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Examining your credit score is a good way to stay informed about your financial well-being.
This article will explain all there is to know about having a good credit score, including what it is and why it’s so important.
What Is A Credit Score?
A credit score is a three-digit number that credit bureaus give you to rate your credit risk. When companies consider lending to you, they use your credit score to determine the interest rate you pay and the terms attached to that arrangement.
You can find your credit score by going to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion and accessing your report.
What Is A Good Credit Score?
A good credit score is one that allows you to borrow the money you need for your home, car and other purchases made on your credit card. Once you receive your credit report, you’ll see scores ranging from 300 to 850. Here are the credit score ranges for a consumer:
- Excellent Credit: 850-800
- Very Good Credit: 799-750
- Good Credit: 749-700
- Fair Credit: 699-650
- Bad Credit: 649-600
- Poor Credit: 599-300
What Can You Buy With A Good Credit Score?
With a good credit score (anything above 700) you can typically get special rates that are affordable. With elite credit (800_) you get exempt from credit checks and things of that nature.
But if you have a credit score above 700, you don’t have to worry about what type of financing you’ll receive. Here are some things you’ll have no problem borrowing on with a 600-700 credit score:
- Vehicle — standard interest rate
- Automobile –standard interest rate
- Credit Card — standard rate
What To Do If You Have Bad Credit
One of the most disheartening things about borrowing is to find out that you don’t qualify for a certain purchase or terms that aren’t sky-high. The reason will usually be because your credit is bad.
If you find that your credit is poor, don’t be discouraged. There are ways to raise your credit. It will take time, but the process is pretty straightforward.
Here’s how to fix your credit the legal way.
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The average rent in New Orleans, Louisiana is $1,339, according to a RentCafe report. But price is not the only thing you should consider when you begin shopping for a place to rent.
In this article, I’m going to go over what you need to know to rent in New Orleans.
Here’s How To Rent An Apartment In New Orleans
If you want to rent an apartment in New Orleans and don’t know where to start, here are the steps:
First thing you need to do before you rent an apartment in New Orleans is find one that fits your needs. To do that, you can use a number of online services to help find a place:
If you don’t already know the specific areas of town like Uptown, the Garden District or Elysian Fields. Join NextDoor or Facebook Groups to get a feel for the areas that you want to live in.
Midtown New Orleans apartments have gone up 6% over the past year, according to the report mentioned above. The average square footage for a place? 893 feet.
Once you make a list of New Orleans apartments you want to check out from one of the services above, you can begin to make appointments to visit.
You’ll want to pay special attention to the amenities that each apartment offers. You may put a big emphasis on on-site laundry facilities, a pool, a courtyard, lounge and other things.
1. Get Your Finances Together
Before you begin to schedule visits, you need to have your financials in order. Landlords don’t just let you move in, you’ll need a credit check. The idea behind this is that you have to show income stability.
Get a free credit report at annualcreditreport.com, the only authorized website for free credit reports from the three major credit bureaus Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
When you get the credit reports, go over them with a finetooth comb to make sure they’re accurate.
If you see a discrepancy on your credit report, here’s how to dispute it:
Not only will you need to have your first and last month’s rent in your account (as we’ll get into), but you’ll need to have more money on hand for some incidentals.
2. Visit The Apartment
When you visit the apartment, make sure you the age of the building and style is to your liking. Feel the walls so that you can gauge whether they’re thin and well built.
Look out for loud neighbors and other things that may affect your ability to have a good night’s rest.
If you like what you see, make an offer.
3. Negotiate Your Rent
You don’t have to accept what the landlord offers. See if you can negotiate. If you sign a two-year lease rather than one year, you may be able to get a better deal. You won’t know what’s capable until you ask.
If the leasing agent can’t make any concessions, see if you can get the hookup on parking or a one-month discount in lieu of a move-in special.
4. Sign The Lease Contract
When you sign the lease, you may need to have a list of references. These should be people you’ve contacted ahead of time who will have only good things to say about you.
Their input will be what decides your worthiness.
Before you sign your lease, you need to know what to expect as far as charges and fees. Here are some of the charges you may be asked to pay:
- Rental application fee
- Security deposit
- Last month’s rent
- Move-in fee or finders fee
Depending on where you rent your place and your specific circumstances, you may also be asked to pay a pet fee or even parking space fee.
Once you pay what you owe, your landlord or leasing agent will hand over the keys to your new apartment. Remember to keep it down and always be considerate of your neighbors.
What if you have bad credit?
