Nicksterdemu

https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

Pick one of the three, then four months later pick one of the two left and four months after that pick the last one.

Keep a record and every four months you can check the next one in line for free.

Yet, if you both were applying for a loan, that required the release of a financial statement, then perhaps your money laden friend would receive the nod of approval.

Why are your old cards still at 400, 500 & 500? Why haven't you aggressively pursued higher limits every six months? It gives the appearance of you being satisfied at the lower rung of the ladder.

Slightly over four years ago I received my first CC @ $1200 limit. My utilization is 1-2% usually, yet every now and then I'll bump it a bit.

I have about the same score, same amount of cards, but by staying on top of requesting higher credit limits I'm running about three times your limit.

My last credit card was issued w/12K limit. Had I not asked for limit increases every six months to a year, on the older cards, I would not have been offered as high a limit on the new cards.

If you're happy w/low limits then I guess they're happy.

Good credit is some luck mixed w/hard work. I was almost fifty and had never had a CC in my life. I just renewed my first card after four years, have ten active accounts, dumped three, a credit score well over 750 and have my sights set on 800.

By the way I haven't been gainfully employed for the entire millennium. I constantly lie about an annual salary, yet I've paid every card on time. I've had to shuffle them around so everybody snags a piece of the action and the better ones are used more often.

I originally talked a store into approving a CC for me because I bought from them and they had a record of my purchases. I applied for a lot of cards w/no fees early on. I kept records and asked for credit limit increase every six months.

If I was denied I told them it would be a cold day in hell before I would use their card again and to mark that down in my file. I'd stop using the card and call them six months later and offer them the option to reconsider.

I'm a bum w/40K of credit, but I pay statements in full, early, I read articles, such as this one, in order to form a strategy and I stick to my game plan. I'm done w/shopping for new CCs for a while and have shifted my focus to Store cards where I shop.

Pay your statements when they come in, before they are due. It isn't worth waiting and risking being late. You're already playing on their dime, so appreciate the luxury by being responsible.

Suck it up, sacrifice and save a little bit. If you don't have a savings account all hope is lost. If you can't put some money into a savings account on a regular basis then you don't deserve credit.

Your not worthy! Get a clue. If you're living paycheck to paycheck out of only a checking account/debit card then why would you want credit?

To obtain credit you need to demonstrate proof of some financial discipline. When you receive your first 500, 1000 or 2000 dollar card spend 5-10% every month on neccessities and nothing more. Create the illusion that you don't need the card and keep the utilization low.

After your first card you'll become blitzed w/offers. Accept only those w/no fee and only use up to ten percent of the limit. You need a history of using only a little bit of what's available.

As you continue to demonstrate restraint you will be duly rewarded and you will reinforce the habit ingraining the admirable trait within your personality.
Good Luck.