Why is it so hard to garden?

[iced]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Last fall I decided it was time to get my credit in order. Due primarily to all the information gleaned from these forums, over the next 8 months I improved my FICO scores from the 560 range to around 700 across all three bureaus. I was approved for a mortgage and moved into my new house. I was approved for a number of quality credit products to include my NFCU Flagship with a $25,000 starting limit, an Amex Gold, and several other products. Now, it's prime gardening time. But why is that so hard? I've been eyeballing the Cap One Savor Card. I'm not sure exactly why, though I would make it my dining and entertainment card if I had it. I guess, though, that it's that I've been with Cap One for a while. I had some late pays in the past and they stuck by me. I have a good relationship with them now. 18 plus months without any lates, a QS1 card that's upgraded from Platinum, and a Venture One Card upgraded from QS1 with, now, a $3400 limit. It just feels like getting the Savor Card would say I'm in Cap One's preferred kids club. I cannot even come close to justifying why that would matter. Just a feeling I guess. And I know I should garden, but I keep feeling to pull to app for that card.

Ahh, so far, I've stayed in the garden. Just would love to hear other's thoughts on how to garden with happiness.

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I think the key to sating your appetite is to figure out why you're hungry. What are you really aiming to get out of your credit cards, and what is it going to take to get to that point? What need is getting another card filling for you, and is it only fillable with a credit card? It sounds like you have an itch and you think getting a new card will scratch that itch, so I'd suggest figuring out why you itch there and what else can scratch it.

Understand your urges and you can better control or direct them.

[Iusedtolurk]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Last fall I decided it was time to get my credit in order. Due primarily to all the information gleaned from these forums, over the next 8 months I improved my FICO scores from the 560 range to around 700 across all three bureaus. I was approved for a mortgage and moved into my new house. I was approved for a number of quality credit products to include my NFCU Flagship with a $25,000 starting limit, an Amex Gold, and several other products. Now, it's prime gardening time. But why is that so hard? I've been eyeballing the Cap One Savor Card. I'm not sure exactly why, though I would make it my dining and entertainment card if I had it. I guess, though, that it's that I've been with Cap One for a while. I had some late pays in the past and they stuck by me. I have a good relationship with them now. 18 plus months without any lates, a QS1 card that's upgraded from Platinum, and a Venture One Card upgraded from QS1 with, now, a $3400 limit. It just feels like getting the Savor Card would say I'm in Cap One's preferred kids club. I cannot even come close to justifying why that would matter. Just a feeling I guess. And I know I should garden, but I keep feeling to pull to app for that card.

Ahh, so far, I've stayed in the garden. Just would love to hear other's thoughts on how to garden with happiness.

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It's probably so hard because of all the feel goods from the dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins when you get that, "CONGRATULATIONS YOU'RE APPROVED" message.

[Citylights18]

I was pretty tempted to get a Citi Premier card with the 60k SUB and $100 dollar travel portal hotel credit.

But at a certain level I just thought it was getting to be too much in the way of hotel options. I have the Chase Trifecta for earning, AMEX Green as a 3x travel card. Then a World of Hyatt Card. Earning hotel rewards through travel portals too. With all those options at my disposal the likelihood that I would be able to tap the Citi Prestige for its travel credit was less than 50% in a given year.

So yeah it can get a bit crazy w/ too many travel cards and I'm actively using 10 in rotation.

World of Hyatt (Bonus spend)

Sapphire Preferred (Doordash)

NFCU Flagship (Balance Transfers)

Freedom Unlimited (Bills/Utilties)

Samsung Store (Cell Phone)

Freedom (5% categories, Lyft, Amazon)

Discover (5% categories, BT offers)

Macy's (Clothing)

AMEX Green (Dining, Travel)

Citi AAdantage (Flights, Fandango)

What else would help me? I ruled out US Bank's credit cards (too difficult to get). I have an American card and can transfer points directly to United, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue. AMEX Platinum would give status with Hilton and Marriott but I don't buy Hilton's and Marriott's that offen. Beach rentals aren't covered well with those programs. Business Platinum makes more sense because I could write off the annual fee.

I could however fit in some more Lines of Credit. They aren't as consumable as a credit card but offer flexible usage. I want go with them before buying a home.

The OP cleaned up his credit some, bought a property and now is upgrading his credit even more. I made the decision to upgrade my credit as far as what I could first before buying a home. That way I would be able to walk in the door with a top tier scenario when I go to apply for a mortgage. I see a lot of people on here trying to close on a property when 580 or 620 but I just wouldn't rush into it.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

You're in the land of temptation, that's why. This forum is like putting a fat kid on a diet while simultaneously surrounding him with cakes and ice creams.