How To Rent An Apartment With Bad Credit
The first thing you need to do is look for apartments that don’t do credit checks on potential tenants.
You’re also going to want to entice the landlord by offering to pay more upfront or even every month.
So, to recap, if you have bad credit, the way to rent an apartment is:
- Find apartments with no credit checks
- Offer to pay more upfront
- Negotiate for other amenities you want
You might also want to offer to fix small things so that you build up a good relationship with the landlord. This can be very valuable when it’s time to renew your lease, if you choose to do so.
Final Word
Renting an apartment takes some time and effort on your part, but it can be done. Look at the bright side: Once you get a comfortable and safe place, you will never regret it.
New Orleans is one of those cities that you can get lost in once you take the time to explore it. As the former capital of Louisiana, New Orleans is one of the most eclectic and eccentric cities in the world.
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If you’re looking to get funded for an idea, project or company, one of the easiest ways to do that is to get money from the government.
The U.S. government awards tens of millions of dollars a year to Americans who apply and get accepted for loan and grant programs. Could you be the next awardee? Read on to find out how it works.
How To Get Government Money
In this article, we’re going to tell you how to get money from the government via loans and grants.
Here Are the Best Grant Sites For Free Money
How Do You Borrow Money From The Government?
The way to get money from the government is to apply at the official federal website GovLoans.gov. This is a great resource that not only allows you to apply for loans but provides free information on how to fill out application forms and see monetary opportunities.
GovLoans.gov has several categories that you can find loans in, including:
- Agriculture
- Anti-Violence Efforts
- Anti-Hunger Efforts
- Business
- Disaster Relief
- Education Efforts
- Housing
- Military Assistance and more.
Instead of a loan, it’s best to see if you can get a grant, although you may only qualify for a free loan.
What Is A Free Loan?
A free loan is an arrangement that gives you money that you don’t have to pay back. The government may call it different things, primarily a grant.
With a free loan, once you’re approved you won’t have to worry about paying interest or even an origination fee like most loans. That’s why it’s called a free loan.
What Is The Easiest Government Loan To Get?
The easiest loan to get is a student loan. Of the two most common students loans, the most popular is the Direct Loan, which is easy to qualify.
The loans typically give you a 10-year grace period before you begin to pay for the loan, if you can’t get it forgiven by the government.
Final Word
Although the information is free to research, getting approved for.a government grant or loan is difficult in most cases. It takes a lot of time to complete the applications and you have to fit stringent requirements, but you can do it.
If you have a good proposal you can get free money from the government.
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In this time that we’re living in, paper money is not as popular as it used to be. And that’s alright as long as you have a digital wallet.
You might have heard of the term “digital wallet,” and be unclear about what we’re talking about. In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know about a digital wallet, including what are some great options.
What Is A Digital Wallet?
A digital wallet is an electronic platform that allows you to send, receive and spend money digitally rather than in person. That means you don’t have to visit a physical store to purchase an item.
Having a digital wallet also means that you don’t have to be in the physical presence of someone to pay them or receive payment from them.
I personally use Apple Pay as my go-to Digital Wallet. I even pay one of my utility bills with Apple Pay because it’s convenient.
Perhaps you’ve heard of G Pay (Google Pay) or Apple Pay. Those are some of the more popular digital wallets, but there are more out there. All of the ones we will discuss offer secure transactions that are protected by high-tech encryption.
Here Are Some Of The Best Digital Wallet Options
If you’re interested in moving beyond some of the most well-known digital wallets, there are both payment apps and digital wallets that offer a lot more robust capabilities.
We’ll list some popular digital wallets, first then go into some payment apps.
Digital Wallets
- Amazon Pay
- G Pay (Google Pay)
- Samsung Pay
Is Amazon Pay Good To Use?
Amazon Pay is a viable option for customers who frequently buy from retailers and resellers who specialize in e-commerce. With Amazon Pay, you can easily access a payment portal that allows you to checkout in a matter of seconds.
How Safe Is G Pay?
Backed by Google, G Pay is a secure payment method that uses several layers of security infrastructures to help keep your account safe. Google Support says this about G Pay’s safety: “When you pay in stores, Google Pay doesn’t share your actual card number, so your information stays secure.”
Samsung Pay
Of all the digital wallets we’ve discussed Samsung Pay is the only one that doesn’t facilitate a way for you to pay your friends. Although that may change, the lack of this feature is a major lapse as of this writing.
With Samsung Pay, you don’t have to worry about paying any fees, but you will have to keep your phone up to date for maximum compatibility.
