Just read the terms of the "hard luck" credit cards carefully. Cards like Capital One will give you a $200.00 credit increase and charge you $100.00 for it, ending up in higher payments. Also, check the annual fees, start up charges etc. Store credit is great if it is something you need anyway. I am having financial trouble (lein on my house) so but Sam's Club gave me $600.00 credit on my membership card. Came out of the blue, the cashier said I qualified and had to ask her again what she said!!! So yes it can be done, but credit card companies want to see that after bad credit you are now able to make payments. I think you made the right decision, to wait because now you can step back and start planning to have all the items you wanted in the beginning to be in your shop, maybe even ALL the FOs you had to trim down.