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New Orleans, Louisiana is the perfect city in indulge in when it comes to cool things to to see and do for a cheap date. The city’s rich history only adds to the adventures you can experience.
What Can You Do For A Cheap Date In New Orleans?
Let’s look at some of the best cheap date ideas you can do in New Orleans.
Rendezvous At The Library
You’d be surprised how romantic it could be to lose yourself among the thousands of books inside your local library. Why not pick a day and time and get together to read the best of Hemingway, Alice Walker and other great authors?
Choose a branch of the New Orleans Public Library System.
Check Out a Sports Game
Photo by Jep Gambardella: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-woman-in-orange-blouse-looking-at-her-date-5083581/ The Saints and Pelicans are two of the hottest tickets in town. If you can’t get inside the game, don’t sweat it. Go to a sports bar instead. It will be much cheaper!
Here are some great sports bars in New Orleans.
Take A Swamp Tour
When you come to Nola, there are few things as bayou-authentic as a swamp tour. You’ll enjoy the time outdoors, get a real taste of the bayou and even get to see some alligators.
Explore Your Local Farmer’s Market
Another cheap and fun time can be had at your local farmer’s market. Just think of the delicious foods you can try as you ripen your relationship aisle after aisle with deep, insightful conversation.
Here are the best farmer’s markets in New Orleans.
Do A Game Night
What’s better than Monopoly or a good game of Spades at the house? The conversation will be great and you can’t beat the price.
Game night can also be a great time to try some made-from-scratch recipes you’ve been starving to make.
Go On A Picnic
New Orleans has some really beautiful parks. Take advantage of the scenery by finding a cute spot in the shade and bringing some food stuffs for a modest picnic.
Go For Some Beignets
Beignets are one of the calling cards of New Orleans cuisine. The sweet treat paired with some coffee is a great way to get to know someone.
Here are the best places in New Orleans for some good beignets.
Final Word
Who doesn’t enjoy a nice time on a budget? If you’re thinking about going on a date in New Orleans, it’s even better when it’s affordable!
As you can see, going out on the town doesn’t have to break the bank. There are so many things to get into once you decide to save money on your activities.
Looking for something to do in the city? What To See And Do In New Orleans
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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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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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A recent report lists New Orleans neighbor Baton Rouge as one of the cities with the cheapest rents in the United States.
The report from Rent.com looked at the average rental rates for every large city in America, including those with populations over 50,000 and ample rental inventory.
Baton Rouge comes in No. 3 on the list, with rents averaging between $586 for a one-bedroom apartment to $1,088 for a three-bedroom.
Apartments with common layouts — studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms — are included in the list.
Cities With The Cheapest Rents In America
10. Des Moines, Iowa
- Population: 214,237
- Studio Rent: $904
- 1-BR Rent: $1,221
- 2-BR Rent: $1,393
9. Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Population: 214,237
- Studio Rent: $904
- 1-BR Rent: $1,221
- 2-BR Rent: $1,393
8. (Tie) Winston Salem, North Carolina
- Population: 247,945
- Studio Rent: $1,026
- 1-BR Rent: $1,123
- 2-BR Rent: $1,373
8. (Tie) Louisville, Kentucky
- Population: 617,638
- Studio Rent: $1,011
- 1-BR Rent: $1,179
- 2-BR Rent: $1,324
7. (Tie) Memphis, Tennessee
- Population: 651,073
- Studio Rent: $1,016
- 1-BR Rent: $1,138
- 2-BR Rent: $1,201
6. Indianapolis, Indiana
- Population: 876,384
- Studio Rent: $1,063
- 1-BR Rent: $1,072
- 2-BR Rent: $1,298
4. (Tie) San Antonio, Texas
- Population: 1,547,253
- Studio Rent: $750
- 1-BR Rent: $1,078
- 2-BR Rent: $1,304
4. (Tie) Omaha, Nebraska
- Population: 478,192
- Studio Rent: $827
- 1-BR Rent: $983
- 2-BR Rent: $1,343
3. Baton Rouge
- Population: 220,236
- Studio Rent: $586
- 1-BR Rent: $1,056
- 2-BR Rent: $1,088
2. Fargo, North Dakota
- Population: 124,662
- Studio Rent: $626
- 1-BR Rent: $826
- 2-BR Rent: $936
1. Grand Forks, North Dakota
- Population: 55,839
- Studio Rent: $676
- 1-BR Rent: $800
- 2-BR Rent: $890
Final Word
Finding cheap rent is a job unto itself, but it can be done. Strangely enough, one major factor keeping rents high is the U.S. housing market, which continues to put stress on Americans.
While New Orleans is not one of the most expensive rental markets, but down I-10 it’s a different story. Here are some cheap apartments in Baton Rouge.
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We all have those friends with the nice vehicle that we love to ride in so much. They are usually intent on keeping premium gas in their tanks.