It takes a lot of willpower to stay the course. The first 3 months were the hardest for me. Once I got to 6 months, I could have gone to a year if I needed to but I decided to jump on the AOD card and then hit the garden again. 

Having a goal helps a lot. Me knowing that I want the Cash+ and that US Bank has declined me twice for too much credit seeking makes it easy for me to make it my goal to be 0/6 and 1/12 before I try one last time for that card. Next goal is to get under 5/24 so I can get the Chase Amazon VS which means I can get one more card between the Cash+ and October of next year so I'll be right back to gardening unless a unicorn comes along. 

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This! I have never been declined for a card before until last year Chase said nope. I want the chase Amazon so bad I am willing to sacrifice not getting a card so I can be under 5/24. Slips will happen. I was suppose to be 5/24 March 2021 but it looks like September 2021. **bleep** preapproval from PenFed started a credit card binge in April. I am so focus now to get my cards that anything else doesn't interest me.

[Anonymous]

When one reads of another $25K approval on the forums, it does make one wonder if their approval is there waiting. The NFCU approvals are very tempting. If my family hadn't always been Army, I probably would have applied. I also belong to enough financial institutions. 

The approval posts are the candy to the fat kid. There is a mental list of CC that I wish I had. There are cards that were closed when my credit was sinking that I want again to show the issuer that I am a good risk. Presently, I have over $180K in total CL. I would like to make it to the $200K club, but I will get there on CLI. 

It is hard to garden. My last approval was almost four months ago. My total HP is maybe three or four on all three CRA. My scores are back to when my car note was PIF. There is a rush when one is approved. 

[Dgr24]

I feel seen.  

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

When one reads of another $25K approval on the forums, it does make one wonder if their approval is there waiting. The NFCU approvals are very tempting. If my family hadn't always been Army, I probably would have applied. I also belong to enough financial institutions. 

The approval posts are the candy to the fat kid. There is a mental list of CC that I wish I had. There are cards that were closed when my credit was sinking that I want again to show the issuer that I am a good risk. Presently, I have over $180K in total CL. I would like to make it to the $200K club, but I will get there on CLI. 

It is hard to garden. My last approval was almost four months ago. My total HP is maybe three or four on all three CRA. My scores are back to when my car note was PIF. There is a rush when one is approved. 

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You do realize that NFCU is open to all military branches and their families, right? My family is Air Force (father and grandfather) and I had no issue getting in. If you're eligible, you're really doing yourself a disservice not being a member honestly. 

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

You're in the land of temptation, that's why. This forum is like putting a fat kid on a diet while simultaneously surrounding him with cakes and ice creams.

It takes a lot of willpower to stay the course. The first 3 months were the hardest for me. Once I got to 6 months, I could have gone to a year if I needed to but I decided to jump on the AOD card and then hit the garden again. 

Having a goal helps a lot. Me knowing that I want the Cash+ and that US Bank has declined me twice for too much credit seeking makes it easy for me to make it my goal to be 0/6 and 1/12 before I try one last time for that card. Next goal is to get under 5/24 so I can get the Chase Amazon VS which means I can get one more card between the Cash+ and October of next year so I'll be right back to gardening unless a unicorn comes along. 

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This! I have never been declined for a card before until last year Chase said nope. I want the chase Amazon so bad I am willing to sacrifice not getting a card so I can be under 5/24. Slips will happen. I was suppose to be 5/24 March 2021 but it looks like September 2021. **bleep** preapproval from PenFed started a credit card binge in April. I am so focus now to get my cards that anything else doesn't interest me.

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I have lost interest in applying for the most part. I may not even bother with Cash+. I am shifting gears from credit building to saving everything I can so I may actually dramatically simplify my lineup over the next year. I'm giving myself 6 months to see how I'm doing with saving before I start closing cards one to two at a time. 

[Anonymous]

Yes, I am aware it's open to all military types. I'm almost positive it be approved. I don't need another card. I have total respect for those with dozens of cards. Today, at Dick's Sporting Goods I almost applied. If the cashier hadn't been in such an unfriendly mood I would have and replaced a card gone long ago.

[Anonymous]

OP, for some reason, my brain has equated approvals to a "high". Since I don't do any drugs (except alcohol)- I guess this is my one vice. If I go too long without an approval, I start to itch!