Upcoming App Spree, Need help.

[Jungook]

Hi everyone I've been thinking about applying for the Chase Freedom and AMEX BCE for a long while now. I am a student with a part time job and currently carry a Discover IT. I've always dreamt of completing my credit card portfolio with the Freedom, BCE, and IT but after looking at my spending habits, I think the Sallie Mae Discover would be a really good fit for me. My main expenses are gas, food, and Amazon (seriously, what can't you get from Amazon nowadays). I'm not a fan of cobranded cards but the Sallie Mae is just too perfect for my current situation.

Then I asked myself, do I really need the BCE then? I was going to use the BCE as a gas card since Costco only accepts AMEX but with the Sallie Mae's 5% off every month (along with Discover and Chase rotating categories) the BCE isn't much of use for me. So then I decided to just app for the Freedom and Sallie Mae.

BUT, I'm pretty sure the Freedom will have a $200 promotional offer in the late fall or early winter and I'm in no rush to get the Freedom anymore (due to the Sallie Mae) and that $200 is really enticing. So now we're going in a giant circle and I'm thinking about getting in with AMEX, using the Sallie Mae, and app for the Freedom in the Fall. This would also be easier on my wallet as I wouldn't have to complete the combined $1,500 minimum spend in 3 months if I app'd for the AMEX and Freedom.

Now again, the BCE isn't of much use to me but I'd really like a no AF credit card from AMEX. The other option is the Everyday but again that's marketed towards Mom's with large grocery purchases. I promised myself I'd get into AMEX this year so I'm thinking just applying for the Everyday and start building up MR points with no AF? The BCE really has no use for me cause of the Sallie Mae so I might as well go no AF with the Everyday right?

Anyway here is my info on what I'll be applying with (it might be a bit ambitious)

AAoA: 7 months

INQ: 1

UTIL: 5% (can bring this down to 2% but if I don't have to I'd rather not).

Total Revolving credit history: 8 months

No baddies

Some student loans

Thanks to everyone who has the patience to read all that.

[azguy13]

---

@Jungook wrote:

Hi everyone I've been thinking about applying for the Chase Freedom and AMEX BCE for a long while now. I am a student with a part time job and currently carry a Discover IT. I've always dreamt of completing my credit card portfolio with the Freedom, BCE, and IT but after looking at my spending habits, I think the Sallie Mae Discover would be a really good fit for me. My main expenses are gas, food, and Amazon (seriously, what can't you get from Amazon nowadays). I'm not a fan of cobranded cards but the Sallie Mae is just too perfect for my current situation.

Then I asked myself, do I really need the BCE then? I was going to use the BCE as a gas card since Costco only accepts AMEX but with the Sallie Mae's 5% off every month (along with Discover and Chase rotating categories) the BCE isn't much of use for me. So then I decided to just app for the Freedom and Sallie Mae.

BUT, I'm pretty sure the Freedom will have a $200 promotional offer in the late fall or early winter and I'm in no rush to get the Freedom anymore (due to the Sallie Mae) and that $200 is really enticing. So now we're going in a giant circle and I'm thinking about getting in with AMEX, using the Sallie Mae, and app for the Freedom in the Fall. This would also be easier on my wallet as I wouldn't have to complete the combined $1,500 minimum spend in 3 months if I app'd for the AMEX and Freedom.

Now again, the BCE isn't of much use to me but I'd really like a no AF credit card from AMEX. The other option is the Everyday but again that's marketed towards Mom's with large grocery purchases. I promised myself I'd get into AMEX this year so I'm thinking just applying for the Everyday and start building up MR points with no AF? The BCE really has no use for me cause of the Sallie Mae so I might as well go no AF with the Everyday right?

Anyway here is my info on what I'll be applying with (it might be a bit ambitious)

AAoA: 7 months

INQ: 1

UTIL: 5% (can bring this down to 2% but if I don't have to I'd rather not).

Total Revolving credit history: 8 months

No baddies

Some student loans

Thanks to everyone who has the patience to read all that.

---

If it were me (and I understand that saying it is easier than doing it), I would wait until my AAoA hit 1 year at a minimum. 

[Ghoshida]

True, if you get Sallie Mae, the BCE will get sock-drawered except for department store purchases (2%). 

If you plan to fly a few times, you may want to look at the Everyday (and MR rewards). To get the 20% extra you'll need those 20 swipes though. If you are not looking to swipe frequently, I'm not sure how you'll be able to build up those 25k points required to redeem a return flight. The 10k bonus sounds sweet for a no-AF card.

You can chuck Freedom for one more quarter. Next quarter is gas which the Sallie Mae will also give you.

[Jungook]

---

@azguy13 wrote:

If it were me (and I understand that saying it is easier than doing it), I would wait until my AAoA hit 1 year at a minimum. 

---

True that would be the conservative route but I've seen several success stories and I think I could get approved.

[Jungook]

---

@Ghoshida wrote:

True, if you get Sallie Mae, the BCE will get sock-drawered except for department store purchases (2%). 

