I'm in my mid 30's with a bad credit score that I'm trying to improve.

mrbiron

heiney9 wrote: »

One other thing I have been doing, is bank hopping. I have been moving a checking and savings around about every year to 18 months to take advantage of special cash offers. I just moved to a new bank and within 90 days they will give me $500 cash as a bonus for opening accounts and keeping a certain savings balance. After 90 days I'm free to move on. I pay everything electronically so other than setting up my direct deposit and bill pay, it's pretty painless, no fee's either.

H9

You have way to much time on your hands if this is your side hobby...

heiney9

It really doesn't take that long and it's free money ( minus my time, which amounts to about a typical lunch hour). If it was $50-100, I'd say not worth it. But $250-500, worth it to me.

And no I don't have a lot of time on my hands. Most accounts can be opened electronically as well.

quickr1

H9,
What bank is offering the 500 dollar deal? If you don't mind me asking.

BlueFox

I use my Amazon/Chase card all the time to get 'points'. I bought an $800 Herman-Miller chair with the points, and currently have over $500 in points to spend. Of course I pay the card off each month so the 'points' are free money.

heiney9

quickr1 wrote: »

H9,
What bank is offering the 500 dollar deal? If you don't mind me asking.

In this market BMO/Harris Bank. I think they are regional. BMO (Bank Montreal is international, but the Harris Bank franchise is regional) $200 to open a checking w/1 direct deposit over $500, stays open for 90 days. $300 open a Money Market Savings w/a $10,000 deposit, keep that balance or higher for 90 days.

It works for me, I know it might not be for everyone..........but I'll take $500 since I need a bank anyway. It used to be if you were a loyal customer you got "perks", but the financial landscape has changed a lot. Bank loyalty no longer has the impact it did say 10 years ago,

H9

P.s. I also use my Amazon/Chase credit card to pay for everyday expenses and then pay it off before interest is charged and get points to use on Amazon. Pretty good deal.

heiney9

These things add up.

I am always getting Visa gift cards or account credits for everything I buy. Bought new tires for the GTi - Discount Tire was giving $65 Visa gift cared to use the 6 months no interest on their CC. They also were running a promo for $75 Visa gift card if you spent a certain $$ amount on tires and then the manufacturer Continental was giving a $75 gift card to purchase certain tires. Just so happened the amount and the tires were exactly what I was looking for. I ended up with $215 in Visa gift cards for buying something I needed anyway.

Bought my TV from Dell, $250 Dell credit w/the purchase, 6 mos no interest preferred card also got me 10% of the purchase credited as well. I have $310 credit at Dell and I need a new computer.

I look for those kinds of deals that I know I can use. I don't just buy something to get the deal, but if it aligns with what I need, it works out really great.

H9

P.s. it only works if you pay off the promo rate, which I do in every case.

dromunds

I'm in my mid30's, I just started shaving. I used to change my blade every two weeks. I want to go to changing my blade every month. Can anybody give me a suggestion for a blade out there that can help me out? I live in my Dad's basement. He was helping me pay off my credit card. He keeps saying he's going to stop. I guess I better get some more credit cards.

quickr1

H9,
I was just curious because I live in Rockford too. I'm met up with daboyz a couple times and he told me you don't live too far from me.

mrbigbluelight

dromunds wrote: »

I'm in my mid30's, I just started shaving. I used to change my blade every two weeks. I want to go to changing my blade every month. Can anybody give me a suggestion for a blade out there that can help me out? I live in my Dad's basement. He was helping me pay off my credit card. He keeps saying he's going to stop. I guess I better get some more credit cards.

Well, sir, if I may suggest......just a second.....

(Hey, come here and hold my beer)

...okay, if I may suggest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhP71beH2-4

From the MBBL "It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time" Archives.

WastelandWand'r

Why improve yours? Do what I do. Cruise the neighborhood at night and steal CC apps out of the mail. Put a new return addy on it and shop to your hearts content. Don't forget to take advantage of the cash advances.
No real reason that other people's credit rating should be better than yours. Unfair to me it seems.
N

badchad

BlueFox wrote: »

I use my Amazon/Chase card all the time to get 'points'. I bought an $800 Herman-Miller chair with the points, and currently have over $500 in points to spend. Of course I pay the card off each month so the 'points' are free money.

^this^. I place every possible purchase I can on my credit card, and pay it off in full each month. I have never paid a cent in interest, and have (literally) made thousands off the reward points over the years. It has an added bonus of being able to document my purchases.

Joey_V

We use a chase cc that has points, we bank around $2,000 per year (that's 2% back).

I pay off the cc every month.

We use it to pay for flights or Disney stuff.

Thorton

badchad wrote: »

BlueFox wrote: »

I use my Amazon/Chase card all the time to get 'points'. I bought an $800 Herman-Miller chair with the points, and currently have over $500 in points to spend. Of course I pay the card off each month so the 'points' are free money.

^this^. I place every possible purchase I can on my credit card, and pay it off in full each month. I have never paid a cent in interest, and have (literally) made thousands off the reward points over the years. It has an added bonus of being able to document my purchases.

Same with me for the Amazon card. All my nieces and nephews birthday and Christmas presents are paid with the bonus points including most of my CD and BluRay purchases for the year.

oldmodman

Your credit score will improve as soon as you stop charging Hookers on your card.

dromunds

And eight-balls

dromunds

Come to think of it, that may be difficult.

Paradoxex

Joey_V wrote: »

We use a chase cc that has points, we bank around $2,000 per year (that's 2% back).

I pay off the cc every month.

We use it to pay for flights or Disney stuff.

So you can charge $100k to earn $2k a year. OP, take note for your next reincarnation when you too can become a level 101 chargemaster.

I think the first response was salient - taking financial advice from an audio forum is fraught.

BlueFox

LOL. Nothing like an accountant to keep us honest.

txcoastal1

2-Friggin' pages on a troller... ...LOL

Nightfall

He hasn't even been on the forum since Thursday.

BlueFox

These threads take on a life of their own. They morph into subjects many can relate to. Nothing wrong with that.

mrbigbluelight

Morph ? Or mutate ? Into a monster !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxRboW3iD7E

That was from the California Jam, 1974. That's me, way back on the right.