we will certainly see more cuts in CL"s and much tighter criteria in granting new credit.

I am sorry but I have to disagree when you make the broad statement, "They're not our friends".  It seems to many people a "friend" is someone who will bend to their every wish where id someone says no, they are not a friend. I don't see it that way.

Glad you found other products you are happy with and hope they work out for you.

---

**totally understand where you are coming from on friends. And admittedly didn't ask my branch mgr but in phone conversations with various levels of CSR and analysts the answer was as you said... The times, 25% of customers were CLD the same day etc. I still find it difficult to swallow that good stewards of credit are paying the price in some instances. But thanks and I hope yours continue to work well for you too.

Message Edited by ExcellCR on 08-03-2009 12:40 PM

[Anonymous]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

p> 

Sorry you had a problem with them. I am sure if you took the time to sit down with your branch manager and ask for an explanation you would get one.

Credit is changing and the days of  large amounts of unsecured credit being extended is coming to an end and actually, that is a good thing.

I think as time passes we will certainly see more cuts in CL"s and much tighter criteria in granting new credit.

I am sorry but I have to disagree when you make the broad statement, "They're not our friends".  It seems to many people a "friend" is someone who will bend to their every wish where id someone says no, they are not a friend. I don't see it that way.

Glad you found other products you are happy with and hope they work out for you.

---

**totally understand where you are coming from on friends. And admittedly didn't ask my branch mgr but in phone conversations with various levels of CSR and analysts the answer was as you said... The times, 25% of customers were CLD the same day etc. I still find it difficult to swallow that good stewards of credit are paying the price in some instances. But thanks and I hope yours continue to work well for you too.

Message Edited by ExcellCR on 08-03-2009 12:40 PM

---

I understand completely what you mean, especially about the good stewards of credit paying the price. Sadly though, we have been doing it for years in many areas, not just credit cards.

Auto insurance is not high because no one gets tickets or has accidents, BUT we all pay. We pay for shoplifters in stores and many other things we have no part of.

I only mentioned talking to someone in the branch because sadly my experience with CSR"s has been that collectively they don't possess the though processes above a ripe avocado. Seems they are given a "script" to read and thats it.

As I said, glad your other products are working out well for you.

[BungalowMo]

How do you stop?  Wne you hear NO just that "one" time too many.   

[Uniqua]

Just say NO!

[Anonymous]

I'm not hooked on credit cards - savings & investment accounts are my addiction. I just love opening new accounts & stuffing some cash in them. (I found this site after a bank where I keep some stocks & CDs lost a backup tape in early 2008 & signed me up for a credit monitoring service. Until then, I'd never paid any attention to credit scores.)

Thanks to this forum, I learned about Alliant CU's great high yield savings & checking accounts. Now I'm looking for the highest available rates on 6 to 12-month CDs because I've got cash looking for work. Any tips?