Personal Credit Thread

Postby **dodint** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 10:03 pm

I haven't seen this discussed here and I'm willing to bet there is some interest. I've always been a little fascinated about the somewhat cryptic way the 3 Bureaus calculate a credit score and what people do to try and exploit it.

That said, I just cancelled my credit monitoring service and applied security freezes to my reports. I just bought a house and won't be buying anything big for the next year (hopefully) so for $20 I sealed up my reports (Equifax didn't charge a fee, the other two suck nuts). I was a victim of the Anthem breach so I'm just going to lie low for a while and let it pass. My score is down a bit anyway after adding a mortgage this quarter. Oh, TransUnion is the worst. The address they have on file for me is the one from 2001, three states and several residences ago.

Postby **mac5155** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 10:34 pm

I to had anthem breach. Are you in their credit monitoring stuff they offered?

Postby **dodint** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 11:57 pm

I thought the monitoring would be redundant with the freezing. You?

Postby **Craig** » Thu Apr 16, 2015 3:36 pm

Its free, id just do it anyway.

Postby **tifosi77** » Thu Apr 16, 2015 5:34 pm

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action

The only place where you can get free copies of all three of your credit bureau reports, once a year. I've mentioned it before, but I use Credit Karma to monitor my credit, and it's been very useful.

Postby **dodint** » Thu Apr 16, 2015 6:04 pm

Yeah, I plan to leave my report frozen and just pull my report from the site mentioned above. Looking for less overhead (in time) right now, not more.

Postby **dodint** » Thu Dec 31, 2015 8:47 pm

Kind of credit related but I had a bit of an epiphany today.

For the last 2-3 years or so I've been using a bi-weekly spreadsheet to track spending. Basically a few days before payday I put what bills I want to pay during that pay period in, and then use the sheet to track other purchases. Essentially balancing my checking account in real time.

I set some big financial goals for myself for the next 18 months (buying my DeLorean being the centerpiece/payoff). I finally tied my goal setting into a monthly forward looking budget. Meaning that now I'm listing out all my bills for the month, estimating what I need to purchase, and then comparing that with my expected income. I know it's what you're *supposed* to do but for the first time in my adult life I'm actually doing it instead of just winging it.

It demystified a lot of things for me and now I have a solid, workable plan for achieving the goals I've set out for myself. It's actually a huge load off. I highly suggest anyone that 'doesn't know where there paycheck goes' give it a shot for a few months and buy themselves some peace of mind.

Postby **dodint** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 3:43 pm

Just requested a CLI and tripled the credit limit on my largest credit card. I figure the soft pull required to do so would be outweighed by the advantage of the higher limit. There isn't much I can do to improve my score except wait, but I was getting knocked for not demonstrating that I manage larger credit limits. My utilization is something like 14% at the moment.

I have two big purchases (home, classic car) coming this summer and want to position myself as best as possible, especially since mortgage rates are creeping up.

Postby **CBear3** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 3:47 pm

Can't wait to sell the house, use the proceeds (among other things) to payoff credit card debt, and be down to a mortgage, a car, and my wife's masters.

Postby **dodint** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 3:48 pm

That's what we did. Felt great.

Felt so good I'm seeking a new mortgage and auto loan.

Postby **skullman80** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 3:55 pm

Discover has upped my limit twice since I got their "IT" card like 6 months ago. I mainly use that and the Quicksilver capital one card for cashback stuff. I have one other CC that i opened when i first started to rebuild my crappy credit a while back that i keep open just so I don't take a hit on my length of overall history.

Postby **grunthy** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 3:56 pm

My wife and I have just house and auto loans, no student loans or credit card.

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 3:56 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzkBhfbwRkg

Postby **columbia** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 3:59 pm

Amazon to launch credit card for Prime members
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazon ... 1-71031318

Postby **dodint** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 4:02 pm

Someone sent me that earlier. They are really their own empire. I don't personally use store cards so I won't apply for one, but I am their target demo. I grocery shop on there.

Postby **scb147** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 4:04 pm

The Amazon card I have now gives me 5% off on all Amazon purchases...

Postby **skullman80** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 4:06 pm

Amazon to launch credit card for Prime members
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazon ... 1-71031318

Odd there is already an Amazon Credit card they offer. Seems kind of redundant unless they are giving some sort of crazy perks for Prime members on that CC.

Postby **CBear3** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 4:07 pm

Target Red Debit Card. Never leave home without it.

Postby **mac5155** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 4:08 pm

I don't think I'll use anything other than a Southwest card. I've gotten so many free flights off it.

Postby **Craig** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 4:19 pm

The Amazon card I have now gives me 5% off on all Amazon purchases...

Yep. Same.

YouTube · Postby **mikey** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 5:03 pm

Anyone have any experience with a "travel credit card"...meaning, for travelling outside the country...? Apparently you can save on currency conversions and stuff, but I'm not aware of such a thing...

Postby **tifosi77** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 5:05 pm

I wanted to use my Google Wallet card for that, kind of like as a debit card that I'd reload every night while we were in Spain. But, um, the card didn't work outside the US. I probably should've researched that a bit more.

Postby **NTP66** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 5:35 pm

I don't think I'll use anything other than a Southwest card. I've gotten so many free flights off it.

Just got approved for my 8th Citi AAdvantage card [in the last year] this morning, for this very purpose. Churning these (and the CitiBusiness AA and Barclaycard Aviator) has my AA account bloated, and that's just in the bonus miles. My wife thinks I'm nuts, but she doesn't complain about free tickets and free first class upgrades.

Postby **Craig** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 5:41 pm

Im currently in the process of eliminating credit cards. Trying to get down to just my amex and amazon visa. Rewards from groceries gasoline and amazon is really all i care about.

Southwest card is pointless as i dont fly them anymore and i dont use the discover card.

Postby **Kaiser** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 6:01 pm

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action

The only place where you can get free copies of all three of your credit bureau reports, once a year. I've mentioned it before, but I use Credit Karma to monitor my credit, and it's been very useful.

If i use these, will i be bombarded with spam?