You can check out the full report here.

Looking to downsize? Some states are more ideal for a tiny house than others.

To mark TinyFest California this March, LawnStarter ranked 2024’s Best States for Tiny House Living.

The verdict: North Carolina is the No. 8 best state for tiny house living in an urban setting and No. 17 overall.

How does North Carolina stack up in some key metrics (1st = Best)?

• Average Yard Acreage – 8th
• Tiny House Legality Score – 1st
• Off-Grid Lifestyle Index – 38th

To come up with our ranking, the site compared the 50 states on the legality of constructing a tiny home. We also looked at the suitability of building in an urban setting based on average yard acreages and in a remote environment based on off-grid lifestyle-friendliness, a separate LawnStarter ranking that consists of 23 key factors.

As Charlotte’s restaurant selection continues to grow, many establishments are scrambling to attract customers and really letting their health standards slide in the process.

Some of the most common reasons for low scores were food handlers not washing their hands properly, contaminated food containers, and improper food temperatures (many restaurants are starting to use infrared thermometers to avoid this).

These were the top 10 worst inspection scores in Charlotte for February 2024;

#10 Fonda la Taquiza

5135 ALBEMARLE RD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28205
Scored 91 (A) on 2/7/2024

They had the following violations;

• No PIC present during inspection.
• Observed various TCS items holding above 41F in two door flip top prep unit.
• Observed one unlabeled spray bottle of degreaser.
• Observed three small live insects in facility.
• Observed small bowls used as scoops in rice.

#9 Bocao Sushi

1000 NC MUSIC FACTORY BV, CHARLOTTE NC 28206
Scored 90.5 (A) on 2/28/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed employee water bottles on the food prep table.
• Observed raw shelled eggs stored over cooked rice in the reach in cooler.
• Observed the interior panel of the ice machine accumulating pink residue.
• Observed cooked broccoli and cauliflower date marked 2/21, exceeding 7 days.
• Observed no written procedures for cooked shrimp, cooked plantains, and cooked rice being held using TPHC.
• Observed unlabeled bottle of glass cleaner.

#8 Bar Marcel

3920 SHARON RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28211
Scored 90.5 (A) on 2/1/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed employee health policy on site does not discuss exposure.
• Observed shell stock tags stored out of chronological order.
• Observed raw chorizo stored behind ready to eat items in prep top and over ready to eat item in reach in.
• Observed raw chicken behind raw burgers in cooler drawer.
• Observed slicer with food debris and dust on and behind the blade.
• Observed food debris on the base of slicer.
• Observed several stocks sitting out at room temperature for over 1 hour to right of stove prior to being actively reheated.
• Observed red tomato sauce and chicken stock cooling from last night above 41F.
• Observed arriza stock (1/25), short rib (1/25), pesto (1/13), radicchio puree (1/13), red tomato sauce (1/20), roasted tomatoes (1/20), fish stock (1/25), and Brie (1/25) in several coolers including walk in, reach ins, and prep tops.
• Observed no date mark on cooked potatoes and sliced tomatoes in prep cooler, short rib vegetables in walk in, or mozzarella in walk in.

#7 La Sa Son by Winter

4200 SOUTH BLVD, CHARLOTTE NC 28209
Scored 90 (A) on 2/7/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed an employee handle raw shell egg. Discarded gloves and donned new gloves without a hand wash.
• Observed large trash can blocking back hand sink.
• Observed soiled utensil stored in front hand sink of kitchen.
• Observed raw shell eggs stored above rice in the wic.
• Observed several vegetable slicers stored clean according to PIC with food debris left on them.
• Observed cooked yuca cooling at ambient air and not meet proper cooling rate. EHS observed item to be cooling at 107F for 60 mins cool at ambient air to 97F.
• EHS observed soft cheese, pork, rice, and beef all without dates.
• Observed in use spray bottle of sanitizer without a label.

