0
karenmeal

Credit Cards...

Recommended Posts

So I pretty much have no credit history.. my roommates have always been the ones to have bills put in their names. The very few bills that have been in my name have always been paid on time. I'm trying to get a credit card now and am having a tough time finding anyone to approve me.

So.. anybody know of any cards that don't require the best credit? I figure that skydivers are probably pretty knowledgeable in the bad credit department.


-Please.. no lectures on how credit cards will ruin my life, I'm getting this one to put a security deposit for my new apartment on it.

"Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Register for a class at a community college, if you're not already a student somewhere.

Walk around campus at lunch time. There's tons of companies who give out credit cards to students with little or no credit history. Some companies do verify that you're actually a student, though, hence, the registering for a class.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I'm shocked you haven't gotten offers in the mail. Both my sons, one not even 18 years old, get offers all the time.

Maybe check with your bank.
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I am a student, and I've never seen credit card companies on our tiny campus.

I'm 21 and I have gotten 1 credit card offer in the mail, ever. I applied to that and was turned down.

"Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I was in the same boat a few months ago. 21 years old, no credit (not bad credit, just no credit). I ended up convincing my parents to cosign on a card with me. It's not like I'm going to rip them off; they know where I live. :P

Anyway...

What are you putting down as your job? I found out (after I got my card of course) that instead of putting down my part time job and income I should have put "Student." Apparently they give a lot more leeway to students.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Credit cards are what my Financial planner likes to call "Plastic Passports to Poverty." They're evil.

Do not buy anything you cannot pay off within 30-60 days...Past that and you're giving yourself a precedent to use them in an undisciplined manner...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Karen - you can get a credit card. just not one with a very high limit. I'd suspect your credit card would be in the 300-800 dollar credit limit range.

Use them and pay them off every month, and your credit limit will rise. Banks like to see lots of available and unused credit. Your credit is unused and unavailable.

I've got lots of used and available credit. It's been ruining me for a couple of years now.[:/]


My wife is hotter than your wife.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Drunk Monkey: don't worry, my drug dealer doesn't accept credit cards.

I've been putting on my applications employed and student... I shouldn't leave off the employed part, should I?

I'm trying to avoid the secured credit card route... How is it any different than a check card? (Besides building your credit.)

Lawrocket: I figured I could get that much too, but nobody will give me a chance!

"Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Credit cards are what my Financial planner likes to call "Plastic Passports to Poverty." They're evil.

Do not buy anything you cannot pay off within 30-60 days...Past that and you're giving yourself a precedent to use them in an undisciplined manner...



Quote

-Please.. no lectures on how credit cards will ruin my life, I'm getting this one to put a security deposit for my new apartment on it.



Do people actually read posts??:S hey alcoholicmonkey, i have cc's and i am not in poverty, i pay them off every month, just like karenmeal is planning on doing to build credit.

Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote


Do people actually read posts??:S hey alcoholicmonkey, i have cc's and i am not in poverty, i pay them off every month, just like karenmeal is planning on doing to build credit.



Oops... Didn't read the posts. *doh!* Mea Culpa, Mea Maxima Culpa. (sorry!) I just paid mine off...Learned a hard lesson there...:S

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

I'm trying to get a credit card now and am having a tough time finding anyone to approve me.

Quote



I'm shocked that you can't find anyone to give you a credit card. Credit card companies will give a line of credit to anyone with a pulse... no wait... I don't even think you need that. [:/]

Pink Mafia Sis #26

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Sort of like what I'm doing as well. I recently consolidated a couple cards into a 3rd card, canceled one of those cards, I'm almost paid off with the transfered debts (better intrest rates help that a LOT), but I'm keeping one of the other CCs with the high rate. Why? I'm putting about $30 a month on it, mostly in food, and paying it off every month. Why? Looks good for my credit report. Right now I have a lot of available credit, but not much of that is used. Well, mainly that's because if I actually DID use what I have available, I would only barely be able to make the payments and still continue to eat/live, which would end up absolutely ruining my credit. Not worth it.
--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

-Please.. no lectures on how credit cards will ruin my life, I'm getting this one to put a security deposit for my new apartment on it.



Do people actually read posts??:S



Ok. I think people can be resposible about not getting into debt too. But how does her above quote justify anything. You could replace a security deposit for my new apartment with anything and it would still read the same to me.

Please.. no lectures on how credit cards will ruin my life, I'm getting this one to put a Javelin Odessey, Velocity, and PD reserve on it.

