Trick to waive joining fee by fulfilling spend criteria

It might not be the easiest to use the credits this year. Will I lose the offer if I wait that long?

36 years old, always been irresponsible with credit cards. My score hovered between 575-615 for as long as I've had a credit score, at least up until today. Have multiple 120+ days late on my Capital One cards, which have all been charged off at this point. Two within the last 1.5 years.

Decided enough was enough, and applied for a Discover secured card 8 months ago with a $200 limit. Payed it off religiously.

Today, I decided to apply for some other cards. My scores, according to Experian, are: 617 EX; 644 EQ; 630 TU. Likely helps that I have basically zero debt, and expected income of $103K this year.

Today, I was approved for the Barclays Jet Blue ($4K limit) and Chase Sapphire Preferred ($5K limit).

I'm so happy I could cry. Never thought I would make it to this moment. It's just so validating and relieving. Proof that I can be responsible with my finances despite my past irresponsible decisions. I'm stoked!

That said - job's not finished. The path continues.

Current cards: (list cards, limits, opening date)

• Amazon Prime Visa $27,000 limit, Mar 2022

• Discover IT $5,000 limit, Oct 2019

FICO Score: 792

Oldest account age: 7 years, 2 months

Income: ~$100,000

Average monthly spend and categories:

• ~$1800 (not including rent)

• Utilities/Rent: $250/$1450

• groceries: $250

• Dining: $350

• gas: $200

• Entertainment: $350 (Bars, tickets to concerts, drinks at venues)

• other: $400 (Amazon, Health, Ubers, etc.)

Open to Business Cards: No

What's the purpose of your next card? Cashback on everyday purchases:

Groceries, dining, entertainment, gas

Do you have any cards you've been looking at? Amex Gold and Capital one savor

Are you OK with category spending or do you want a general spending card? Ok with category, just can't be a monthly rotating cashback card.

Some maybe relevant notes:

• I go to a lot of DJ shows where 75% of the time they'll play at a smaller venue/club so I'm unsure if they qualify for any entertainment cash backs.

• I don't travel much maybe once or twice a year

I am a 30 year old with a bad history of not managing my finances well in earlier years. I had a great income and would have been eligible for good point credit cards but never knew anything about points and building credit so ruined it instead. I am now currently back in school finishing my degree but not working. My husband is not from Canada so I can’t use our household income to be eligible for a good credit card but we spend almost $3000 a month and I think it’s a waste if I’m not using that to atleast get some points build for a vacation at some point until I can get a good credit card with better benefits. We travel atleast once a year from Scandinavia to Canada and that ends up being another $3500 at the very least in just flight costs that we put on debit cards instead of credit. I want to get a credit card that is the best or even 2 because with my credit score I believe I should be eligible for student credit cards atleast right now. My score is at 630 last I checked. I’ve been trying to be better these last few years.

Looking into credit cards as I am buying a house soon & am trying to consolidate my spending for house hold items but also get the most bang for my buck.

Main things I’m looking at are:

Points or cash back on groceries

Points or cash back on gas

Points or cash back on Streaming Services

Good customer service

Easy to navigate card benefits enrollment

If anyone has either of the cards mentioned above, which one should I choose & why?

I opened a IHG one rewards premier Business credit card less than 2 years ago (16 months ago to be exact) can I still open another one and get the bonus? I've heard that the 2 year wait rule restriction for SUBs didn't apply to the IHG business but not sure

• Current cards: (list cards, limits, opening date)
  • Discover IT Feb 2024 $8500
  • AMEX BCP Aug 2026 $12500, will downgrade to BCE
• FICO Score: previously ~770, now 738, from Experian
• Oldest account age: 2 years 8 months
• Chase 5/24 status: 1/24
• Income: $90k+ alone, $140k+ w/ partner
  • rent: $1245
  • dining $500
  • groceries: $400
  • gas: $100
  • total: ~$4000 avg. incl. travel
• Open to Business Cards: unlikely
• What's the purpose of your next card? I would like to focus on building credit (would like to purchase a home in 3+ years) and travel points. We travel a fair amount and this is one of our top spending priorities.
• Do you have any cards you've been looking at? CFF, CSP
• Are you OK with category spending or do you want a general spending card? category spending is okay

I am AU on partner's CFU Sept 2023 $9200 which covers dining @ 3%.