#6 Showmars

2540 LITTLE ROCK RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28214
Scored 87 (B) on 2/20/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed facility had several priority item violations today.
• Observed no CFPM on duty at beginning of inspection.
• Observed no clean up instructions at facility.
• Observed the Front handwashing sink had ketchup in it.
• Observed diver stored as clean under prep table with large amount of food debris.
• Observed broccoli cheddar soup in hot well below 135F.
• Observed Greek salad sitting on top of pan in prep top at 46F.
• Observed Greek salad that was made yesterday in prep top with no date mark.
• Observed broccoli on a pan in lowboy cooler and a gallon of milk in the front prep unit with no date mark.

#5 7-11

2825 LITTLE ROCK RD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28214
Scored 87 (B) on 2/28/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed facility had priority item violations today and PIC not knowledgeable of food safety temperatures.
• Observed no CFPM on duty.
• Observed 2 employee drinks with no lid sitting on prep top.
• Observed no paper towels at back handwashing sink.
• Observed smoked sausage being offered for sale at 130F.
• Observed wings being HH at 107F.
• Observed whole milk and French vanilla creamer in coffee creamer dispenser above 41F.
• Observed 4 open packages of tcs for HH roller in lowboy cooler not date marked.
• Observed employee use thermometer in food without first sanitizing the thermometer.

#4 Courtyard Marriot

2700 LITTLE ROCK RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28214
Scored 86.5 (B) on 2/15/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed PIC is not a CFPM and facility had several priority item violations today.
• No CFPM on duty during inspection.
• Observed no soap at front hand sink VR needed.
• Observed no paper towels at front hand sink VR needed.
• Observed water temperature at all 3 hand sinks below 100F.
• Observed several dishes stored as clean with food debris and sticker residue on them.
• Observed Quat sanitizer at 3 comp sink reading 0 ppm.
• Observed oatmeal being held at grill below 135F.
• Observed Queso cheese and shredded lettuce in the WIC not date marked.
• Observed Hummus in front cooler not date marked.
• Observed Pepperoni, Quac, and panned Parmesan cheese dated for more than seven days.

#3 Wendy’s

2933 EASTWAY DR, CHARLOTTE NC 28205
Scored 85 (B) on 2/26/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed food employee wash hands and recontaminate them by touching faucet handles without using a barrier (i.e.: paper towels).
• Observed another employee arrive to facility, wash hands and recontaminate them by directly touching faucet handles without using a barrier.
• Observed no soap available at approximately three hand washing stations.
• Observed no paper towels at two hand washing stations.
• Observed chili reheating since 9 am with less than 30 minute window.
• Observed well below flat top grill unable to maintain TCS foods queso and swiss cheese at 135 F degrees.
• Observed reach in unit maintaining raw beef patties between 46-48 F degrees.
• Observed numerous containers of TCS applicable foods such as cheese, diced chicken, lettuce and scrambled eggs in the walk-in cooler without their date marking requirement.
• Observed containers of cut lettuce, cheeses and two containers of sliced tomatoes being held on TPHC without time labels.
• Observed small cockroach crawling inside dump sink behind front counter station.

#2 Chicken King

2400 W SUGAR CREEK RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28262
Scored 82.5 (B) on 2/23/2024

They had the following violations;

• Observed no CFPM present during time of inspection.
• Observed no paper towels in dispenser in men’s bathroom.
• Observed raw eggs stored over onions in prep unit.
• Observed raw bacon stored over drinks and blue cheese in WIC.
• Observed raw chicken stored over raw shrimp in WIC.
• Observed unwashed tomatoes stored over RTE sauces and teas in WIC.
• Observed raw fish and chicken on ice on prep table with no protective covering.
• Observed food debris and residue on dishes stored as clean.
• Observed items hot holding in steam well below 135F.
• Observed cut tomatoes, eggs, housemade cole slaw, housemade potato salad, bologna, boiled eggs, pulled pork and peppers and onions in prep unit with no date.
• Observed housemade cole slaw, housemade potato salad and salads in RIC with no date.
• Observed pulled pork and chili in WIC with no date.
• Observed bottle of raid stored in dry storage area.
• Observed dead pest inside of feta cheese container in prep unit.