The reasoning goes something like this: “My car runs better with premium fuel.” But is that true?
Should You Fill Your Tank With Premium Gas?
The truth is that it may be OK to fill your vehicle with premium gas, but the best way to know is to check the owner’s manual. There it will tell you the type of gas the manufacturer recommends.
If your car manual specifically says that it needs premium fuel, then filling your vehicle up with anything less could damage the engine and, in some cases, void your vehicle warranty.
To understand deeper, let’s talk a little about what premium gas is and what its ingredients are.
What Is Premium Gas?
Premium gas is the highest-octane level for retail-quality fuel. The octane rating for premium gas is generally between 91 and 94.
The more octane in your fuel, the more ignition power your vehicle will have.
What Octane Is Premium Gas?
Premium gas consists of 91 to 94 octane, the highest for retail-quality gasoliine. Regular contains the lowest octane (87) and Midgrade has an octane level about 89 or 90.
What Happens If You Mix Premium And Regular Gas?
If you mix premium and regular fuel, what you will have effectively done is lower the octane into a mid-grade-level fuel. Many gas stations do this anyway.
If you mix two different octanes, most cars will operate just fine. Keep this in mind though: Using regular fuel in a premium vehicle will most definitely reduce the car’s efficiency.
Final Word
If your car’s owner’s manual says to put premium fuel in the tank only, that’s what you do. On the other hand, it’s perfectly alright to put premium fuel in a standard vehicle.
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Gas prices have dipped a bit after increasing over the last month in Louisiana and across the nation. In New Orleans, you can find some good gas prices if you know where to look.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the cheapest gas prices you’ll currently find in the New Orleans area.
How Much Is A Gallon Of Gas In New Orleans, Louisiana Right Now?
Here in New Orleans, gas prices are averaging around $3 and 53 cents a gallon right now. according to data from Gas Buddy. The lowest we’ve seen is $3.45 a gallon in the Gramercy area as well as around Belle Chasse.
Could gas prices go up further? Yes. That’s why now is the time to fuel up at the tank.
If you have a vehicle, especially a huge gas guzzler, you should go to the gas station and fuel up. You’re going to save a lot of money.
Map: Where Is Cheap Gas Near You?
The cheapest gas I’ve seen is at these New Orleans gas stations:
Gas Station Location Price Per Gallon Costco 3900 Dublin St. New Orleans, La. $3.45 Sam's Club 3900 Airline Dr. New Orleans, La. $3.45 Sam's Club 1527 Manhattan Blvd, Harvey, La. $3.50 Walmart 2500 Archbishop Hannan Blvd
Meraux, LA$3.55 Murphy 8001 W Judge Perez Dr
Chalmette, LA$3.57 Speed Racer 8020 Downman Rd
New Orleans, LA$3.59 Marathon 101 Bayou Rd
Poydras, LA$3.59 Sam's Club 455 31st St
Kenner, LA$3.59 RaceTrac 8130 W Judge Perez Dr
Chalmette, LA$3.59 To save time, you can use Google to find cheap gas. Visit this link to find cheap gas near you.
3 Ways To Save Money On Gas
If you’re wondering what it takes to save money on gas, here are three suggestions you can put to good use.
Use a Gas App
There are several apps on Android and in the Apple Store. Here are the best apps to use:
Pay With Cash
You might not know it, but it’s cheaper to buy gasoline when you pay with cash. When you use a credit card, you will be hit with a credit surcharge.
Many gas station operators tack on a fee to process your credit card, which is why the fuel costs will be higher. To get a gas station’s advertised price, pay for gas with cash money!
Join A Rewards Program
Another say to save on gas money is to join the rewards program of a gas station near you. Some of the top gas station reward programs include BP, RaceTrac and Shell, which gives you points you can redeem for things like food and gas.
Last Words
Some people are convinced that they have to spend more money on premium fuel because their car runs better on it, but that’s not the case for most vehicles!
How can you find out for sure? Pull out the owner’s manual. If it says that premium gasoline is recommended, then by all means please use that.
The truth is that cheap gas may work find for your vehicle. The type of gas you use will affect your engine’s performance and fuel economy, so always follow what’s written in your car’s manual.
Interested in other ways to save or make money? Check out our Money Section:
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If you’re a small business owner in Louisiana, you know how tough it has been to keep afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. The good news is that help is out there. You just have to apply for it.
Selly Foundation
The Selley Foundation (Selley) is a donor-advised fund of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. Selley Trustees review grant requests in the areas of education, arts, and in certain cases the environment.
The Doris and Peter Hansen Technical Assistance Fund
The Doris and Peter Hansen Technical Assistance Fund for Arts Organizations gives monetary support to New Orleans organizations sponsoring cultural activities in the fields of classical music, theater, and fine arts. Apply here.
