What Americans Consider A “Luxury” In Modern Dating

You hear so many dating horror stories these days but let's look on the bright side of the sometimes gloomy dating world. What’s considered a “luxury” in dating today? According to Talker, there is a new survey, that found nearly half (47%) of Americans think it’s “luxurious” if their date includes learning about the person’s background, as well as having intelligent, in-depth conversations.

The poll of 2-thousand U.S. adults also reveals:

While it's not officially summer yet, that has not stopped folks from firing up the grill. Here are six burger restaurants in Charlotte that people love.

And what better way to kick off any summer cookout than with a nice charcoal-grilled burger! Now you may be asking just what makes the great burger? I got a few tips from Burger Republic, a popular burger restaurant in Tennessee. According to the chefs there, there are some 'must-have's' when it comes to creating a 'great' burger. They include:

Now that we have the essentials for a great burger, now on to some of the spots in the Queen City that offer great burgers like these. In fact, these are six of the burger spots that people rave about. Check them out for yourself!

If the name is throwing you off a bit, don't let it. This small free-standing building is nestled in NoDa (North Davidson) in the Belmont neighborhood, where neighbors essentially had their say on what eatery they'd love to see in the community. The owners came up with ACE No. 3 where they created the "Ace" burger. That is two thin beef patties with American cheese, steamed onions, house-made pickles on a brioche bun. The owners say the idea behind the burger is tasty and simple. Their mantra: 'Less is more.'

Don't let the little red house fool you! This spot has been voted as one of the best burger spots in the Queen City time and time again. Brooks Sandwich Shop, in the NoDa area, has been around since 1973 selling burgers and hot dogs. Many people come from miles around to sample a burger and their chili. It is now run by the third generation of Brooks who still have lines around the building.

This is a relatively new burger spot inside Optimist Hall, but it is growing in popularity. At Harriet’s, it's more than just a good burger, it's their sense of community, too. For example, Tuesdays are random act of kindness day where they give out a free meal to a random customer and they also donate hamburger meals to frontline workers. Owners say they are in the "mind-boosting business." Now, on to the burger. They offer a grilled black Angus patty on a brioche bun with pickles, red onions, and simple sauce. Another example of less is more!

This could be called the 'OG' or 'oldy, but goodie', but either way they've been in the burger business since 1945. The Diamond is proven to be tried and true. Despite several new owners over the past few years, there is one element that has remained consistent -- solid home-cooking and southern hospitality. Their Full Blown Hemi burger has three beef patties (a total pound of meat), with chili, mustard, onions and slaw for the Southern-style.

Nothing like a good ol'-fashioned burger in a good ol'-fashioned soda shoppe. And that's exactly what you'll get when you visit the Park Road Soda Shoppe. This cozy, quaint diner has been around since 1999 serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner. And in it's 50's dining style, this is where you want to go for a great simple burger. You can try their classic five-ounce burger served Carolina-style includes chili, slaw, mustard and onions. And of course, like a classic soda shoppe you have to add fries and a shake.

Another classic eatery is South 21 Drive In. It has all the nostalgia of the good ol' days. It opened in 1955 by the three brothers, and has now become a landmark in Charlotte landmark. And not much has changed in it's appearance and it's prices, too. The Super Boy burger is still around which includes two hamburger patties topped with mustard, lettuce, onion, and tomato- simple yet inimitable. Nothing like ol' school. Happy eating!

There are simple habits of millionaires, according to experts, that you can do now to help transform your finances. If you've been in the hole financially, then the idea of becoming a millionaire might seem out of reach. But, you can certainly learn from millionaires, and they can help you reach your financial goals. You really don't have anything to lose by adopting these easy, simple habits of millionaires, so get ready to learn about what behaviors to change and cashing in.

Before we get to those simple habits of millionaires that you can do now, let's look at some facts about millionaires. According to the Global Wealth Report 2023 by Credit Suisse, there were around 59.4 million millionaires in the world in 2022, a number that was down by about 3.5 million over the course of the year. What's really wild is that most adults in the world were making less than $10,000 a year in 2022, according to the report, coming in at around 53% of all adults in the world. Adults making between $10,000 and $100,000 increased the most, so far, this century, as they more than tripled from 503 million in 2000 to 1.8 billion in 2022. Their average annual income was about $33,573, which accounts for around 40% of the global average wealth.