Please.. no lectures on how credit cards will ruin my life, I'm getting this one to put my vacation to New Zealand on it.

Same diff...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
As told to me by my bank, you could try getting a secure card, and then use that to get your self a second line of credit such as a gas card, department store credit card. They say that builds a positive credit history.

I was in the same boat. No bad credit, but just no credit at all. And that seems to be working.
----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Please.. no lectures on how credit cards will ruin my life,



I'm sorry, you are correct skyblu, this is the only part i needed to see. what someone does is their business. Matter of fact i think i will use my credit card to go but my own damn new container and canopies, where is that skybytch anyway?:D:D

Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Ok. I think people can be resposible about not getting into debt too. But how does her above quote justify anything. You could replace a security deposit for my new apartment with anything and it would still read the same to me.

Please.. no lectures on how credit cards will ruin my life, I'm getting this one to put a Javelin Odessey, Velocity, and PD reserve on it.

Please.. no lectures on how credit cards will ruin my life, I'm getting this one to put my vacation to New Zealand on it.



Since you're basically calling me irresponsible, let me explain my offensive actions.

I'm going to get back about 600 from the apartment that I currently live in from the security deposit. However, I can't get that check before I move into the new place. My past security deposit is going to be more than enough to pay for the upcoming one... Therefore.. I should be able to pay off the amount that will be put onto a credit card within a month.

Please, when you don't even know me, do not infer that I am irresponsible, thats just being rude.

"Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
unfortunately department store credit cards tend to be the best way to build credit if the card offers don't fly into your mail box.

You could even get a Wal-Mart card or something a bit more useful than a Marshall Field's one. They do tend to have a higher interest rate, but they work.

Also, a friend of mine in the mortgage business gave me this hint. Paying off your credit 100% everymonth is not a great way to build credit. It'll show an average balance of $0.00 on your report - which is like you never use the card.

Lenders like to see that they might be able to get some money from you out of interest payments and that you are able to pay when a balance is built. Pay off at least 1/2 your card everyother month. Keep the balance low so you don't pay too much in interest, but have something to help build. Otherwise larger lenders (like mortgage or auto) will not see that you have the discipline to pay on something w/ a balance.

Getting credit sucks - getting out of debt sucks even more.

There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear.

PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Hmm... didn't know walmart had a credit card, thats a really good idea! If I were to be approved for any credit card, it would surely be the walmart one!

I'll go check that one out today..

Since I buy most of my clothes at the DZ.. don't think a department store card would help. :)

Getting credit is frustrating.. I've been turned down for apartments because of my lack of credit history. Everyone says don't get a credit card, but what about when I need a new (to me) car someday, and a house, or just a new apartment... I hear some employers are even doing credit checks before hiring people..

"Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Lenders like to see that they might be able to get some money from you out of interest payments and that you are able to pay when a balance is built.



Sure they want to see if you can pay. They want to see if you can pay the interest by rotating your card. They really like it when you rack up a big balance & then keep paying interest on that every month.

When credit card companies check your credit report to mail you offers, they're not looking for people who actually pay off their balance(s). How do you think they make a profit?

Credit card companies suck.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Everyone says don't get a credit card, but what about when I need a new (to me) car someday


pay for the car
Quote

and a house, or just a new apartment...


You can show that you have made full, no late payments at your prior residence for at least two years (maybe it's four years.. I can't recall) in addition to proof of income, etc. and there is no reason you can't get approved for a morgage based on that.
Quote

I hear some employers are even doing credit checks before hiring people..


They may not hire if they see bad credit... but I've never heard of anyone not getting hired because they didn't have a credit card.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Credit card companies suck


Pretty much!! In HS, I got a $500 student card from Citibank.... I used it as a security deposit on hotels, cars & books - really emergency items. Then in college, as a waitress w/ $9k a reay in reported earnings...
the same bank gave me a $10k Visa & a $5k MC, I thought I'd never use them... then I quit my job, got in a bit o trouble & had to use them to pay lawyers bills, an apartment, phone, insurance....

they suck bad!!! I'll prob get done paying them the same time I'm done w/ my long term student loan debt.

I'm not lecuting you, I got lectured & it didn't help. Only you can prevent credit problems :P

Good luck!!

Ps. Target was the first store card I got - they practically threw it in my hands.

There is no can't. Only lack of knowledge or fear. Only you can fix your fear.

PMS #227 (just like the TV show)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

0