Payment Apps
When it comes to payment apps, some other digital wallet alternatives are:
Final Thoughts
Accessing your money has never been as easy as it is right now. All you need is a bank account and a smartphone and you can make any transaction just about anywhere. Why is this the case? Because of the digital wallet.
If you need a digital wallet that allows you to take care of all your money needs, I’d suggest Apple Pay, which is what I used. I give it the edge because of Apple Pay, which can be used to collect or pay money in your iMessages app.
For more money-saving content, stay with Nolafi.com, a New Orleans-based news and entertainment channel.
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Looking at the latest housing outlook, it’s easy to think buying a home is unattainable, but that’s not true at all.
Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is the first step to homeownership in America. The process is quick and relatively painless — if done right.
This article will tell you how to get pre-approved for a mortgage so that when it’s time to buy a home, you’re all set.
Here’s How To Get Pre-Approved For A Mortgage
You might be saying “why should I get pre-approved anyway?” Well, that’s the only way a lender can approve you for a mortgage.
Keep reading to see how the process will be done and what you can do to be in the best position possible for getting a home.
Why You Need To Get Pre-Approved For A Mortgage
Shopping for a home without being pre-qualified for a mortgage is pretty much pointless. That’s why you need to get the process started by getting pre-approved.
Lenders will only take you serious if you are pre-approved, which is why that is the first question they will typically ask before they spend time with you.
The way the process works is by going through a mortgage pre-qualification and mortgage pre-approval.
What Is A Mortgage Pre-Qualification?
A mortgage pre-qualification is a quick process that involves the lender asking you a series of questions to gauge your readiness for purchasing a home.
Lenders may typically inquire of your finances, your assets and any debts you have. After that, it’s time to pull your credit.
What Is A Mortgage Pre-Approval?
With a mortgage pre-approval, the lender pulls your credit to see how in debt you are as well as how much money you can borrow toward the purchase of a home.
You’ll need a credit score above 600 to get the best rates.
Here are some things you can do to make sure you’re ready to get pre-approved without issues.
Contrary to popular belief, lender inquiries for pre-approved have no bearing on your credit score, so you won’t have to worry about your creditworthiness dropping.
One thing you do want to do beforehand is make sure your credit is A-OK.
Check Your Credit Report
.You can check your report from each of the three credit bureaus online at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Your credit history is one of the main things that lenders consider when it comes to determining whether you get pre-approved.
What Documents Do You Need?
When it’s time to get pre-approved, the lender will typically ask for a summary of your finances. This can be determined by collecting the following documents.
- Personal ID
- W-2 forms
- Pay stub.
- Tax returns
- Bank statements
How Long Does Pre-Approval Take?
Although it sounds like a long process, pre-approval can be done relatively quickly. The key is to have all your ducks — documents — in a row.
The good news is that you can actually get pre-qualified online with the major banks. All you have to do is fill out an online application with your respective financial institution.
Final Word
Getting pre-approved for a mortgage can be an exciting process, but you need to do it right so that there aren’t any problems. AS a reminder, keep all your documents together so that you have everything you need.
After it’s all said and done, you should receive your pre-approval letter in about a week and a half. After that, you can begin your home search with confidence.
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New Orleans, one of the oldest and most inviting cities in America, is a great place to live. If you’re looking to rent an apartment, you should know some things about the costs associated with that.
No matter where you live in the city, who doesn’t want an affordable apartment?
How Much Does The Average Apartment Cost In New Orleans?
The average apartment rent in New Orleans is $1,336, according to RentCafe. The average size apartment in the Crescent City is about 900 square feet, the site says.
Of course, different neighborhoods cost more or less depending on their locations. Let’s look at the neighborhoods around the city based on average rents. This data is from RentCafe.
Average Rent in New Orleans, LA By Neighborhood
Neighborhood Average Rent Iberville $2,266 Bywater $2,173 Florida $2,173 Holy Cross $2,173 Lower Ninth Ward $2,173 Marigny $2,173 St. Claude $2,173 New Orleans Central Business District $2,077 French Quarter $1,986 Treme – Lafitte $1,928 How To Afford A Bigger Apartment
If you’re trying to rent an apartment or home, you know that a lot of hard work goes into it, but you most especially need money.
If you’re thinking about renting an apartment, get all the rent totals from the prospective landlords and use the calculator above to tally the total. To save money on rent, consider bargaining by using trade-offs such as utilities or parking space fees.