Facebook Small Grants Program
Facebook is another company offering big money to businesses. This time, the social media giant has pledged $40 million in grants. How it works is that Facebook will give $4,000 grants ($2500 cash, $1500 in optional ads credits) to 10,000 qualifying small businesses to keep them afloat.
Interested in the Facebook Small Grants Program? Apply here.
GoFundMe Small Business Relief Fund
GoFundMe has partnered with smaller stakeholders to offer the Small Business Relief Fund to those who apply. The grant gives those who are selected $500. Apply here.
Fearless Strivers Grant Contest
The Fearless Strivers Grant Contest is open only to black women who meet the eligibility requirements. You can get $10,000 if you are accepted.
Apply for the Fearless Strivers Grant Contest here.
Halstead Grant
The Halstead Grant is an annual award for emerging silver jewelry artists. Applicants submit answers to 15 business questions in addition to their design portfolios. The grand prize is a $7,500 cash grant plus other benefits.
The postmark deadline is August 1, 2022. Apply for a Halstead Grant here.
Visa • IFundWomen Grant
Visa is partnering with IFundWomen to offer grants to Black women-owned small businesses. The program is providing 10 grants of $10,000 each as well as one year of IFundWomen Annual Coaching Membership.
To qualify for the grant, you must:
- Be a Black woman
- Have a business up and running for at least two years
- Have a minimum annual revenue of at least $24,000
Apply for the Visa + IFundWomen Grant Here.
Hidden Star Minority Grant
Hidden Star is offering $3,500 grants for minority businesses. If you’re interested, apply for the Hidden Star grant.
Small Business Administration Restaurant Revitalization Fund
The Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) provides funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses stay open. Food businesses may be eligible to get funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location.
Recipients don’t have to repay the grant if the money is used for eligible expenses by March 11, 2023.
Apply for the SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund
Final Word
It’s not easy being a business owner in New Orleans or any city. Do you know of any other grant opportunities out there? Let us know in the comments.
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If you’re planning to buy a house, you’re going to need some money You don’t need the whole amount, but you do need a down payment.
To come up with what you need, you need to devise a plan to save money. You can save a bit if you plan to buy a foreclosure, but otherwise, it’s going to be a full-price home.
In this article, we will tell you some ways that you can save for a home.
Here Are 5 Ways To Save Up For A House This Year
Homeownership is an achievement that comes with the American Dream. The problem is that relatively few people ever realize it. But you certainly can. Here are the steps:
1. Set A Realistic Goal
The first thing you need to do is set a realistic goal for the type of home you want to afford. If you think a $900,000 mansion is within your means, then go for it. But for many people, that’s not realistic.
You’ll only get the home that you can afford to pay for it. As for the dream homes, please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to.
2. Create A Budget
Once you’ve set a goal, it’s time to create a budget that will allow you to save up for your down payment. The way to do that is to reduce expenses.
You’ll have to look at your monthly expenses and see if you can cut things like subscriptions and gym memberships.
As you know, you’ll traditionally need 20% down payment to buy a home, but this is not always the case. Many lenders an take down payments much lower than that.
3. Get A Government Loan
The way to afford the home you want is to get a government lender to give you the money. No offense, Bank of America or Regions, but government loans are usually way more generous.
There are some great lenders that let borrowers put down way less than 20%. Here are a few:
- FHA loans
- VA loans
- USDA loans, (no down payment required)
4. Get A Side Hustle
Another great way to save up for a home is to get a side job. Don’t think that you need to kill yourself to earn some extra income. All you need is something to add to the pot you already have.
5. Save Your Big Money
Chances are you’re going to get big money at least three times in a calendar year. Save it for your down payment.
No matter if it’s your holiday bonus, tax refund or even your stimulus payment, you will have an opportunity to save big money. All you have to do is put it away.
How Much Money Should I Save A Month To Buy A House?
Because you’ll need to save money incrementally, it’s good to put together a plan to set cash aside each month. How much should you save? It depends.
If you want to buy a home that costs $250,000, you’ll need to save $250 a month for four years until you come up with 20% down payment. That’s around $50,000.
Here’s how to find out much rent you can afford in New Orleans.
How Much Money Do I Have To Make To Save For A House?
A lot of people don’t think they can save money for a house because they aren’t making big money. You may be wondering what kind of salary you need to pull to save up for a home.
The truth is that it depends on what the prices are in your local real estate market.
If you the homes in your area cost $200,000, then you’ll need to save $60,000 for a 30% down payment. If you save $20,000 a year, you can accumulate $60,000 in three short years.
Final Word
If you’re serious about saving for a home, there’s nothing that says you have to only save 20% for your down payment. Why not aim for 30%?
The more you save, the cheaper your home will be over the length of the mortgage. If you can save money on the front end, once you get inside your new home, you’ll sleep much better.
Read more: How To Buy Land In 6 Easy Steps
Interested in other ways to save or make money? Check out our Money Section:
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