2 years and 8 months after discharge...

[Conna]

I didn't even try to get any credit on anything until 6 months ago. I figured it wasn't even worth trying... then I thought it was time to start rebuilding.

Now I have a major department store card with a $1000 limit, an unsecured, no-fee credit card (Cap One) with a $500 limit at 25% and, for some insane reason, I just signed a lease on a 2012 vehicle worth 27K. My credit score is just under 700. No cosigners on anything.

It has not even been 3 years since discharge.

Is this even close to normal? Why is this going so well?

Not that Im complaining... just not what I expected.

//

[basketsbears]

Congrats! I don't know if this is "normal" or not, as our BK hasn't closed yet, but I hope so!

[drowning123]

It's normal it seems. I'm not even 2 years discharged, and I got a 2012 vehicle in March at 10%. I have a secured Cap One for $351, and they recently upped it to $451. My median score is close to 700, too.

[Amy26]

Yes, it is "normal" based on how aggressively you clean up your credit and try to obtain new credit lines. Even before I hit the 2 year mark my scores were over 700. I also now have over 100k in available credit and to be clear I have the credit that doesn't mean I have debt associated with it. :P Credit Unions have become my new best friend and I just refi'd my car loan (again) to 3.49%. It was at 21.9% a month after my discharge.

Once you control your credit and not let it control you... it becomes a viable tool (IE: learning how to make money on your credit with rewards). I just got a US Bank Cash+ rewards card and I'm super excited that it allows you to pick your rewards categories and it has a category for Utility Bills. So, just by running all my utility bills through this card (which I would have to pay every month regardless) I get 5% cash back.