I've been gone for quite some time, but while searching for info today (on Discover More cards vs Discover It cards), I ended up here. And I'm glad I did!
My absence wasn't intentional or due to a lack of interest, I simply got really ill and everything came to a screeching halt. I'm now back to being online all day, every day, and am happy to be here. My illness cost me dearly, and I mean that in every way you can imagine, not the least of which was financially--I had over $100,000 in out-of-pocket expenses. Ouch!
Thank goodness I had my credit and finances in good order prior to that happening. I can't imagine what it would've been like to be unprepared for a catastrophe like that.
I'm very pleased to say that my FICO score is at its highest ever right now, in the high 820s. That makes me feel really good about the hard work I put in over the years to handling my finances responsibly, you know?
Hope you're all well, happy, and doing great in this crazy pandemic!
My absence wasn't intentional or due to a lack of interest, I simply got really ill and everything came to a screeching halt. I'm now back to being online all day, every day, and am happy to be here. My illness cost me dearly, and I mean that in every way you can imagine, not the least of which was financially--I had over $100,000 in out-of-pocket expenses. Ouch!
Thank goodness I had my credit and finances in good order prior to that happening. I can't imagine what it would've been like to be unprepared for a catastrophe like that.
I'm very pleased to say that my FICO score is at its highest ever right now, in the high 820s. That makes me feel really good about the hard work I put in over the years to handling my finances responsibly, you know?
Hope you're all well, happy, and doing great in this crazy pandemic!
Im getting there. Still watching the scores rise. I went in the garden for about 6 months came out and headed back. Working on paying things off and tackling the collections. Getting there though. Hope everyone is enjoying the spring weather!!!
SoCalGardener stay well now! You will be around to enjoy the benefits of MF
@Anonymous wrote:I am new to this challenge and starting right here and right now. I am excited with potential and possibilities. I am looking to build a house in the near future and purchase my first luxury vehicle!
As you are working your way into the credit world take a look at some of the posting in the MF Forum for items of interest. May even pick up on a dark horse. Seems every now and then a special card comes along
@Anonymous wrote:
Looking for a few posters to liven up the springy month of April! We remember that "April showers bring May flowers".
What is your outlook for this new month? Tell us here.
In tending my garden 🪴, we here in SoCal are always grateful for whatever APR showers 🌧🌦 we can get. I realized I'd achieved actually two of goals, had only expressed them in my siggie but hadn't chime in here in the FICO Fitness 💪🏼 Challenge updates thread.
I joined her EOM FEB and cited my sort of arbitrary CS improvement goals for the then next few months and year. But I say they were arbitrary because I really didn't know what was feasible to accomplish with good behavior in a few months through to the end of the year.
I've achieved both hitting 670 ✅ by MAY and 675 ✅ by JUN in APR with Experian. I want that 675 to be across the board. TU is slouching centimeter by centimeter to 670. I suspect with the increment of time and good PIF's still carrying a small balance or two will put me over 670 it not 675 early on in MAY.
I additionally set a goal if 700. I think that's actually feasible this summer and hitting maybe 710, 715 this year.
For the most part, 750 this year may be out of reach. But it's worth the stretching towards it!
It was what felt like a long month, but yet I cannot believe we are almost through April.
So far I am meeting the schedule I have set up for myself to knock out my smaller balances by the end of the year. I'm actually one month ahead.
I haven't paid off the current cc I'm working on, but I am scheduled to pay it off on the 30th. One month earlier, then planned. Knocking my overall utilization down to 78.1% from 81% back in March.
However, currently we are throwing more money into savings than towards are debt to help pay for some things this summer, as our dog needed to be seen in an emergency and took about half our fund that we were using for this summer needed travel and transport. We're waiting on the pet insurance to see if we're getting anything back from there. The hope is yes. Still little steps at a time and we didn't need to use credit for the dogs emergency and currently we are on par not to have to use credit for this summer either. Win Win.
Starting Score: 633
Still hanging in there. Paying off CC's-payed off one this month, close to paying off another. Saving money and paying bills on time.
Tricie17
If I can give you some encouragement. I was in the same place, collections and poor credit score. It took a little time, focusing on the goal of being debt free...the process can be frustrating while on the journey. I would suggest a credit builder CC or a small loan to help increase your score. I had to stay away from some threads/posts also just for my own mental health. After I started seeing the progress, I could venture out and see what other people were doing to build credit and get out of debt. Do what's best for you but stay on the journey, despite the challenges you face!