Which card should i use regularly?

[accjohn1990]

I want to use just one card regularly starting in a month when my 5 month auto cli offer is up on my amex bce because it helps me keep track of my purchases and results in a lower required payment which can help when im tight on money.  I have a walmart mastercard $800 and a paypal extras $1000.  My primary concern is which card is more likely to give me a credit increase, although i do prefer wm cash back policy over the pp points system.  Which card is more likely to give me a cli?  How long should i wait before requesting a cli?  The wmmc is only a few weeks old and the ppmc is about 6 months old and just got its first cli from $500 to $1000

[Anonymous]

This probably isn't the answer you're looking for, but if you are tight on money to the point that your concerned about making 2 minimum payments verses 1 minimum payment on your cards, the last thing IMO that you should be thinking about is getting a CLI on either card.  It's crucial that you adopt a PIF philosophy early on.  If you live by the rule that you won't ever buy something on a CC that you couldn't buy for in cash today, you'll likely never find yourself in trouble.  If you are the type to carry balances, which it sounds like you are, increasing your credit limits often isn't wise as it only opens the door to more potential financial strain.

[driftless]

If you are tight on money, I would pick one card and use it like you would a debit card, PIF, more than once a month if necessary.  You did not say what your CL is on the Amex card, but I would concentrate your spend on that card if possible.  

[ecxpa]

Both the Wal-Mart and Pay Pal are Synchrony accounts so I am not sure.......some Synchroncy accounts grow faster than others.  Building credit and good credit lines takes time...........but then time does fly.   I agree with others here, you should be careful if things are tight and not run up balances trying to increase your credit line.   After all credit is NOT free money.......if you carry a balance it is EXPENSIVE money.  Be careful, take your time, take care of your current accounts and GOOD LUCK.

PS:  I somewhat disagree with PIF and keeping a zero balance, you should PIF every month;  but you also have got to show some activity on an account(s) to show you can handle credit responsibly to other lenders.

[Anonymous]

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@ecxpa wrote:

PS:  I somewhat disagree with PIF and keeping a zero balance, you should PIF every month;  but you also have got to show some activity on an account(s) to show you can handle credit responsibly to other lenders.

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PIF does not mean keeping a zero balance.  It means paying no interest.  Assuming the card is used regularly, a balance will always be reported each cycle following a PIF [of the previous statement balance]. 

It's also not a necessity to keep a balance or report a balance on a card to show activity at all times.  Utilization has no memory, so all it takes is using a card 1 time and letting a small balance report to show usage and maximize FICO scoring. 

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@ecxpa wrote:

PS:  I somewhat disagree with PIF and keeping a zero balance, you should PIF every month;  but you also have got to show some activity on an account(s) to show you can handle credit responsibly to other lenders.

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PIF does not mean keeping a zero balance.  It means paying no interest.  Assuming the card is used regularly, a balance will always be reported each cycle following a PIF [of the previous statement balance]. 

It's also not a necessity to keep a balance or report a balance on a card to show activity at all times.  Utilization has no memory, so all it takes is using a card 1 time and letting a small balance report to show usage and maximize FICO scoring. 

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For now it doesn't. But newer FICO models will incorporate trended util history.

On the above matter, I always let ~$5 report on each card, though Chase will report the PIF mid-cycle.

On the way above matter, I would keep usage on the BCE. Except for Walmart.com, the BCE is better in every way. Build up your relationship with your only prime lender.

[accjohn1990]

The BCE has a cl of $500.  Is Amex the most likely to give cli?

I do not carry much of a balance, right now i have a total of $200 of credit used.  I like to pif, but it is not alays the best option since cash is more liquid