If you plan to fly a few times, you may want to look at the Everyday (and MR rewards). To get the 20% extra you'll need those 20 swipes though. If you are not looking to swipe frequently, I'm not sure how you'll be able to build up those 25k points required to redeem a return flight. The 10k bonus sounds sweet for a no-AF card.

You can chuck Freedom for one more quarter. Next quarter is gas which the Sallie Mae will also give you.

---

Yes, I would definitely miss out on the 20% extra bonus but I think the way I'd use the EveryDay is make small purchases here and there until my income better suits a PRG or something and over the years I'd probably accumulate a nice amount of points that I could transfer.

[bigblue7722]

I am in the same boat as you with the amex. I want one just to say I have one but it would be almost zero use to me. I wouldnt be able to use the everday card 20 times it would cost money in rewards from my other credit cards. I get my gas at sams which doesnt take amex. I do most of my grocery shopping at target (5% back target red debit), sams which again doesnt take amex, and I  mix in some local supermarkets which makes the 250 spend with the sallie mae perfect. Good for amex selling a lesser product at a higher price (AF) than other cards and have people wanting to get in all the time. The 6% supermarket BCP is a great card but I would only be able to get my money back from the AF if i bought gift cards. Then I will have a wallet full of them ugh lol. I already got a wallet full of credit cards. Idk I really want an amex but every which way I look at it, it makes no sense for me to get one.

[Anonymous]

your chances more than likely improve with AAoA going up. the way i see it, you're not realy loosing much not having a that car and getting declined while behaving more risky is a waste of an INQ

[azguy13]

---

@Jungook wrote:

---

@azguy13 wrote:

If it were me (and I understand that saying it is easier than doing it), I would wait until my AAoA hit 1 year at a minimum. 

---

True that would be the conservative route but I've seen several success stories and I think I could get approved.

---

I think you can get approved right now as well. However, I think if you wait a little longer with Chase, you will get a better initial CL. Since Chase is always a HP for a CLI I like to advise people to go the conservative route with them. Amex doesnt really matter due to the Day 61 3X CLI

[Jungook]

Poop you guys are convincing me to wait on the AMEX. 

I knew this would happen which is why I posted haha

[CarnegieS]

---

@Jungook wrote:

Hi everyone I've been thinking about applying for the Chase Freedom and AMEX BCE for a long while now. I am a student with a part time job and currently carry a Discover IT. I've always dreamt of completing my credit card portfolio with the Freedom, BCE, and IT but after looking at my spending habits, I think the Sallie Mae Discover would be a really good fit for me. My main expenses are gas, food, and Amazon (seriously, what can't you get from Amazon nowadays). I'm not a fan of cobranded cards but the Sallie Mae is just too perfect for my current situation.

Then I asked myself, do I really need the BCE then? I was going to use the BCE as a gas card since Costco only accepts AMEX but with the Sallie Mae's 5% off every month (along with Discover and Chase rotating categories) the BCE isn't much of use for me. So then I decided to just app for the Freedom and Sallie Mae.

BUT, I'm pretty sure the Freedom will have a $200 promotional offer in the late fall or early winter and I'm in no rush to get the Freedom anymore (due to the Sallie Mae) and that $200 is really enticing. So now we're going in a giant circle and I'm thinking about getting in with AMEX, using the Sallie Mae, and app for the Freedom in the Fall. This would also be easier on my wallet as I wouldn't have to complete the combined $1,500 minimum spend in 3 months if I app'd for the AMEX and Freedom.

Now again, the BCE isn't of much use to me but I'd really like a no AF credit card from AMEX. The other option is the Everyday but again that's marketed towards Mom's with large grocery purchases. I promised myself I'd get into AMEX this year so I'm thinking just applying for the Everyday and start building up MR points with no AF? The BCE really has no use for me cause of the Sallie Mae so I might as well go no AF with the Everyday right?

Anyway here is my info on what I'll be applying with (it might be a bit ambitious)

AAoA: 7 months

INQ: 1

UTIL: 5% (can bring this down to 2% but if I don't have to I'd rather not).

Total Revolving credit history: 8 months

No baddies

Some student loans

Thanks to everyone who has the patience to read all that.

---

What's your current limit on your it and that is your TU score according to discover?

You appear to be in a very similar situation to me. I have had the it with a $500 line since aug last year, and am also a student. I applied for the freedom earlier this month and was denied for not having enough lines of credit and not a long enough history. Your situation looks similar to mine so I would definitely not recommend applying for the freedom at this point in time. Wait until your history is at least a year before you try to go after the freedom (that $200 bonus makes me not as upset I got denied, so thanks for the info on that!).

Since your utilization is below 9% on your only card I think you are in good shape to apply for another TL. If you go for AmEx can you keep this thread updated? I'm planning on going for them early next month, so a success story from someone in a similar situation would be great!

Since one of the main places you spend money is amazon the intro offer on the AmEx seems like a nice fit for you!

"Experience the power of Reward Dollars and the perks of Amazon Prime. Get 50 Reward Dollars, redeemable for a $50 statement credit, after you make $1,000 in purchases with your new Card in the first three months.

Plus, get one year of Amazon Prime after you sign up for a new membership with your Card and meet the spending requirement in the same time period."