I'm at a point in my life where I need to start taking my FICO score seriously. There are some key factors that lead to my situation. Some of which were my fault, some of which were not. Here's my story:
Starting at age 18, I started getting credit card offers. I would run them up and then fail to make the payments. I would sign up for certain service providers and let the bill go simply to sign up new with a new provider, usually cell phone providers. (Ironically, I'm making an amazing living doing technical support for Verizon Wireless now, where they are also paying for my dual major in Information Systems and Finance.) I can now say that I'm middle class for the first time in my life, which is a huge step up from where I came from.
I also spent a lot of that time being married to someone who was equally as irresponsible with their finances. I was also going to school in 2015 (separate from my current employer paid education). After my ex wife left unexpectedly after she had a mental breakdown due to depression stemming from infetility issues, I was left with nothing. I sunk everything I had toward fertility treatments for her, which only augmented my neglect for my financial responsibilities.
I spent a period of time being homeless after we separted. I moved from Ohio back home to Illinois where no one was able to take me in. Eventually, I made the choice to stop paying on my car note for the sake of being able to get an apartment that wasn't too far from the job that I had at the time.
During this time period of attempting to rebuild I established another car note, but then my cousin identified as me to the police when he was caught commiting some crimes (very long story).
I let my SECOND car note go at this time because I needed a lawyer that I quite frankly couldn't afford. Back to another period of homelessness, this time fortunately a friend took me in. Making 10 dollars an hour at the time and being stuck in a vicious cycle of life just coming at me had me at a near breaking point.
It was at this time, when I needed it the most, that I get the call from Corporate Verizon that I interviewed exceptionally well and they wanted to extend a job offer. I went from making 10 an hour to making what equates to 28 an hour in terms of salary.
This is when I needed a true fresh start. I was able to move away from my family, severin the ties that need to be severed (though cost of living is higher here). I hired a bankruptcy attorney. He made the debt from my defense attorney go away, and made all of the debt that I have accumulated go away other than my student loan debt (I'm on installment 4 out of 9 toward rehabbing that).
I am now engaged and have my first born son on the way. I pay all of my bills and rent on time. No one in my family is able to contact me. I won't allow it.
I have 5 credit cards after my discharge. (they send a lot of offers when they see that you are debt free).
I keep my utilization at around 22% and only carry a balance on three of my cards. I won't miss a payment, I refuse to.
I have the following credit cards
Credit One 2000 CL (this is the card that I pay my utility bills with and pay the balance every month roughly 450 balance every month)
Merrick Bank 600 CL. I ues this card to buy a soda in the vending machine at work every month, as they promise to double my limit to 600 with 5 consecutive on time payments.
Capital One Platinum 500 CL. I use this the same way that I use Merrick Bank, as I know Capital One tends to offer a credit limit increase to their customers after making 3 on time payments.
First Premier Bank CL 400 I recently paid this balance in full and don't carry a balance.
Reflex Master Card CL 500 Just opened and has an annual fee of $99.00 as the balance. Paying on Friday
Milestone Master Card CL 300 Also recently opened with an annual fee for the balance of $75.00. Paying on Friday
My question is, should I keep only Credit One, Capital One, and Merrick Bank open and do away with the other three? All of these cards are less than 6 months old and have been opened since I received my discharge. I only see value in these three cards but I'm worried about how closing the other three could impact my FICO scores.
At this time, my scores are as follows:
Experian 590
Equifax 558
Transunion 548
Any tips or feedback would be much appreciated 
