Conscientiousness

[Gunnar419]

Do you keep a low utilization and still find yourself fretting like hell about your balances?

I do. Right now I'm a 6% utilization over 3 out of 6 cards and I feel as if mental Mafia kneecappers are going to come after me if I don't cut that in half and get down to one card ASAP. I feel derelict in my duties, overburdened with debt, and as if I'm not living up to the MyFico Creed.

This doesn't feel good. It's a giant PITA, but it keeps me honest. Because I feel like this I could never, except in the most dire circumstances, max out my cards or default or anything like that.

Yet it's clear that millions of people max their cards all the time without a second thought. Or not pay their bills just because. Maybe after years of that they'll come wandering in here wondering what to do, but they can go that long without giving themselves a nervous breakdown.

I'm glad I'm me but I envy them sometimes, just as I envy somebody who could make a lifestyle out of surfing or take a manana (sorry; needs a ~) attitude toward fixing up their home.

I'm wondering about you guys who always stick with the <9%, one card rule (or try to). Are you like me? Do you worry it to death? Or have you just set up such automatic routines that you're confident you don't even have to worry about high util again?

If you worry it to death, is that worry a big factor in "keeping you honest" and on track?

[Gunnar419]

I should add that I'm not talking about people who get into credit trouble because of major health or financial problems then just can't face the effort of getting back on track. I'm talking about people who genuinely aren't bothered by maxed cards and late payments, and how we other types differ from them.

[MarineVietVet]

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@Gunnar419 wrote:

Do you keep a low utilization and still find yourself fretting like hell about your balances?

I do. Right now I'm a 6% utilization over 3 out of 6 cards and I feel as if mental Mafia kneecappers are going to come after me if I don't cut that in half and get down to one card ASAP. I feel derelict in my duties, overburdened with debt, and as if I'm not living up to the MyFico Creed.

This doesn't feel good. It's a giant PITA, but it keeps me honest. Because I feel like this I could never, except in the most dire circumstances, max out my cards or default or anything like that.

Yet it's clear that millions of people max their cards all the time without a second thought. Or not pay their bills just because. Maybe after years of that they'll come wandering in here wondering what to do, but they can go that long without giving themselves a nervous breakdown.

I'm glad I'm me but I envy them sometimes, just as I envy somebody who could make a lifestyle out of surfing or take a manana (sorry; needs a ~) attitude toward fixing up their home.

I'm wondering about you guys who always stick with the <9%, one card rule (or try to). Are you like me? Do you worry it to death? Or have you just set up such automatic routines that you're confident you don't even have to worry about high util again?

If you worry it to death, is that worry a big factor in "keeping you honest" and on track?

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Personally I don't find it a pain or struggle or worry to keep my utilization low.

I've done it for so long it's become second nature and I do it without thinking about it.

[RaiseMyScoreASAP]

I pull a new report daily from all three bureaus. (I have the monitoring services on all three.) That coupled with the FICO score watch on here makes knowledge my friend. I am able to see each day the impact of matters on my credit. That keeps me going and motivated. Keeping utilization low is within your control. That and your payment history are the keys. Paying your bills on time is only half the picture. You have to maniplute your balances and know the reporting dates.

[Gunnar419]

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@RaiseMyScoreASAP wrote:

I pull a new report daily from all three bureaus. (I have the monitoring services on all three.) That coupled with the FICO score watch on here makes knowledge my friend. I am able to see each day the impact of matters on my credit. That keeps me going and motivated. Keeping utilization low is within your control. That and your payment history are the keys. Paying your bills on time is only half the picture. You have to maniplute your balances and know the reporting dates.

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LOL, but you see I do all that. That's exactly what I'm talking about. I watch my credit as if it were my child at a strange playground. I'm wondering if a lot of other low util people do that.

I envy MarineVietVet for having gone past that stage!

[Anonymous]

Newbie here! Long story short.... my husband and I had an absolute awful several years. Loss of a house and business, than he got sick. ..2 hospital stays, multiple surgeries.
About a year and a half ago. ..l pulled up my big girl pants and faced the music.
Since than I have moved or scores from the low 5's to high 6's. My Fico and everyone's help has been very educating and eye opening. .......
I watch my scores and reports ever day. I also watch every credit card account as well. I have mastered my payment dates as well as reporting days. Never carry over a balance, allow one card to post my ideal 7-9% utilization. .....
Once we get to my goal scores of high 7, I feel like I'll relax a little. ....maybe.
I understand completely.....

[Anonymous]

One month the cc reported $10 more than the previous month. ...our scores dropped a few points.
A total Mafia Kneecapper kinda day.

[Gunnar419]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Newbie here! Long story short.... my husband and I had an absolute awful several years. Loss of a house and business, than he got sick. ..2 hospital stays, multiple surgeries.
About a year and a half ago. ..l pulled up my big girl pants and faced the music.
Since than I have moved or scores from the low 5's to high 6's. My Fico and everyone's help has been very educating and eye opening. .......
I watch my scores and reports ever day. I also watch every credit card account as well. I have mastered my payment dates as well as reporting days. Never carry over a balance, allow one card to post my ideal 7-9% utilization. .....
Once we get to my goal scores of high 7, I feel like I'll relax a little. ....maybe.
I understand completely.....

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Tallulah, GOOD GOING for grabbing the big girl pants after going through all that. You'll definitely deserve to relax when you get those scores into the high 700s. Nice determination.

I have to tell you, though, that once upon a time I thought I'd relax if I got my scores past 760. Nope. Now they're all over 800 and I fret that they'll drop to 799! (And don't everybody tell me that's a stupid worry. I KNOW it's a stupid worry. But it's MY stupid worry and I love it even if it's dumb as a boulder.)

You'll make it. Relax when you do.

[Gunnar419]

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@Anonymous wrote:
One month the cc reported $10 more than the previous month. ...our scores dropped a few points.
A total Mafia Kneecapper kinda day.

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Oh, you DO understand. You really do.

[Anonymous]

I'll relax when I can walk into the bank, throw my feet on the desk, and ask them what THEY can do for me. Than leave with their ficus plant. ......BAM.
I love my goals and the crazy rituals of watching our credit reports and cards...lol
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