I am on track to complete the SUB for BCP and figure I should open a new card sooner rather than later to increase my credit history in the long run. Is this logical?

Current cards: (list cards, limits, opening date)
⁠• Bank of America platinum plus, $2,100, 2023.
• ⁠FICO Score: 712
• ⁠Oldest account age: 11 years 7 months
• ⁠Chase 5/24 status: 0/24
• ⁠Income: $65,000
• ⁠Average monthly spend and categories:
⁠• ⁠dining $250
⁠• ⁠groceries: $400
⁠• ⁠gas: $250
• ⁠Open to Business Cards: Sure
• ⁠What's the purpose of your next card? Building credit, Benefits/rewards
• ⁠Do you have any cards you've been looking at? No
• ⁠Are you OK with category spending or do you want a general spending card? Whatever makes the most sense.

I’m looking into credit cards to soon build my credit in a few months, since I would have at least $500 ready to begin my journey but I don’t know which to start on at 22 years old.

My goals is to build my credit score (currently at 680) and use my credit card as my main spender rather than my checking account (still have it by hand to Zelle/rent, etc) and use cash back. I currently bank with capital one as my main bank for everyday+my hys. Of course, I want to make sure to pay that said balance back before the due date in full+I’m getting the rhythm down for making sure my money goes to each account for specific things.

I’m leaning towards capital one quicksilver as my first card or discover it student chrome!

I’ve been wanting to get a 2% credit card to use for the long run for a while, I was pretty set on getting the SoFi 2% card but then I saw they’re charging some people a monthly fee and I don’t want to deal with that. Cutting to the chase I’m currently having a hard time deciding between the Citi Double Cash and the Wells Fargo Active Rewards. I trust the longevity, safety, and reliability of the Citi card a whole lot more than I trust Wells Fargo (mainly from that whole Wells Fargo fraud thing a while back), but the Wells Fargo card is visa and I don’t have a Visa card yet. So I guess I’m just asking if people think Wells Fargo will screw the card at any point in the future, or if there’s some better 2% card that I’m missing

CREDIT PROFILE

• Current cards:

• Discover it Student, $2,500 limit, opened October 2025 (has $37 Rewards Cash)

• Chase Freedom Unlimited, $2,200 limit, opened June 2026 (has 26k points)

• Authorized User Card (not sure when I was added or the limit)

• FICO Score 8: 748 (With only 1% utilization)

• Oldest credit card account age: 1 year 0 months

• Annual income: Student budget level

CATEGORIES

• OK with category-specific cards?: Yes.

• OK with rotating category cards?: Yes, currently have Discover it.

• Estimate average monthly spend: Mostly grocery, dining, and campus spending. All of non-category spending goes to Chase Freedom Unlimited.

PURPOSE & NEED

• What's the purpose of your next card?: Travel rewards / Study abroad prep.

• Do you have any cards you've been looking at?: Chase Sapphire Preferred (Pre-approved in portal as well as reserve) and Capital One Venture X.

BACKGROUND

I am currently a Sophomore in college looking to Study abroad in the Spring of my Junior year and I've been thinking of my strategy of the future card I should get for this and my overall credit card journey.

My plan was to grab the Chase Sapphire Preferred, but I'm split between it, the Venture X (If its even possible for me to get approved in the future), and the flood of cards on the market. Or if I should pivot in a completely direction than what I'm thinking of now. I am also weighing my current rewards cash (my Discover is now in Capital One) and points with its ability to transfer to a travel card to save on my flights abroad.

I am also struggling with using my Discover it Card enough as its categories often don't align with what I buy. So most of what I do is with Chase Freedom Unlimited now. Any suggestions?

Any and all help figuring out my credit card journey would be amazing. Thanks.

