What Path Should I Take?

[Anonymous]

A lot of things at play here and I want to maximize my moves and any benefits.

I recently refinanced. First ever, so I will now have a mortgage on my credit report. Should show up this month. I also just paid off all credit card debt ($19,500) this week. This should start reporting this month as well. Slowly but surely.

I have the following cards:

Chase Sapphire Preferred - $5k
Chase Freedom Unlimited - $3.5k
Chase Amazon - $3.5k
Cap One QS - $500
Cap One QS 1 - $1,500
Cap One Buy Power - $2,500
Barclays - $ 1,500
USAA - $500
NFCU - $1,000
Merrick - $1,550 - Plan on closing sometime
CreditOne - $700 - Plan on closing sometime
CareCredit - $500
Amazon Store - $2,200
Macy’s - $800
JCP - $500
Lowe’s - $100

I plan on getting a new roof in the next 30 days. It’s going to cost me $7,600 roughly. I figured it would be great to use that on a card that had a “spend X in the first X months and get XX rewards”. Maybe split it between 2 cards for double the rewards.

So, with that said, what should I do? What would you do? I’m in no rush honestly. Scores right now are: EQ656, TU647, EX633. I expect a 50-60+ increase from the debt pay down. I have 1 negative from 2015 from Merrick that said I was 30 days late. Pisses me off. That’s it.

Thanks for any advice!

[SEAlifer]

BofA Cash Rewards has a $200 SUB for the first $1,000 spend and you can choose to make Home Improvement the 3% category for your first month. I like that you can change the category monthly as needed. I'm mildly interested in this one myself. 

[mikesonthemend]

Various cash back offers will get you whatever. Travel, if you are interested, is the best bonus available. If roofer will accept Paypal, and fees are not too high, Disco 5% plus match, may be a winner.

[Anonymous]

• Discover IT match has a 10% cash back for the first year.
• Amex Gold if you can find a 50k MR offer, Its a keeper if you fly once or twice a year and spend alot of grocery and dining

Your Fico may be too low for other cards. Although I don't personally have experience with BofA, so maybe the score is decent enough for them.

[Anonymous]

How long has your NFCU card been open. If you are past 3 statements and 91 days of the account being open, you could try for a second card from them.

A lot of members have had success on a second card with a much higher starting limit then on the first.

Check your Fico 9 score on your Navy account.

[Anonymous]

NFCU was open in 2012. No increases since. How do I check FICO 9?

[Anonymous]

Log into your NFCU account and There will be a Fico score under your credit card account or on your all accounts screen.

They typically pull TU for new accounts, but they will give you an EQ score. And they were just updated this morning I believe.

[Anonymous]

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Card-Applications/Navy-Federal-Thread-for-CLI-and-Additional...

There’s a mega thread on NFCU. The can be one of the most generous lenders around, even with lower score. Lots of useful info on this thread.

My First card with them was a 1k SL, after 91/3 my second card was a 20k SL.

[Anonymous]

My score with them is 637. Says I have serious delinquencies?!? And revolving credit too high (I am aware, this is going to be coming down, just hasn’t updated).

So opening a card with them probably won’t work.

[Anonymous]

I would consider opening one with them when your accounts start to update the lower balances. It’ll give you some time to read through that thread.

They are more DTI based then score based.