So, what about billionaires? According to Forbes.com, "There are now more billionaires than ever: 2,781 in all, 141 more than last year and 26 more than the record set in 2021." They added, "They're richer than ever, worth $14.2 trillion in aggregate, up by $2 trillion from 2023 and $1.1 trillion above the previous record, also set in 2021." The No. 1 richest person in the world surprised me, and it may surprise you, too. According to Forbes, it's Bernard Arnault & family, with a net worth of $233 Billion. They're in France, and their industry is fashion and retail. "Bernard Arnault oversees the LVMH empire of 75 fashion and cosmetics brands, including Louis Vuitton and Sephora." I had no idea that when I shopped at Sephora, I was helping out the richest man in the world. Coming in at No. 2 is Elon Musk, who's worth around $195 billion. He lives in the United States. "Elon Musk cofounded six companies, including electric car maker Tesla, rocket producer SpaceX and tunneling startup Boring Company," Forbes states. Finally, No. 3 on the tally is Jeff Bezos, who's net worth is $194 billion. He founded e-commerce website Amazon in 1994. Now, let's get into some simple habits of millionaires that you can do now, according to financial experts interviewed by CNBC.com, Finance.yahoo.com and more.

Cars lose their value quickly. That's why buying a used car is usually much less expensive than a new car. The second that car is off the lot, it's considered used and drops in value thousands, even with just another mile on the car. That said, according to CNBC.com, wealthy people buy, don't lease, their cars and keep them long-term. That way, they can save money between car purchases.

According to RamseySolutions.com, "Millionaires spend most of their lives sacrificing temporary pleasures for long-term success. They have no problem buying an older used car, living in a modest neighborhood, and wearing inexpensive clothes. They don’t care about keeping up with the Joneses." So, instead of picking up all the hot, expensive new stuff, wait it out.

If you're a newbie to financial planning, listen to some podcasts on the subject or find a helpful book. Finance.yahoo.com says, "knowing how to become a millionaire isn't innate, even for most wealthy people." Research from certified financial planner and CPA Tom Corley shows that "63 percent of wealthy people listen to audio books during their commute to work versus 5 percent of poor people," says Finance.yahoo.com.

In the same Finance.yahoo.com story, Corley says that networking is huge when it comes to becoming a millionaire. "On his Rich Habits blog, Corley revealed 79 percent of wealthy individuals network at least five hours per month, compared with only 16 percent of poor people," they explain. So, get out there, and meet new people who could make up your network.

Millionaires are frugal. They don't splurge like you might expect. According to RamseySolutions.com's The National Study of Millionaires, nearly half of millionaires in their poll said they save at least 16% of their monthly income. They often use it for an emergency fund or liquid cash.

CNBC.com's Select asked Faron Daugs, certified financial planner, founder and CEO at Harrison Wallace Financial Group, "about the financial habits his wealthiest clients all share that could apply to the average person." One big thing he mentioned was building up emergency funds and then investing. "Daugs says his clients have organized investment plans, whether its in stocks, bonds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs)," CNBC explains. He also recommends having a "monthly or bi-monthly automatic transfer of cash from your checking account into an investment account."

According to Fool.com, the wealthy "invest in stocks, real estate, and their own businesses." They add that, "Millionaires put their money into appreciating assets (assets that can grow in value)." Also, "people with net worths of $1 million or higher tend to have more of their money" in stocks and mutual funds; real estate; and business interests.

Whatever your financial situation, look at the bright side. Look for opportunities for working with what you have and growing your nest egg. Reach out to experts in the financial field if you're really stumped and see how they can make your financial dreams come true.

Wherever you are on your financial journey, don't give up. It can be temping to just throw everything to the wind, but if you take a more level-headed approach, you'll have a better chance of coming out successful. Good luck on your financial journey.