While Scenario 2 is a 'better' one I would recommend doing a few dollars (literally below 10) on the 1k and less than 1k on the 10k maybe 500 or so (for reporting purposes) while you can use the whole amount just be able to pay it off quickly or in BIG chunks over a couple months but to better report if those are your amounts and you are asking which is better less than 9 or so on 1k and apx. 500 or less on 10k
@cr101 wrote:
@Girlzilla88 wrote:While Scenario 2 is a 'better' one I would recommend doing a few dollars (literally below 10) on the 1k and less than 1k on the 10k
Why is that? I've been wondering---if I have a $0 balance when my statement cuts, does that month not get reported to the bureaus?
It's not "better" to have a balance on both cards - even if the balance on the $1K card is below $10.
- IF you only have two cards - this would cause you to be penalized for having 'too many cards with balances'.
- IF you have more than two cards, it is likely that having a tiny balance on the $1K and a $1K balance on the $10K wouldn't make much, if any, difference in scoring.
As for your original Q:
Scenario 2, with $0 on the $1K and $1K on the $10K, is the best scenario. Your $0 balance card will still be reported for that month. Your $1K balance card will be using 10% of it's limit. There should be no utilization penalty.
If you put $1k on a $1K card, it will be maxxed out and you will be penalized several points for having high individual card utilization eventhough your aggragate util will be low.
I'm just referring to Jumps in scores when I had one card reporting while my other cards showing 0 it didn't give me the 40+ point jumps I got when I did a different method ......It's how I raised my score from middle 500's to middle 700's in under a year.....But YMMV 
@Girlzilla88 wrote:I'm just referring to Jumps in scores when I had one card reporting while my other cards showing 0 it didn't give me the 40+ point jumps I got when I did a different method ......It's how I raised my score from middle 500's to middle 700's in under a year.....But YMMV
But utilization has no memory - so any score gains that you received, that have remained constant, are due to other factors in your profile -- such as account and/or derogatory aging.
AZEO is only meant to provide a one-time boost of 5-15 points -- those points are lost once you stop AZEO; and continuing AZEO month after month does not result in an accumulation of those point gains month after month - it simply maintains the original point gain of 5-15 points.
If you gained 40 points and those points have remained constant over time - regardless of util - it's because your overall profile improved, not because of your utilization management method. Any points gained or lost due to decreased or increased utilization may be reversed just as easily by increasing or decreasing utilization. Same with number of cards reporting a balance. You may lose points for having 4/5 cards reporting a balance and then the following month only allow 2/5 report a balance and regain those lost points.
@thornback wrote:
@Girlzilla88 wrote:I'm just referring to Jumps in scores when I had one card reporting while my other cards showing 0 it didn't give me the 40+ point jumps I got when I did a different method ......It's how I raised my score from middle 500's to middle 700's in under a year.....But YMMV
....AZEO is only meant to provide a one-time boost of 5-15 points -- those points are lost once you stop AZEO; and continuing AZEO month after month does not result in an accumulation of those point gains month after month - it simply maintains the original point gain of 5-15 points.
So, should I not bother with AZEO unless I have a credit review coming up and want a bit of a boost?
@cr101 wrote:
@thornback wrote:
@Girlzilla88 wrote:I'm just referring to Jumps in scores when I had one card reporting while my other cards showing 0 it didn't give me the 40+ point jumps I got when I did a different method ......It's how I raised my score from middle 500's to middle 700's in under a year.....But YMMV
....AZEO is only meant to provide a one-time boost of 5-15 points -- those points are lost once you stop AZEO; and continuing AZEO month after month does not result in an accumulation of those point gains month after month - it simply maintains the original point gain of 5-15 points.
So, should I not bother with AZEO unless I have a credit review coming up and want a bit of a boost?
Pretty much. You can try it for a month -- just to see what it does for your scores because the benefit is profile specific. If it gives you a boost of 5+ points -- then great, you now have a little trick up your sleeve to implement right before you get ready to app for something to improve your approval odds.
Otherwise, it's just a lot of micromanagement -- and, it keeps you from being able to take advantage the 30-day grace period before your payment due date. Just pay your statement balances in full each month, by the due date (unless, of course, you have a large balance that you've planned to pay over time).
So, AZEO is a great tool, but certainly not necessary month after month; however, keeping your overall utilization in check month after month should be a priority -- especially while you are still trying to establish a good track record with creditors. But don't worry to much about losing a few points here and there because your utilization increased on a single card or overall - because it's temporary and you can easily get those points back. Just don't max anything out and try to keep everything below 28.9%. The only time you may need to micro-manage util is if you have a card with a low limit and you use it alot one month -- you may want to pay it down a little, or completely, before it reports.
Think of it this way -- 'normal' people -- folks that do not spend time in credit forums -- do no such things, ever - yet they grow their scores just fine. They let every card report, sometimes high balances, sometimes low.. think about it. Members of this forum (including myself) are abnormal credit users.
