conversation: User (Financingmylife): "So I have 6 open CC accounts, and getting really close to the point where I owe nothing on any of them. 4 are low APR, no rewards. 2 are rewards cars where one is great for travel (flights mainly) and one is good for everyday (groceries, gas). \n\nI plan on using the rewards cards and paying off every month, but what I'm looking to understand is what everyone does with their open, mostly unused accounts? What are some tips to stay up to date on their happenings? And, what's the facts on how often you have to use a CC account to keep it open?\n"
  Self: "I use Mint to keep track of my CC balances. It's easy to have one place to view all of my accounts at once, that way if there was a fraudulent charge, or some sort of service charge I wasn't aware of, I would see it right away and be able to dispute it.\n\nLike lilfunky1, I have all of my old credit cards in a drawer. Like he said, go ahead and make a purchase every now and then with the card just to keep the account active.\n\nJust make sure you don't close those accounts. Not only does having more available credit ($$) look good to future lenders, you want the "average age" of your accounts to grow. If you close old accounts, that will obviously change."
  rnienke (rnienke): "Related question:\n\nI have a retail card with Jared from purchasing an engagement ring, they offered me 12 months no interest so I took that and paid it off in 9.\n\nNow, I don't feel the need to buy anything else from there, but it is a large credit line that I don't want to lose. Seeing as I can *only* use it there, I just don't know what to do with it.\n\nI may *eventually* get more things there, but in all seriousness it will probably be a few years.\n\nIdeas?"
  Self: "That's a tough one. Honestly I wouldn't recommend buying jewelry or something you don't want just to keep the card open.\n\nCan you pay for any ring services (cleanings, touch ups, materials to clean it yourself at home, etc) with the card at Jared? If you do something like cleanings every 6 month for the warranty, maybe you could use the card then?"
  rnienke (rnienke): "Unfortunately I didn't plan that very well and have the lifetime service included on everything that I have bought there. It's paid for itself in just a couple years, so it was a good move, but I don't have any small charges there either.\n\nI may let this one close, but it is $8k of my overall credit limit."
  Self: "Definitely in kind of a rock and a hard place.\n\nI'm looking on the Jared website, they have stuff like $4 earrings. Could you order some $4 earrings, then just return them to the store? Or give them as a gift for someone's birthday, christmas, mother's day, etc? Instead of something you were originally going to buy that is. You don't want to start charging for things you don't want or need!\n\nI guess it sounds like a lot of hassle just to keep that account open. But like you said, it is a big one."
  BRUTALLEEHONEST (BRUTALLEEHONEST): "/golfclap"
  