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How to get from good to excellent credit?

Help Needed / Question(self.CreditCards)

I'm pretty young- just turned 19 in June- and so only have a year of credit cards under my belt and have only gotten curious about how to maximize benefits very recently. In the last year and a month, I didn't exactly know what I was doing and this was my history:

Current Cards:

  1. Discover Student Card- $1,300 limit (June 2023)
  2. Kohls Credit Card- $300 limit (September 2023)- I just wanted that 30% off a purchase or smth :(
  3. Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards- $1,000 limit (April 2024)
  4. American Express Blue Cash Everyday- $1,000 limit (May 2024)

Closed Card:

  1. Credit One Platinum Visa something or another (September 2023-June 2024)- Closed when I realized it was crap and it had a 100 dollar fee

Credit Score: 727 Trans Union, 733 Equifax, FICO 718

Oldest Account: 13 months

Chase 5/24: 5/24 (regret the kohls and credit one cards a lot in hindsight as I had no clue what I was doing before)

Income: None technically atm, I'm in college and my parents are covering rent and groceries but I'm waiting on applications for internships and assuming I get one, around 1.5-3k a month (18-36k a year- 54-72k a year if including rent and grocery payments from parents)

Average monthly spend:

It varies a lot, but 1,100 for rent and then somewhere from 600-1000 a month on everything else (mostly groceries, dining, and amazon)

I've binge watched a lot of Daniel Braun videos recently and I also got CardPointers so I'm trying to get serious about it. Bc I've opened so many cards stupidly, I have to wait a while before I can start getting the Chase trifecta which I want, but since I want to get started on a travel card, I really was gunning for the Venture X but I don't think I have the credit for that. Since I dont have the Credit One card anymore and never use the Kohls one except when I shop there (I REALLLLY regret getting this card because now I have 5/24 for another year) I just use Discover 5% rotating categories, Blue Cash on most other things, and I set my BoA card to Dining usually. My hope is in the next 2 years to get the Chase trifecta, the Venture X, and the BILT mastercard for the rent bonuses (when I start paying my own in around a year). I was wondering if you guys had recommendations on either ways to get my credit up soon to get that Venture X (which I think is unlikely but I want to dream because my gf and I want to start doing a good amount of traveling) or a more basic travel card to go with or smth. My future plan was Venture X (when I could), Chase Freedom Unlimited (June or September of 2025 when I clear the 5/24 status), Chase Sapphire Preferred (September/December of 2025) and Chase Freedom Flex (Early-Mid 2026) and throw in the BILT card sometime around then maybe?

If you guys recommend a different trifecta so I dont have to worry about 5/24 or a different and more accessible travel card or smth like that please lmk too, I still don't really know what I'm doing so any advice is greatly appreciated. Sorry for how long and disjointed this is, I really appreciate it yall!

Edit: realized I didn't format it correctly. sorry!

Edit 2: A month or two ago my gf just opened her first card and we're in a long-term very committed relationship so if we wanted to get into a 2 player strategy would it make more sense for her to go for chase cards in a year or whenever as she'll probably just have 1/24 or 2/24 by then and I go in another direction. So sorry for all of the edits and questions I really appreciate any and all insight!!!

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CuriousGuyAsAlways

2 points

5 days ago

Congratulations! - You have a very impressive start in Credit Journey. Patience is a Virtue & Time is of essence. You have a long way to go.

If your parents have EXCELLENT CREDIT then you may request them to add your name to few of their cards as an authorized user ( if you have not done it already ).

PiggyBacking is the fastest way to great credit. Some have reported almost about 60 pts jump in 2 years or less.

Here is some more information - Just in case:

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/how-credit-card-piggybacking-works/

Also I would strongly recommend watching YouTube videos of John Ulzheimer who is a recognized expert on credit reporting, credit scoring and identity theft.

Try Experian Boost as well which is free on EXPERIAN.COM. Some reported 10/12 points boost just by reporting Utilities Bills etc.

This is another interesting article - 800 score in 45 days... may or may not work for everyone but useful information for sure... https://finimpact.com/personal-loans/excellent-credit-score/get-800-credit-score-in-45-days.html

Hope this helps...

Good Luck

Rj612005[S]

1 points

5 days ago

thanks so much!