I love reading journey posts so decided to type mine out.
Looking back I cant believe how I didnt understand credit or finances one bit.
Lots of poor decisions but never again!
High School
Authorized User on family members store card - Credit pull 777. I wish I knew how important that number was! Currenly my oldest credit line and so helpful
2014 The Dumbest College Drop Out Ever Chapter
Salary - Part Time. Maybe 600 per month...yikes
5 Student Loan Payments at 5 months late = 25 missed payments!
2 Charge Offs on student credit cards
Denied for Target Card
Denied for $10k Auto Loan even with $1500 down
Approved for Secured card through company credit union
Back to School briefly until a new job required moving. Didnt even file paperwork to withdraw correctly.
2016 New Job That Didn't t Meet Expectations
New Job / Salary $25k + first time with benefits & away from family
Approved for car loan
Approved for Credit One Credit Card
2017 The Year of No Sleep
Credit Scores All low 500s
Lost Job & Back home with family
Credit One Card Charge Off
Job with tuition assistance = back to school again
Working 2 Jobs Day & Night shift & going to class at 3 different campuses to finish school
2 Credit Builder Loans at local credit unions
Learning about credit on the internet and youtube
Savings! I actually have savings for the first time!
2018 Holy Crap I have a career!
Credit Score 570 - 604
New Job $50k Entry Level Salary
First 401k with Employee Match
Approved for sketchy secured card that never graduated to unsecure
Disputed some old accounts with good success rate
2019 More Money = More Credit Opportunity
Approved for first not so nice apartment in a very nice area
Credit Builder Loan with Self
Approved for 2 Capital One Starter Cards at low credit limits
Approved for Target Card
College Dropout Again :-/
2020 Credit Stuck in Fair Range
Credit Stuck in mid 600s
Salary $90K with side gig that pushes me to $100k
Paid Off Car Loan Early
Maxed Out 401k
2021 the year of nothing....
Briefly saw some scores reach 700 then drop down to 680s & 690s
Consistently asking for CLIs
Capital One credit line increases. Both cards 1000+ instead of $300 & $600
2022 Is this what good credit feels like?
No more secured cards
Approved for Capital One Venture 10,000 limit(couldve never thought possible)
Discover secure card graduated with CLI
Added younger siblings as authorized users to jumpstart their credit journey
Goals for 2022
Salary $200k( Base pay, bonus, stocks)
Credit Scores 720+
Help sibling with car purchase and college housing/expenses.
Save one year emergency fund
First Mortgage - I live in a very high cost/ in demand area so this is ambitious even with a super high salary
@CrazyPlantLady wrote:I love reading journey posts so decided to type mine out.
Looking back I cant believe how I didnt understand credit or finances one bit.
Lots of poor decisions but never again!
High School
Authorized User on family members store card - Credit pull 777. I wish I knew how important that number was! Currenly my oldest credit line and so helpful
2014 The Dumbest College Drop Out Ever Chapter
Salary - Part Time. Maybe 600 per month...yikes
5 Student Loan Payments at 5 months late = 25 missed payments!
2 Charge Offs on student credit cards
Denied for Target Card
Denied for $10k Auto Loan even with $1500 down
Approved for Secured card through company credit union
Back to School briefly until a new job required moving. Didnt even file paperwork to withdraw correctly.
2016 New Job That Didn't t Meet Expectations
New Job / Salary $25k + first time with benefits & away from family
Approved for car loan
Approved for Credit One Credit Card
2017 The Year of No Sleep
Credit Scores All low 500s
Lost Job & Back home with family
Credit One Card Charge Off
Job with tuition assistance = back to school again
Working 2 Jobs Day & Night shift & going to class at 3 different campuses to finish school
2 Credit Builder Loans at local credit unions
Learning about credit on the internet and youtube
Savings! I actually have savings for the first time!
2018 Holy Crap I have a career!
Credit Score 570 - 604New Job $50k Entry Level Salary
First 401k with Employee Match
Approved for sketchy secured card that never graduated to unsecure
Disputed some old accounts with good success rate
2019 More Money = More Credit Opportunity
Approved for first not so nice apartment in a very nice area
Credit Builder Loan with Self
Approved for 2 Capital One Starter Cards at low credit limitsApproved for Target Card
College Dropout Again :-/
2020 Credit Stuck in Fair Range
Credit Stuck in mid 600s
Salary $90K with side gig that pushes me to $100k
Paid Off Car Loan Early
Maxed Out 401k
2021 the year of nothing....
Briefly saw some scores reach 700 then drop down to 680s & 690s
Consistently asking for CLIs
Capital One credit line increases. Both cards 1000+ instead of $300 & $600
2022 Is this what good credit feels like?
No more secured cards
Approved for Capital One Venture 10,000 limit(couldve never thought possible)
Discover secure card graduated with CLI
Added younger siblings as authorized users to jumpstart their credit journey
Goals for 2022
Salary $200k( Base pay, bonus, stocks)
Credit Scores 720+
Help sibling with car purchase and college housing/expenses.
Save one year emergency fund
First Mortgage - I live in a very high cost/ in demand area so this is ambitious even with a super high salary
Nice road map