#1 Velvet Taco

2170 HAWKINS ST, CHARLOTTE NC 28203
Scored 81 (B) on 2/2/2024 

They had the following violations;

• No employee health policy was available during inspection.
• Observed an employee remove gloves after working with raw fish.
• Observed no paper towels present at the grill hand sink.
• Observed raw chicken and beef stored above corn and lettuce in the walk-in cooler.
• Observed raw eggs stored above cheese in the walk-in cooler.
• Observed raw ground beef and mechanically tenderized beef stored above steak.
• Observed rice reheated to 150 degrees for hot holding.
• Observed corn salsa and guacamole cooling 0 degrees in 25 minutes.
• Observed beef hot holding at 114 degrees.
• Observed rice hot holding at 120 degrees.
• Observed salsa, guacamole, chopped avocado, mayo crema and ranch crema above 41 degrees while sitting on a thin layer of ice.
• Observed three spray bottles and one sanitizer bucket missing labels.
• Observed a sanitizer bucket being stored above plastic forks.

If you’d like to monitor health scores or do a quick search for a restaurant you’re about to eat at, check out North Carolina’s health inspection database here.

“With new direct service from Charlotte, adventure seekers have easy access to explore new mountain destinations, and our team stands ready to serve more customers at Charlotte’s hometown airline,” AA Vice President Ralph Lopez Massas said in a press release.

Here are the other direct flights the Charlotte-based airline will be adding or expanding this year:

Playing at online casinos is more popular than ever in recent years thanks to significantly improved technology and better regulations. Modern online casinos are far safer, easier to access and more enjoyable than those of the past, and the result of this has meant a huge increase in the numbers of people creating accounts to play with real money.

While playing casino games online can be a lot of fun, it’s important to recognize the potential risks involved. As with any form of gambling, your money is at risk, and there’s no sure way to guarantee your success. However, while there’s no way to ensure you win every time, you can still improve your chances. Here’s how.

Choosing the Right Games

The games you play make a big difference to your chances of winnings. Different casino games will not only have different rules, but also different return to player (RTP) rates. The RTP rate is a measurement of how much you can expect to win back from a game when playing over an extended period of time. The higher the number, the more you’re likely to win back.

Generally speaking, online table games are the best option for high RTP rates. These give you the statistically highest chance of winning, although the payouts themselves might be lower. In addition, some games have high RTP rates, but you need to follow the correct strategy carefully to maximize your chances.

It’s best to learn the full rules of each game before you play, and test it out for free before betting real money. This will give you the best chance of success, allowing you to perfect the strategy needed to win. Steer clear of games that don’t have their RTP rate published, as there’s no way to know whether the game will be fair to play.

Playing at Legitimate Sites

Aside from choosing games that give you the best chance, you should also be mindful of which online casinos you play at. There are now loads of different casinos to choose from. While many of these gaming platforms are fun and safe, some are less trustworthy and are best avoided. Thankfully, it’s relatively straightforward to spot a legitimate online casino.

The first and most important thing to look for when choosing an online casino is the license. All legitimate online casinos will be licensed by a gambling commission, which shows that the site is safe, legal and fair. Before you play, make sure that online gambling is legal in your location, and then check to see which license is required for sites to operate legally.

By playing at a licensed casino, you can be sure that the games are fair and that your funds are protected. However, encryption is another sign that a site is safe to use. This technology helps secure your personal details, and is particularly useful when making deposits and withdrawals.

Playing Responsibly

Although you can choose fair games and play at legitimate online casinos, gambling will still always come with risks. Every time you bet money on the outcome of a game, you risk losing that money. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it highlights the importance of playing responsibly. Responsible gaming means not betting more than you can afford to lose.

While it won’t directly impact your chance of winning, playing responsibly will ensure you can play longer while spending less. Make sure you set a budget of how much you’re able to spend on gambling and keep your bet sizes sensible so you never exceed it. If you’re finding it difficult to control how much you gamble, you should take a break and seek help.