New Orleans has one of the best real estate markets in the country, with affordable housing in every quadrant of the city. Large backyards, manicured parcels and strong neighborhoods with ample dining amenities make it one of the top places for transplants.
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If you’re missing some money, there’s a good chance the state you reside in has it and is just sitting on it.
Unclaimed money that the state has for you is one of the largest areas that people forget to check when they are in need. The fact is that state treasuries have millions of dollars in unclaimed money and people are unaware.
What Types Of Unclaimed Money Could Be Out There?
If you’re curious about what types of unclaimed money could be out there, here are some categories you need to know about.
- Missing Tax Refunds
- Old Checks From Defunct Businesses
- Old Accounts From Shuttered Banks And Other Financial Entities
- Retirement Accounts From Former Employers
How Do I Find Out If I Have Unclaimed Money In Louisiana?
An unclaimed money search is something that you have to figure out. There’s no central federal government agency that keeps track of the unclaimed money it has for you or funds that you may be owed.
There are however some websites that allow you to check to see if you have unclaimed money.
The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) facilitates Unclaimed.org, a multistate database for unclaimed money. Here’s the link for Louisiana.
- Start your search for unclaimed money with your state’s unclaimed property office.
- Use the missingmoney.com is another site that has a multistate database that lets you do a free search for your name for bank accounts, safe deposit box contents, uncashed checks, insurance policies, CDs, trust funds, utility deposits, stocks and bonds, wages and escrow accounts in Georgia or any state you’ve moved from. (You do have to register).
Another way to get money is by means of an unclaimed check. Let’s talk about that.
What Is An Unclaimed Check?
An unclaimed check can take many forms, but it may most likely be an uncashed payroll check. Think back to all the jobs you formerly had. They may have some unclaimed money for you!
Make sure you check your old employers as well as your maiden name to see if any residual checks are there for you.
Check Your Old Pensions
If you’ve worked a job in the past, you may have some unclaimed money out there in the form of a pension.
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. keeps a database on all unclaimed pensions across the United States.
Go to the PBGC’s website to see if you have an old pension with money in it.
Beware Of Scams
The most important thing about unclaimed money is that crooks are trying to get ahold of it just like you.
There are a lot of sites out there that will ask you to pay a fee to do an unclaimed money search, but that’s a racket. Don’t pay anyone to search for your money. Do it at the sites above FOR FREE.
Final Words
Who among us couldn’t use some money right now? There’s a good chance the state of Louisiana may have some money for you. Yes, we’re talking about unclaimed money.
Getting your unclaimed money is a great way to generate much-needed capital in these days and times. The key is that you have to be persistent and leave no rock unturned, as they say.
Don’t let the red tape of the system intimidate you from getting what’s rightfully yours: Your hard-earned money.
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You already know that rent prices are skyrocketed across the nation. In New Orleans, Louisiana, rent prices are no different.
Louisiana has some affordable cities for renters, particularly in the northern and central parts of the state.
Are Rents Going Down In New Orleans?
New Orleans rents are rising but not as much as other metropolitan areas. June 2022 figures from Realtor.com show that New Orleans rents rose just 6.6% over the previous year, which is among the lowest increases in the nation.
These New Orleans Apartments Are Affordable
To determine the apartments with the cheapest rent in New Orleans, we studied the average rental rates for studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms.
Willowbrook Apartments
7001 Bundy Rd, New Orleans, LA 70127
Willowbrook Apartments has on-site laundry facilities as well as all kitchen appliances including a dishwasher, all electric and energy efficient central heat and air, ceiling fans, and large private porches.
Beds Baths Average SF Monthly Rent 1 Bed 1 Bath 658 SF $700 2 Beds 2 Baths 958 SF $820 Leasing Office: (504) 777-3172
Pontchartrain Oaks Apartments
9696 Hayne Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70127
Located on Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans East, Pontchartrain Oaks offers one and two bedroom apartments.
Beds Baths Average SF Monthly Rent 1 Bed 1 Bath 560 SF $685 2 Beds 1 Bath 1,120 SF $950 Leasing Office: (504) 576-9613
Forest Isle Apartments
5000 Woodland Dr, New Orleans, LA 70131
Forest Isle is a gated apartment community located on the Westbank of New Orleans. It has a swimming pool, work out in our 24 hour fitness center, or stroll with your dog on the levee overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. Forest Isle offers studio, one and two bedroom apartment homes.
