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May 2016 Check-In Thread

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Kenny
Moderator Emeritus

May 2016 Check-In Thread

 

I know you are all hard at work with your credit goals.  Have you progressed as far as you hoped?  Were there any unforseen expenses that cropped up and may have thrown you off schedule?

 

As a reminder, participation in these monthly checkins is optional, but encouraged. The goal is to help keep you on track, so feel free to post your progress updates here. This is a no-judge zone; feel free to say what's keeping you up at night or give yourself a kudo for having it all together.

 

Did you hit any potholes or speedbumps? Achieve some milestones, either small or mighty? Change your goals or add new ones?

 

Let us know how you're doing! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Message 1 of 13
12 REPLIES 12
dallas06
Established Member

Re: May 2016 Check-In Thread

Well I've been in the garden since July 2016 and I begin recently getting preapproval credit card apps in the mail. I got one from American Express and I decided to apply. Well the wheel begin to spin and I got up from the computer nervous about the answer! I came back and behold I was approved for the card I chose!!!!!!! $2000 limit My credit scores are EQ 626 EXP 671 and TRAN 688. Last July I had 5 inquiries at one time which is why I went into the Garden. Well back to the garden till August I'm buying a house.
Buying a house
Message 2 of 13
Revelate
Moderator Emeritus

Re: May 2016 Check-In Thread

Pulled my mortgage mid-score above 720 somehow, so hitting the refinance button into a 5/1 ARM since need to reduce my payment with my expenses over the next two years and having to pick up a flop house somewhere down near campus to boot.

 

Beyond that just trying to keep things together Smiley Happy.  May either do a HELOC or a set of student loans in the late summer / early fall but other than that planning to sit on my hands.

 

Revising my Beacon 5 goal score back down to 700, didn't get anything for getting to an AAOA of 3 years, so 715 was clearly way way too aggressive of an estimate.  Beacon 5 still hates me, c'est la guerre.

 




        
Message 3 of 13
tricie17
Frequent Contributor

Re: May 2016 Check-In Thread

Well here I am in May 2016.  These months are hitting us at a fast pace.  I am still trying to get confirmed for my ch13 (the mortgage trust is fighting me tooth and nail). All and all I am holding on to my faith and doing good to boot.  Of course I am rebuilding while in wait thru being an AU on an account and finally using credit wisely.  Sometimes I think about switching to a ch7 (only thoughts).  If I could just refinance or get my arrears put to the back of my note.  Will update again next month hopefully with uplifting news.

Starting Score: 544
Current Score: 661
Goal Score: 700


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Message 4 of 13
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: May 2016 Check-In Thread

I had another good month in April, raising all my scores again. My FICO 8 scores went from:

EQ : 684 -> 709 (+25)

TU: 664 -> 670 (+6) 

EX: 676 -> 691 (+15)

 

In the next couple days I should have my Alliant secured loan report at 9%, and get one of my Capital One credit steps CLI.  Additionally, I got another 1K CLI on my furniture's credit card which helps bring my utilization down.  At this point my entire outstanding CC balance of 1.7K is on my furniture card, with a promotional APR of 0% so I'm in no hurry to pay that down/off.  After everything reports mid-month I'll be looking at a single card utilization of 34% and overall utilization of probably 15%.

 

I think I'm looking pretty good to potentially break 725 on EQ/EX during May.  If I hit that I'll have smashed my original target of 675 by the end of the year.  I'll have also have met my revised target of 725 on 2/3 CRAs and will have to set a new goal.  Once again I'm excited to see where this goes and I'm excited to be on top and in control of my finances. 

 

My current plan for May:

Keep gardening

Don't poke my last collection (only on TU)

Plan and budget June/July travel 

Request another CLI on furniture card at the end of the month

Message 5 of 13
Oorah
New Contributor

Re: May 2016 Check-In Thread

I decided to come out of the garden in April and buy a car, since mine was a 2008, and was approved easily.

Bank received an Equifax score of 713, and a Transunion score of 721, so both were bumps up.

New car payment is actually $63 less than the old one, so I will just keep paying the same amount to shorten the payoff date.

Three of my bank cards bumped my credit line automatically, which was a nice surprise. 

One store card lowered my credit limit because I haven't used the card in a year, so I may charge something small to see if it goes back up to the previous limit.

I have several other cards that I have not used while in the garden, so I may call to see if they are in danger of being cancelled or limits will be lowered.

 

Still waiting to hear if there is any activity on the foreclosure that was filed.  My attorney said not to be too concerned since I have several previous dismissed with prejudice court rulings, but it is still worrysome.  I am not aware that my attorney has received a reply to her answer to the banks attorney and the court regarding their filing, so they may not even go forward with the case.  We believe this was just a new attorney with the firm recycling old cases.  Nothing has hit my credit report regarding the new foreclosure filing.

 

Back to just paying down what I have, and no anticipation for new debt.

 


Starting Score: 593
Current Score: 554,622,669
Goal Score: 750


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Message 6 of 13
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: May 2016 Check-In Thread

Well, I've stopped app'ing yet again!  My score has jumped to 775.  Still trying to get up there over 800.  Should be on my way once my last card ages to 3 months.  But I have come a long way since joining and hope one day to reach 840-850.  

Message 7 of 13
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: May 2016 Check-In Thread

Things are going good here.  Just PC'd my CapOne platnium to a regular QuickSilver card.  Just waiting now for the scores to grow.  All baddies are paid.  Still have the collection to Midland Showing, but the dang thing is paid.  All charge offs are paid.  I really should get on trying to GW the lates and things.

Message 8 of 13
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: May 2016 Check-In Thread

After I ask for my cli from Lowe's, I'm checking in with handcuffs!  Probably cement around my feet!  Letting some cc's go too.  I think my list is 99.9% complete and cannot leave until the 2 yrs is up.  (CSP or bust)  Woman Very Happy

Message 9 of 13
Kenny
Moderator Emeritus

Re: May 2016 Check-In Thread


@Anonymous wrote:

After I ask for my cli from Lowe's, I'm checking in with handcuffs!  Probably cement around my feet!  Letting some cc's go too.  I think my list is 99.9% complete and cannot leave until the 2 yrs is up.  (CSP or bust)  Woman Very Happy


CLI with Lowe's is a SP so you're totally fine for garden status. Smiley Wink 

Message 10 of 13
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