They say that money makes the world go round, but is this true? Yes, it is. The more control you have over your finances, the better off you are going to be. We’re not saying that it’s going to be an easy thing to do, but we are saying that it’s important to get as much of a handle on your finances as you can sooner rather than later. The longer that you leave your finances in disarray, the more difficult it is going to be when you do eventually get around to sorting them. 

In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that you can do to correctly manage your money so that your life is made easier. You might think that it’s not possible for you to achieve this, but we promise you that it is. Down below, you will find our best advice for dealing with money, so if we’ve piqued your interest, keep reading.

Pay Off Your Debts

First up on our list, you’re going to need to pay off your debts. Don’t get ahead of yourself here, we don’t mean all at once. Most people are not in the position to pay off their debts all in one go or they would have done this already, right? Exactly, so what is the next option? It’s to call up all of your creditors and explain that you do not have the money to pay them right now, but that you would like to set up a payment plan with them to clear your debt. Look into your finances, and think about what you know is going to be affordable to you. 

If you owe money to multiple creditors, take into account that you are going to need to make multiple payments so you have to think about this when determining the amount you offer. Or, you can get a consolidation loan and then just pay that off. It’s up to you, but you need to decide and start getting in touch with your creditor to see if they will accept your payment plan offer asap.

Have Savings

Saving isn’t always easy and we’re not going to pretend that it is. Having said that though, if you can amass some savings, your life is going to be much easier and a lot less stressful. If something goes wrong, you have some money to fall back on. So, if you lose your job then at least you have something to keep you going while you search for a new one. Or, if something in your house breaks down, you have the money to fix it without plunging yourself into debt.

Now, we understand that saving isn’t always easy to do, but it’s just something that you’re going to have to work out where you can. We are not suggesting that you pull money from somewhere that it doesn’t exist, but you should be trying to save whatever you can. If you have a coin jar for example, you can collect all of your spare coins. It will take time, but eventually you will have amassed quite a chunk of change that you can then put into your savings account.

Create A Budget

A budget is going to help you stay on track, even when it’s tough. For a time, it might be a case of if it’s not in the budget, you can’t have it, and you just need to learn to live with that. It’s not going to be forever, it’s just going to be for now while you try and get yourself in order. If you go through a tougher time now, you’re not going to have to do this later and future you is really going to thank you for that. 

The important thing about a budget is that it is updated regularly to accurately reflect your financial situation. If you don’t do this, then there is no point in having one in the first place as it won’t actually show you what you need to do. Your budget will be your crux, it will be your savior of sorts, so make sure that it’s up to date, and that you are following it to the letter as much as possible.

Get Your Affairs In Order

Getting your affairs in order might sound like a dreary thing to do, but it’s the best thing that you can do for those you leave behind when you pass on. If your affairs are in order, if you have taken every precaution possible to ensure that your wishes are met, then there won’t be much left to do after you have passed on. It’s not a nice thought, but you never know when it’s going to happen, so having yourself sorted is going to be the best thing for you to do.

Speak to a lawyer and get a will written, look into a quitclaim deed for example for your home, look into all of your affairs and where you want them to go. Make sure that you leave detailed instructions, and update your will and your affairs if anything changes with your financial situation. If you do this somewhat regularly, you are going to have peace of mind that the ones that you love are taken care of, and don’t have the troubles of trying to sort through your finances after you are gone.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you need to do in order to handle your money correctly. We understand that it’s not always easy to do this, and there are times where handling money in the best way possible is simply not an option for you. However, for the most part, you can put these things into practice and you should end up with finances that aren’t stressing you out! We wish you the very best of luck, and work on improving your finances asap.

Generating Extra Income

Beyond managing what you already have, actively seeking additional income streams can significantly improve your financial health. A side hustle or passive income source provides extra money to pay down debt, boost your savings, or invest for the future. One unique and fun example is setting up Hot Wheels vending machines, a low-maintenance business that can generate extra cash without a huge time commitment, proving that creative solutions exist for everyone looking to better their finances.