Beds Baths Average SF Monthly Rent Studio 1 Bath 536 SF $690 1 Bed 1 Bath 636 SF Not Available 1 Bed 1½ Baths 825 SF Not Available 2 Beds 1 Bath 995 SF Not Available 2 Beds 1½ Baths 1,233 SF Not Available 2 Beds 2½ Baths 1,350 SF $1,350 Leasing Office: (504) 285-5298
Parc Fontaine
3101 Rue Parc Fontaine, New Orleans, LA 70131
Leasing Office: (504) 688-7385
Located on the West Bank, Parc Fontaine Apartments is a gated community that offers one, two and three-bedroom floorplans.
Beds Baths Average SF Monthly Rent 1 Bed 1 Bath 750 SF $610 2 Beds 1 Bath 1,000 SF Not Available 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,300 SF Not Available 3 Beds 2 Baths 1,683 SF $1,200 Laguna Creek Apartments
6881 Parc Brittany Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70126
Laguna Creek offers one- and two-bedroom apartments in Eastern New Orleans.
Beds Baths Average SF Monthly Rent 1 Bed 1 Bath 617 SF $685 2 Beds 1 Bath 866 SF $910 Leasing Office: (844) 838-2986
Cypress Run Apartments
6101 Tullis Dr, New Orleans, LA 70131
Cypress Run Apartments offers one- and two-bedroom apartments with various features and amenities including, convenient on-site parking options and smoke-free options.
Beds Baths Average SF Monthly Rent 1 Bed 1 Bath 731 SF $700 2 Beds 1 Bath 920 SF Not Available 2 Beds 2 Baths 1,020 SF $1,050 Leasing Office: (504) 392-8962
Final Word
While New Orleans is not one of the most expensive rental markets, (how you doing, New York?), the prices are such that you still need to do what you can to save if you’re not buying a home. Look for ways to reduce expenses and save more of the money you make.
Tired of renting? Here’s how to save for a home.
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The Louisiana unemployment rate has dropped to one of the lowest levels it’s ever been.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Louisiana has a 4.1% unemployment rate. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has dropped for 14 straight months, according to the agency.
The labor force participation rate, which counts the people ages 16 – 64 who are working or actively looking for work, has increased steadily as well as is at nearly 60%, according to the latest figures.
Why Is The Job Market So Good Right Now?
The rosy employment outlook can be attributed to several factors, including the post-COVID-19 pandemic rebound, in which businesses were helped by an influx of cash by the U.S. government.
There are more than 12 million jobs available in the United States right now, which means that workers can pick and choose where they want to work.
This has put pressure on employers to sweetened the pot, so to speak, to lure and retain workers. The emergence of full-time or hybrid remote positions is a direct result of this.
How To Find A Job Right Now
If you’re a jobseeker, there are certain ways you can increase your chances to find work.
- Network: Use your phone contacts or social media followers to reach out to people you may know or those who work at your prospective employers.
- Jobs Websites: Apply on career sites like Indeed.com, Monster.com and LinkedIn.
- Job Fairs: Companies and organizations are hosting job fairs again. Check with your local Department of Labor to see if they have a calendar of events with job fairs listed for your area.
Final Word
It’s one of the best times to be job hunting right now, so you need to take advantage. If you’re looking for employment, here’s how to find a job.
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If you have a Visa gift card, you should know that it’s practically like cash money. That’s because you can buy products and services with it when you redeem your card.
In this article, we’ll explain how you can use your Visa gift card to buy stuff on the web.
Visa gift cards come with some great advantages that are hard to find in other brands. Here are some of its outstanding qualities:
- Accepted everywhere.
- Great customer service.
- Easy to use and make transactions.
Can I Use Visa Gift Cards Online?
You can use visa gift cards online for any purchases that you need to make. All you have to do is to enter the card number along with the expiration date.
Visa gift cards are one of the most universally accepted cards you can find.
Register Your Card
One of the first steps you’ll need to do in order to use your card online is to register it. Sometimes, a card will list instructions to do this.
You’ll typically need to enter your name and billing address.
Activate The Card
If your card hasn’t been used before, there’s a good chance that it still needs to be activated. To do this, you’ll need to either call the number on the back or front of the card, or you may be able to go online and do this.
Once your card is registered, you can use it. In many cases, you may also be able to activate your card at point of purchase, aka, the cash register.
You might also be prompted to enter the card’s three-digit code (CVV) located on the back.
Use Your Card Online
To use your card online, just enter some personal information, including the CVV. After following these simple steps, that’s it!
Final Word
Hopefully, you’ll be able to use your card shortly after you get it. Visa is one of the most respected brands in all of finance, so it shouldn’t be a problems.
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