Hello all...been reading tons of stuff on here for a while now, figured it was time to ask a question or five. 
Understanding that as you pay down individual CC utilization, the cumulative will go down as well...but my question is, which is more important? At any given time when looking at a snapshot of my credit profile, does one utilization calculation outweigh the other? I understand the goal of having all but 1 card report 0% and the other 1-9% and am working towards that, I'm just wanting to put myself in an optimal position in the meantime. Any information or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you!!
@Anonymous wrote:Hello all...been reading tons of stuff on here for a while now, figured it was time to ask a question or five.
Understanding that as you pay down individual CC utilization, the cumulative will go down as well...but my question is, which is more important? At any given time when looking at a snapshot of my credit profile, does one utilization calculation outweigh the other? I understand the goal of having all but 1 card report 0% and the other 1-9% and am working towards that, I'm just wanting to put myself in an optimal position in the meantime. Any information or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
All of them are important.
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:Hello all...been reading tons of stuff on here for a while now, figured it was time to ask a question or five.
Understanding that as you pay down individual CC utilization, the cumulative will go down as well...but my question is, which is more important? At any given time when looking at a snapshot of my credit profile, does one utilization calculation outweigh the other? I understand the goal of having all but 1 card report 0% and the other 1-9% and am working towards that, I'm just wanting to put myself in an optimal position in the meantime. Any information or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
All of them are important.
But none of them matter if you are gardening and aren't applying for new credit.
The UTI game is great... if you are actually wanting to apply for new credit.
Thanks for that, that information is helpful!
I'm not wanting to apply for anything right now, just trying to get in a spot where I can finally shut down the starter type cards. I was REALLY stoked after getting the 7-10 day message from Chase on the Marriott card...then getting approved for an $8500 CL. Was grinning allllll day 
Utilization down, new prime cards in, and old higher interest cards out...this is my game plan, for now.
@takeshi74 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:Understanding that as you pay down individual CC utilization, the cumulative will go down as well...but my question is, which is more important?
Neither. Both are important.
@TRC_WA wrote:But none of them matter if you are gardening and aren't applying for new credit.
The UTI game is great... if you are actually wanting to apply for new credit.
Utilization always matters. It doesn't drop off as a risk factor just because one is gardening.
Obsessing over optimizing utilization (1 balance at 10% or less) isn't recommeneded unless one is applying and looking to squeeze out every possible point though some choose to do so all the time. One should generally keep utilization under 30% at all times. That said, short term high utilization genereally isn't an issue. It's prolonged high utilization that can lead to AA (been there, done that myself).
My bad... that's what I meant.
Of course UTI matters, but OCDing about 1%-9% isn't necessary unless you are applying.