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Should I garden? or go for Next Card?

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MacMan313
Contributor

Should I garden? or go for Next Card?

Im trying to figure out my next step. Should I garden or reach out for another card. My goal is to purchase a vehicle in the next 3-4 months. Looking for prime optimization.

 

Recent BK in October 2014. I have three credit card accounts. All under 5% utlization. Two of my scores have passed the 600 threshold. 

 

EQ: 646 TU: 653 EX: 658 [CH7 Discharge 10/14]

PayPal Credit $2000 | Credit One Platinum $1200 | Grain $1000 | Capital One Quicksilver $700 | Capital One Quicksilver $500 | BrightWay $500 | Capital One Walmart Rewards $300
Message 1 of 17
16 REPLIES 16
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Should I garden? or go for Next Card?

Garden.

Big time.
Message 2 of 17
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Should I garden? or go for Next Card?


@Anonymous wrote:
Garden.

Big time.

+100000

ficos dont really care whether you have 5k or 500k in revolving credit (this may be an exaggeration). the biggest thing is util. so if you can handle not spending much, or at least not letting much report, your utilization will be perfectly fine. especially with the recent BK, I dont see you getting approved for much else honestly.

Message 3 of 17
MacMan313
Contributor

Re: Should I garden? or go for Next Card?


@Anonymous wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:
Garden.

Big time.

+100000

ficos dont really care whether you have 5k or 500k in revolving credit (this may be an exaggeration). the biggest thing is util. so if you can handle not spending much, or at least not letting much report, your utilization will be perfectly fine. especially with the recent BK, I dont see you getting approved for much else honestly.


I more worried about having multipe accounts reporting with low utli. Im trying to show that I can handle the credit lines. Is this not a good idea?

EQ: 646 TU: 653 EX: 658 [CH7 Discharge 10/14]

PayPal Credit $2000 | Credit One Platinum $1200 | Grain $1000 | Capital One Quicksilver $700 | Capital One Quicksilver $500 | BrightWay $500 | Capital One Walmart Rewards $300
Message 4 of 17
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Should I garden? or go for Next Card?

HIgh lines beget high lines. this is usually true. Howeverin your case, You're not quite ready to qualify for those high lines, and therefore must garden. Also high lines dont really affect installment loans as much.

Message 5 of 17
js0319
Established Contributor

Re: Should I garden? or go for Next Card?

Let your garden grow, and focus on your auto loan - you don't want to do anything to mess that up. Don't expect get anywhere near prime until you're at least in the 650+ range.

AMEX PRG - NPSL I AMEX Everyday Preferred - $34.8k I Capital One Venture - $20k I Chase Sapphire Preferred - $25.5k I Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier - $20.7k I Barclay Arrival + - $10k I Capital One Quicksilver - $10k I NFCU Flagship Rewards Visa Signature - $15k I NASA FCU - $10k I Texell FCU Visa - $5k I Chase Freedom - $9.9k I Citi Double Cash - $7.8k I Discover IT - $5k I NFCU CLOC - $15k I Total Unsecured Credit - $188,700

EQ FICO - 714 (5/24/16) I TU FICO - 772 (5/24/16) I EX FICO - 770 (5/24/16)
Message 6 of 17
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Should I garden? or go for Next Card?

The bigger issue is that applying for another card means that you're going to get another HP, which will be detrimental in the near term. Since your auto-loan application is only 3-4 months away, I would avoid any further pulls until after that goes through. 

Message 7 of 17
happypill
Valued Contributor

Re: Should I garden? or go for Next Card?

When I read this title I thought "Next Card" was a specific credit card.  I did a search and apparently it is a remnant of days gone by lingering in the back of my mind.  Next Card was a credit card company that went belly up in 2002 after the doc.com bust.  Their defining characteristics were that they took applications exclusively online, and that they partnered with Amazon originally to offer a card.  I guess they were just ahead of their time.

 

Here's a link to the articla I found if anyone is interested:

http://news.cnet.com/NextCard-credit-cards-cut-off/2100-1017_3-942675.html

 

 

Message 8 of 17
red259
Super Contributor

Re: Should I garden? or go for Next Card?

Garden. I don't see you getting anything good at this point and the new inq will make it all the harder for your future goals. You have some cards to work with so manage your credit responsibly and hopefully you will be able to move over into unsecured territory down the line. 

;
Starting Score: EQ: 714, TU 684
Current Score: EQ: 725 7/30/13, TU 684 6/2013, Exp 828 5/2018, Last App 8/5/17
Goal Score: 800 (Achieved!) In garden until Sepetember 2019
Message 9 of 17
chalupaman
Super Contributor

Re: Should I garden? or go for Next Card?

If you're trying to get an auto or mortage loan apping for cards should be the last thing on your mind. Garden, garden, garden, and yes, more gardening. Your BK is also still really recent.

Tradelines: Macy’s - $18k, Penfed Power Cash Rewards - $10k, Ethan Allen (TD Bank) - $5.7k, Kay Jewelers - $5.5k, Appliances Connection - $5.3k, Jared - $5.25k, Best Buy (Citi) - $5k, Dell Preferred Account - $3.5k, Samsung - $3.2k, Firestone CFNA - $3.2k, Capital One Platinum - $3k, Mercury MC - $2.25k, Williams Sonoma - $2.1k, Wayfair (Fortiva) - $2k, Amazon Store Card - $1.8k, Apple Card - $1.7k, NFCU cashRewards - $1.5k, CareCredit - $1.5k, B&H Photo - $1.5k, Adorama - $1.25k, Ebay MC - $1k, Sam’s Club MC - $1k, American Eagle - $1k, Ollo MC - $600, Mission Lane Visa - $500, NY & Company - $500, Walgreens - $500, Home Depot - $500, Target RED Card - $500, CapOne Secured MC 0 AF - $500, Penfed Overdraft LOC - $500

Current FICOS: Mid 640s-50s on all reports, Ch 7 BK D/C Aug 2019
Starting scores: EX - 534, EQ - 574, TU - 516 | Total TLs: $91k approx | Total Utilization: 17%, getting this back down
Message 10 of 17
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