Couldn't resist this FICO thread

[MemberSince99]

I saw one of them posted on that board something like "Why can't people STAY in the garden????" (where they belong in the poster's mind obviously), going on to ask why is it so hard for people to stay in the garden and NEVER APP FOR ANYTHING EVER.

These guys just don't seem to get the concept that without credit, you have no score. Maybe they REALLY believe that if you have no credit or inquiries whatsoever you will have an 800 score.

Personally I'd respond with why are you so worried about what other people do, jealous that they get approvals that you can't get maybe?

Those guys just crack me up with their garden nonsense.

And mind you I do "get" that you want to build a sold foundation and do it a piece at a time, but to be honest, if you are living for 2 to 5 years down the road, that may never come for us. We just don't know. I found it's better to live for today, plan for tomorrow and do your best but all we have for sure is today. And if I can get a nice limit card today that will grow with me, then I will go for that and I will live with the inquiry. I have a LOT of them already and still my scores are 760s. I'm planning to add 2 to 3 cards next year, and will only app for what I hope to be long term things, but if I see something I want, I'm not going to be saying "Oh gee I need to live in this garden because an inquiry is a bigger crime against humanity than the Holocaust". Just wanted to clarify, I get it, they are just extremist wackos about their "garden", in my view, and FAR FAR too worried or maybe jealous about what others do.

Do whatever is best for you, you know that WAY better than we will ever know it, so just do it, as long as you can live with it.

[Moneytalks]

Sooo...if they're in this "garden", what are those who don't care about a perfect score in??? (Desert perhaps?)

[djrez4]

Outside of the Credit Garden is the Credit Office Park, for sure.

You can see the reply I posted over there. I tried that gardening thing and decided it wasn't for me. I'd rather reap the rewards that banks are willing to offer me.

But, like I said in your previous thread making fun of the gardeners (which is getting old, by the way), it serves its purpose for some people just like Dave Ramsey's cash envelope system serves its purpose for others. People are wired differently and some need external motivation and easy-to-manage tools to accomplish goals like getting out of debt, repairing credit, and raising their score.

Plenty of folks who don't know any better throw applications out like confetti when they don't have the scores to support them. The gardeners are in the process of repairing their credit and understand that letting your accounts age without applying for new credit can raise your score.

If it works for them, who are you to say anything? Do you laugh at disabled folks, too?

[MemberSince99]

Outside of the Credit Garden is the Credit Office Park, for sure.

You can see the reply I posted over there. I tried that gardening thing and decided it wasn't for me. I'd rather reap the rewards that banks are willing to offer me.

But, like I said in your previous thread making fun of the gardeners (which is getting old, by the way), it serves its purpose for some people just like Dave Ramsey's cash envelope system serves its purpose for others. People are wired differently and some need external motivation and easy-to-manage tools to accomplish goals like getting out of debt, repairing credit, and raising their score.

Plenty of folks who don't know any better throw applications out like confetti when they don't have the scores to support them. The gardeners are in the process of repairing their credit and understand that letting your accounts age without applying for new credit can raise your score.

If it works for them, who are you to say anything? Do you laugh at disabled folks, too?

I only laugh if they're more mentally disabled than I am. That doesn't happen much, but when it does, I have to be ready to pounce.

Hey I don't care if they wanna live in that garden. I honestly have NO concern whatsoever how they manage their credit. What I was questioning is their almost fanatical in a religious sense devotion to the notion that EVERYONE must stay in the garden because that is what they believe is correct for all of us. Consider the question itself that was asked - why can't others stay in the garden or why is it so hard or something along those lines. I'm not preaching to you what is best for you in fact I say don't listen to fanatics, think for yourself and do what is best. If it's best for you not to apply, then don't. Likewise don't listen to some credit Talibanist telling you that you are a criminal if you apply for a credit card. You have to make that call and should do it based on the facts of the situation.

Now was that so hard? I didn't think so.

Again I will say - do whatever is the best for you. But all these guys who are obsessed with the "garden", they typically have a stack of cards and I would bet you money they didn't get them without applying. Enough said on that, except I like that here, unlike FICO, I haven't seen anyone fervently preaching about the evils of leaving the "garden" which is to me ironic as hell on a board such as this.

[djrez4]

EVERYONE who has a low credit score and wants to raise it probably SHOULD stay in the garden.

I think you completely missed the thrust of that thread over there. The question was why some people who want to stay in the garden can't seem to resist submitting applications, despite knowing it's bad for them. It's a legitimate question. The same could be asked about smokers or alcoholics.

Anyone over there who is advocating for the garden does so because they're trying to be a supportive member of the MyFICO community. I choose to opt out of that segment of that culture. Others embrace it. You can call it ridiculous behavior if you want, but if we're going to spend the day pointing out examples of ridiculous human behavior, no one is going to get anything done.

[MemberSince99]

I hear you man. I have LOTS of examples of my own.

I'd just like to see people think for themselves is all. I do, and I make plenty of mistakes along the way, but I wouldn't have it any other way as you learn more from your mistakes than your successes or at least I do anyway.

Me, my bads include closing some cards I regretted later. I can't say I regret closing any Capital One card, but some others like Chase and Discover, yeah regrets. I can't say I regret my apps though.

And I still plan to go for at LEAST a couple of cards next year. Maybe see what shakes out in terms of new cards and go from there.

[djrez4]

Also, you're a Cheesehead, which makes you automatically wrong. Not your fault, though.

[Snowman]

I agree with 99. The reason I posted in that thread was because I wanted to point out reasons. For some, it is very hard to resist, and for some it is easy. Personally, I just need to let my accounts age until May/June and then go for cards that I want, whatever the people at myfico say. 99, I still think you could have kept the Freedom card. It would have eventually grown with you anyways, but I know you were not happy a few months ago and I cant fault you. I don't like cheeseheads either...go 49ers!

[FutureBillionaire]

I've had this discussion from a good friend I go to church with. Ultimately, I see both sides. Debt to me is a snare unless I have the cash on hand to pay it off if I so desire. I think it make sense to use credit as a tool, and not as a second source of income. I feel like credit expands cash flow and makes your versatile.

[MemberSince99]

Yep I am from the land of Cheese. Guilty as charged there.

And Snowman yeah, I do regret closing that one. Chase is a good bank to be in good with. Of course the ultimate goal is to get the CSP but even on it's own Freedom is a very good card. Totally my bad on that one.

The other one I felt like I wish I'd kept was the FNBO Amex I had. It wasn't anything to write home about in terms of rewards, but they had good midwest (sort of) CSRs and it was a decent card. And from what I read if you call them about CLIs it is a soft according to some folks on FICO.
But then after I closed it, they managed to really alienate me by sending me an invitation to apply for a secured card with them. It didn't quite outright say it, but the message was "your credit is subpar but we'll give you this chance anyway". I mean come on, I'd just had their Amex card, it was always paid in full and on time before the due date and they send me THAT? It really did alienate me, and I felt a bit insulted, and they didn't even mention anything about being a Cheeshead.