So I'm currently in the position where i want to expand my credit. I have my first credit card with my local credit union (EECU) they are awesome without a doubt. But I am traveling soon out of country and I only have a credit limit of $500 (USD). I would like to be able to spend more. I have had my credit for 1 year and 1 month along side I'm only 19 years old and in zero debt of any sort. Would love to hear feed back from others on if I should ask for my credit limit to be increased or, just get a new card in general with another bank!

Also for anyone wondering why I am going to be using a credit card out of country its because there are 0 currency fees from me being from the good states in the other country. On another note looking too increase my credit score from 700s range, sadly I haven't been able to escape the low to mid 700s. All advice and information I would greatly appreciate.

I unfroze my trans union credit score for US bank Connect card (required for CLI) and was told it would take 7 to 10 business days to receive a decision via mail! Because they operate so differently from other credit cards I was not sure if I could just freeze my credit back or if they needed it open to review still? Does anybody know?

U.S. Bank and BMW Financial Services launched a redesigned BMW, MINI, and BMW Motorrad Mastercard lineup on October 13, 2026, shifting focus heavily toward automotive rewards and dealership redemptions rather than general travel redemptions....

Prior to today, existing customers had the option to redeem reward points through 3rd party sites for travel... hotels + flights.... But now, that option is discontinued, spun as a way to "increase point value" when you use BMW channels.

"Under the new system, points can be worth twice as much when applied toward eligible dealership purchases and BMW Financial Services loan or lease payments."

Existing customers should maintain the option to redeem points for travel!!! Sooooo annoyed.

I redeemed cash back points on my chase credit card and the email came with the link to access the credit card but the website won't work. It gives me a 504 domain error. I called my credit card company and they wanna send me another link but I don't think it will work. Why does the egift.activationspot website not work. work and what even is this website? The lady on the phone was directed by her team to send me another link but I never even got another email! It was chase customer support,

I have 8 cards. Income would be around $85,000.

Planning on applying for Freedom Flex by the end of the week, as I’m intrigued by the elevated SUB.
Kicking myself for missing the Discover It SUB this summer, as well as WF Active Cash SUB suddenly dropping from $200 to $100 … so I don’t want to miss this one too.

I want to get the BoFA CCR too, but anticipating a higher sub on Rakuten around Thanksgiving so I’m waiting for that.

Currently 2/24
Cap 1 Savor 11/2024 which should drop off from my reports at the end of November (unless it drops on the exact 2 year anniversary?)
Citi Strata 01/2026

So I might still be 2/24 or even 3/24 after opening the Flex.

I may be getting ahead of myself here because I don’t have any preapproved offers/messages in the Chase app for the Flex, but I have a checking account with them and the other 2 Freedoms so I think I should be fine …

I don’t have any BOFA credit cards, but recently opened a Checking Account this past July. So I do have a relationship with them, just not sure of acceptance stats if I open the Flex within a month before applying for the CCR.

Hello all,

I am preapproved for both the Capital One Savor and the Samsung Galaxy credit card. I was looking for something to get 3% back on groceries. I was initially just going to do the Savor but the 3% on anywhere that does tap to pay seems enticing. Does anyone have any experience with these cards or any recommendations?

Edit: I also have the Venture X.

Hey folks,

I'm rebuilding credit, I got approved for the Samsung CC at $800 it said my card will arrive in the mail with my credit limit. Will it be over 800? Or is that what it will be?

Hi I need some help with deciding what credit card to get. I’m mainly getting this credit card to hopefully relief some financial stress on just the flight portion of the cost. Here are some details:

1. I’m planning on going to Japan in April of 2027

2. I’m a frequent Japan go-er and I go every year with my family who has paid for my trip all this time but i’m planning on going by myself which is why i’m thinking of how I can fund this trip

3. Since I’m only interested in going to Japan even in the near to far future, I’m really only looking for a card that’s compatible with airlines/flights that can convert 1:1 with those airlines (Alaskan/Delta/JAL etc)

4. Preferred to not pay any annual fees since I don’t travel that often enough (maybe twice a year?) to really get my moneys worth from it (open to changing my mind about this depending on the benefits of the card that might be worth it if i’m using it in Japan and the points add up fast enough to fund another trip)

5. I am mainly looking at cards for their sign up bonus to use towards my next trip. For reference, i’m trying to fly from HNL to anywhere in Japan.

