@CreditAggie wrote:@CreditAggie wrote:After the adventurous 2021 I had building up my current base of cards, I plan to garden for most of the year and then build my Navy and PenFed relationships and apply for cards with each of them. I also plan to continue asking for SP CLIs on my existing cards where available although I have stopped asking for CLIs on cards that have reached five figures as I currently don't need more than that on a particular card considering my current income level and spending patterns (sorry for those of you wondering if I can grow my Apple Card past $12K).
Well, I definitely spent most of 2022 in the garden but got an elevated CSP SUB instead of Navy/PenFed cards.
Anyway, I originally intended to garden until May when I would get a Platinum Spade and then maybe go for the Navy and PenFed cards. With that, I just noticed that the SUB is back on the NFCU More Rewards Amex until January 3rd so I might go for that. I'll also be under 5/24 in March and might go for another Chase card if there is a good SUB being offered.
US Bank's upcoming offering could also be tempting depending on that card's SUB and whether or not it has an annual fee.EDIT: I just read that the card will have an AF.Of course, SP CLIs will always be appreciated as well!
Not sure if you were aware of this welcome offer currently going on for the NFCU Flagship. May be worth considering applying before it expires on 10/31/22. I know for me I always make back my annual fee within the first few months each year. The free year of Amazon Prime alone about covers the annual fee for the first 3 years now that Prime is $140 plus tax. Definitely do what's best for you though! Best wishes to you should you decide to apply!
My strategy is to remain in the garden and allow my accounts to age. I may sock drawer my less desirable cards (Credit One, for example...they served a great purpose following Chapter 7 July 2021). One regret was that I did not pay off American Express prior to the discharge. My lawyer said not to and I am not certain if paying would have altered the state of my relationship with them. The balance was only $386 so I have paid that in full hoping they might eventually let me back in. My score according to Expedia is in the "good" category but am still being offered mediocre cards in their marketplace, ie: Merrick, Indigo, Destiny 
so clearly I have work to do. I have gotten back in with Capital One with their Savor card and Discover gave me a miles card so I'm on my way. Will just wait for better offers of pre-approval. If anyone has any input or advice please feel free to comment. Thank you for a great topic 
My goal is to garden for the next year, and possibly into 2024 as well as all of my inquiries (7) won't drop off my account until Dec '23.
I didn't really get into optimizing my spending with credit cards until the spring of '21. Before that, I always used my first CC for everything but didn't even request a CLI or look into other cards for over 5 years. 
Soo, I went on an application spree from Nov. '21 to Jan. '22 and picked up Amex Platinum, Chase Freedom Unlimited, Apple Card, Amex Gold, USAA Preferred Cash Rewards (just to have a no AF Visa with no FTFs as I visit Canada frequently), Schwab Investor Card (I wanted an Amex that reported utilization), and finally Amex BCP.
My goal for 2023 is to:
- Let AAoA grow to over 2 years (oldest account is 6 years, 3 months but I didn't get my 2nd card [CSP] until April '21).
- Get my Apple Card from $7K to five digits. I'll probably put most of my spend in Q1 '23 on here to try to accomplish this as Goldman is a tough cookie to get CLIs from. I've only been successful one time and that was after I got the card and put 3 installments on it and spent over 30% of my utilization over 2 months.
- Axe the second USAA Visa given that Apple Pay / Tap-to-Pay is ubiquitous in Canada so I can use the AC as my catch-all when not using my Chase Sapphire Preferred or Amex Gold. 2% > 1.5%.
- Get a CLI on my Chase Sapphire Preferred. It's been stuck at $10.9K since my first and only auto CLI in August '21. Hopefully the in-app CLI button starts working for me eventually. I'd like to get this to at least $15K.
- Get rid of Schwab Investor Card and consolidate its limit ($15K) onto my BCP ($10K) and then downgrade BCP to BCE once the first year is over and I get charged the annual fee (I got it waived w/ $300 after $3K spend as my offer). I only got an Amex revolver because I liked how generous Amex is with their CLs, and just in case I someday get rid of both my Amex charge cards I'd like to have a nearly all-in-one card with them.
- Possibly downgrade my Amex Platinum to Amex Gold and cancel my current Amex Gold in November '23. I'm conflicted because I get value from the credits and love its superior lounge network vs. CSR and VX, but I plan on leaving the job that requires me to travel monthly by the end of next year so Platinum may be on the chopping block. If I do cancel I'll likely upgrade my CSP to CSR as I can easily use the $300 travel credit, and combined with my CFU, can take advantage of the in-portal point boost. Amex Gold would just be my food/dining and flights card as I do love having and using MR too.
@Dhani76 wrote:My strategy is to remain in the garden and allow my accounts to age. I may sock drawer my less desirable cards (Credit One, for example...they served a great purpose following Chapter 7 July 2021). One regret was that I did not pay off American Express prior to the discharge. My lawyer said not to and I am not certain if paying would have altered the state of my relationship with them. The balance was only $386 so I have paid that in full hoping they might eventually let me back in. My score according to Expedia is in the "good" category but am still being offered mediocre cards in their marketplace, ie: Merrick, Indigo, Destiny
Wait till 700s, don't be like me apping rashly: look at my CFF now, toy 500 limit which won't grow.
Thank you for clarifying about lawyer's advice. I did not realize. Hopefully paying it off will work in my favor eventually. If not, at east I did the right thing 
