@Anonymous wrote:Thank you @Anonymous for your advice. I really appreciate it.
If I understand this correctly, you got 10 cards this year alone? How much space in between and why so many (please excuse my ignorance)?
In the beginning I just wanted to pick up some cards to start building some history. Credit One was the first to offer me an unsecured card and it came with a lot of stupid fees but I knew I would use it for a year and then close it. Discover offered me a secured card, I put $500 on deposit and it graduated after 7ish months and they bumped it to $2K. Cap One was easy peasy and my family loves Navy Federal so I followed advice on this board and picked up a Navy Cash Rewards and then a Platinum Visa. I added five more Visas/MC's between January-June of this year and now I will just sit back and age my file while waiting for the inquiries to drop off. I chose to apply in groups, so several inquiries would fall off at the same time. Everyone has a different game-plan and I'm pretty sure I will be making changes along the way. Time and consistancy will be my best friends at this point while I build my profile.
I applied for cards in about four groups, about three months apart. Why so many? I honestly don't know (peer pressure lol) but I do know that they are all cards I actually use. My long game is to buy a home in a couple of years so obtaining new cards between now and then is low on my list but that's cool because I had a few app sprees with success, had some denials but I'm very comfortable with where I am 13 months after I started to work on my file.
Can't wait to see where your journey takes you in the upcoming months!! You are off to an amazing start and congrats again!! 
@Anonymous wrote:Questions:
1.)As my first credit card that is being reported will that decrease my score?
2.)Do you think it possible to reach 800 by the end of the year?
3.) Am I missing something or should I be doing something else?
4.) My installment loan is due to end in Oct. I was thinking about getting a small SSL, immediately paying it down under 8.9%. Should I do this before my current installment loan end or should I do it after?
@Anonymous
1) If on a derogatory score card, you will not receive a new account penalty.
2) You will need to address those derogatories for it to be possible.
3) Yes, clean up your derogatories.
4) I would not recommend short term SSL. I would only recommend 5+ year SSL if no other open installment loan present. Are you eligible for NFCU or SSFCU.
I would recommend reading the below from CreditGuyInDixie
Adding an installment loan -- the Share Secure technique
The Quest for an SSL alternative to Alliant
From SouthJamaica
NFCU SSL
From adrianaesque
Approved NFCU SSL - with detailed steps (May 2020)
Here are two institutions that have SSL which you can pay in advance to 8.9% utilization without shortening loan term:
NFCU - membership restrictions.
SSFCU - geofence.