I got 2 of the vanilla prepaid giftcards as a birthday gift, im trying to use them online but it just wont let me. On the website it says i have to add a postal code to the card, but theres literally no tab or option to add that, my name, or billing address. I tried calling the number on the back, but the automated machine says its the wrong info. Idk what to do

My wife's Bank of America card has 0 interest. She's had it for over 10 years and doesn't remember how the process went when she got it. I'm doing research now and finding that 0 interest cards are essentially non existent now? This is disheartening news indeed to me. I've never had one and im trying to change that.

• * Current credit cards you are the primary account holder of: Chase Freedom $22,800 limit as of 10/2026
• * FICO Scores with source (see note on FICO score sources below): Experian 764
• * Oldest credit card account age with you as primary name on the account: 6 years
• * Number of personal credit cards approved for in the past 6 months: 0
• * Number of personal credit cards approved for in the past 12 months: 0
• * Number of personal credit cards approved for in the past 24 months: 0
• * Annual income $: $100k

CATEGORIES

• * OK with category-specific cards?: yes
• * OK with rotating category cards?: yes
• * Estimate average monthly spend in the categories below. Only include what you can pay by credit card.
  • * Dining $: 600
  • * Groceries $: $400-$500
  • * Travel $: Flights from NYC to Paris every other month (LDR) ~$1200-$1500
  • * Do you plan on using this card abroad for a significant length of time (study abroad, digital nomad, expat, extended travel)?: traveling back and forth NYC to Paris for the next two years.
  • * Any other categories (examples: phone/internet, insurance) or stores (example: Amazon) with significant, regular credit card spend (the more you specify, the better): Amazon for regular household things, about $300-$400 per month
  • * Any other significant, regular credit card spend you didn't include above?: no
  • * Can you pay rent by credit card? If yes, list rent amount and if there's a fee for paying by credit card: no

MEMBERSHIPS & SUBSCRIPTIONS (delete lines that don't apply)

• * Current member of Amazon Prime?: yes
• * Current Verizon postpaid customer?: no
• * Current member of Costco or Sam's Club? no
• * Currently paying $13.99/month or more for Disney Bundle (Disney+ / Hulu / EPSN+) or other Hulu services? yes
• * Current member of Chase, US Bank or any other big bank?: Chase
• * Are you or your spouse active US military?: no
• * Are you open to Business Cards?: no

PURPOSE

• * What's the purpose of your next card (choose ONE)?: travel rewards
  • * If you answered "first credit card", are you an authorized user on any other cards?
  • * If you answered "balance transfer", please give details as to why:
  • * If you answered "travel rewards", do you have a preferred airline and/or hotel chain you regularly use? Delta
• * Do you have any cards you've been looking at? Amex platinum and chase sapphire

I'm in a long distance relationship and will be traveling from NYC to Paris at least every other month for the next two years. I'm wondering which travel credit card would benefit me the most here? Right now I only have Chase Freedom, and I use that for cash back/points but not really for travel. Should I go Amex? Chase Sapphire? Not totally sure, I'm new to all of this and trying to do some research, though it's overwhelming. Thank you in advance!

Im sure this has been asked many times but I thought it’d still be worth a post. I applied today.
I’m 27, no late payments or derogatory marks. $180,000 salary. 787 on Experian, 815 on FICO.
1- Discover It $240 balance- $27,000 limit. Age: 10
years.

2- BoA Bankamericard $260 balance- $22,000 limit. Age 3 months. (Recently paid down from $4,600 a week ago)

3- 1 paid off auto loan

4- $25,000 auto loan

5- $260,000 mortgage

Thank you for any input!